Owen Sound Police have laid impaired driving charges in separate investigations on consecutive nightshifts.

 At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Thursday September 12, 2024, officers received information regarding a possible impaired driver at the rear of a licensed establishment.   Officers attended and after a brief interaction, issued a demand for a breath sample into a roadside alcohol screening device.  This test produced a failing result and the driver of the vehicle was arrested and transported to the Owen Sound Police Station.  The driver then provided additional breath samples that showed his blood alcohol level was more than double the legal limit to drive.  The 24-year-old man from St. Jerome, Quebec was charged with Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Driving with an Excess Blood Alcohol level.  

 At 12:45 a.m. on Friday September 13, 2024, Owen Sound Police Officers conducted a R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program in the 300 block of 10^th Street West.   Officers determined that the driver of the second vehicle to enter the R.I.D.E. program had been consuming alcohol and a subsequent roadside screening test produced a failing result.  All of the four occupants of the vehicle had open beer cans in their possession.  The 44 -year- old male driver was taken to the Owen Sound Police Station where he provided breath samples confirming that he was over the legal limit to drive.  The man was charged with Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Driving with an Excess Blood Alcohol level, Driving with a Suspended Licence and Driving with an Open Container of Alcohol. 

 The motor vehicles involved in both incidents were towed and impounded.  Both men are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice to answer to the criminal charges in September.