The Thanksgiving Long Weekend is right around the corner.
For many, this means gathering with friends and family for a nice meal and games around the table. As the weekend approaches, the Manitoba RCMP wants to make sure that every single Manitoban stays safe this weekend.
The RCMP has seen a sharp increase in impaired driving throughout the summer months whether that be alcohol or cannabis. When it comes to cannabis, Sargeant Mark Hume says the numbers have been alarming.
"We're seeing a lot of people claiming that they smoked or ingested cannabis 12 to 48 hours prior but when they're checked by officers, they're still over the legal limit," said Hume. "Many people are saying they use it medically or to sleep but it's still a drug that impairs you. People have to be careful about how much they're using and how quickly they're driving after the fact."
If you are planning on heading to a friend or family member's house this weekend, Hume encourages you to have fun but to be aware at all times.
"The general rule of thumb is you have to hesitate and think am I sober enough to drive, the answer should be no," commented Hume. "If you're at all hesitant, you should not be driving anymore. Whether it's alcohol, cannabis, or any other illegal drugs, you should plan for an alternate drive home."
If you do happen to get pulled over during your travels this weekend, you should expect to be checked. Since legislative changes in 2018, Mandatory Alcohol Screening is now in effect.
"Gone are the days that officers had to have suspicion or probable cause to give a person a roadside breath test," offered Hume. "Expect to be tested if you are pulled over."
The law that came into effect in 2018 clearly states that officers are allowed to demand a breath test of any driver even in the absence of suspicion or cause. This has been a positive as officers have been able to get many impaired drivers off the road.
"This law has been huge for us, it's contributed to the rise in impaired driving apprehensions," ended Hume. "We're noticing a rise in morning or early afternoon cases where people went too hard the night before and thought they slept it off but they didn't."
