Slew of Charges for Impaired Driver

A Guelph man faces impaired driving and other charges following a traffic stop Thursday morning.

At 7:30 a.m. an officer was patrolling on Speedvale Avenue West when her cruiser’s automated licence plate reader alerted to a vehicle associated to a suspended driver. The vehicle was followed onto Woolwich Street as it passed several vehicles which had pulled over and stopped for an oncoming ambulance.

The driver pulled into a parking lot where officers conducted a traffic stop. The driver was acting erratically and had trouble focusing on the conversation. Officers noticed a used glass pipe in the centre console.

He was arrested for impaired operation. During a search officers recovered a quantity of suspected crystal methamphetamine and three more contaminated pipes.

An officer trained in drug recognition concluded the man’s ability to operate a vehicle was impaired by drugs. He refused to comply with a demand to collect a blood sample for further analysis.

A 41-year-old Guelph man is charged with impaired operation, refusing to comply with a demand, possessing a controlled substance, two counts of breaching a probation order and several Highway Traffic Act offences. His licence was suspended for 90 days and the vehicle – which belonged to a friend – was impounded for seven days. He will appear in court December 2.

The Guelph Police Service would like to encourage the public to consume alcohol and cannabis responsibly. Please don’t drive if you are going to consume alcohol or cannabis, and please ensure that you plan ahead so that you have a safe ride home. Anyone who spots a suspected impaired driver is asked to immediately call 911.