Windsor Police have laid the first charges of drug impaired driving following the legalization of marijuana.
Officers conducted two RIDE programs at different locations in the city on Thursday night.
Just over 800 vehicles were stopped over a two-hour period.
One male driver is facing a charge of Drive Vehicle with Cannabis Readily Available, which carries a $215 fine.
Another man was arrested after performing poorly on a Standard Field Sobriety Test and Drug Recognition Evaluation and is facing a charge of Impaired (by drug - suspected Cannabis) Operation of a Motor Vehicle. He was released on a Promise to Appear with a Future Court Date.
Sgt. Steve Betteridge says just like alcohol, drugs cannot be within reach of the driver.
"You cannot have cannabis readily available when you're operating a motor vehicle or a boat for that matter and obviously impaired driving that is a concern for our entire community," says Betteridge.
Daily News Report: First R.I.D.E. Program Following Cannabis Legalization Nets Impaired Driving Charge.https://t.co/KjyOBwOFXQ pic.twitter.com/qzXxmDkHRK
— Windsor Police (@WindsorPolice) October 19, 2018
Police also issued one three-day licence suspension for alcohol along with 38 enforcement actions.
The Windsor Police Service says cannabis legalization is an adjustment for our entire country and impaired driving by drug, alcohol, or a combination is a serious crime that officers are committed to enforce.
Police ask that if you see a suspected impaired driver, please call 911 immediately.
Licence plate, vehicle make or model, and direction of travel are examples of the kind of information needed in the investigation.
- with files from AM800's Kathie McMann