Mandatory Alcohol Screening Not In Oxford Yet

Friday, 3 May 2024 11:13

Oxford OPP officers will not be requesting breath samples for every vehicle they pull over.

OXFORD COUNTY - The mandatory breath samples will not affect Oxford OPP patrolled roads yet.

Sergeant Kerry Schmidt announced yesterday that the OPP Highway Safety Division will now conduct roadside screening tests for every vehicle they pull over.

Randi Crawford, the Community Safety and Media Relations Officer with the Oxford OPP, says this does not impact our local roadways at this time.

"If you are someone who lives in Oxford County and you are travelling in any of the areas that Highway Safety Division patrols, then you will be at risk there. But here in Oxford County and our neighbouring detachments, it's not in effect at this time."

The OPP Highway Safety Division covers the major highways in Toronto, Mississauga, Burlington, Aurora, Cambridge, Whitby, and Niagara. It also covers Highway 407.

Crawford understands that a lot of people might be wary of this new tactic, but says you have nothing to worry about if you follow the rules of the road.

"At the end of the day, if no one has consumed alcohol or any intoxicating substances, then you don't need to worry. If everyone can keep following the rules of the road then you are not going to be pulled over in the first place and everyone is going to be happy."

One of our listeners voiced a concern about mouthwash registering on a breath screening device. Crawford confirmed that this is true if the mouthwash contains alcohol, but OPP officers take this into account.

"When you are asked by an officer to provide a breath sample, they will also ask you if you have consumed anything by mouth in the last 15 minutes so whether that be a drink, something to eat, a cigarette, anything like that. So if you disclose that to the officer, they will take that into consideration and you will provide a sample, then you will provide another sample approximately 15 minutes later to see if the reading is consistent."

Crawford would also like to encourage everyone out there to drive safely and follow the rules of the road.

"We have been having so many collisions lately, we had two very serious ones just last night in Oxford County, so people are not obeying the rules of the road. I beg of all of you, please reconsider when you are driving and pay attention to your behaviours so we can all go home safe to our families and friends."