During the evening of Thursday, January 23, 2020, PEI Conservation Officers and Volunteer Trial Wardens from PEI Snowmobile Association were doing patrols in the area of St. Theresa's around 8:00 p.m. While checking snowmobilers, it became apparent that one of the drivers may be impaired by alcohol.
Kings District RCMP attended the scene to provide assistance. The driver of the snowmobile, a 40 year-old man from Kings County was arrested for Impaired Operation and taken to Montague RCMP office. The man provided samples of twice the legal limit and was later released for a court date in Georgetown Provincial Court.
Another snowmobile driver was stopped later that evening around 9:30 p.m. in the community of Mt. Stewart and received a 7 days Provincial Driving Suspension.
RCMP would like to remind the public that operating a snowmobile while impaired by alcohol or drugs as the same punishment as operating a vehicle on the road. They also urge those enjoying snowmobiling activities to keep an eye out for impaired drivers and report them to help keep the sport fun versus deadly. There is no place for impaired driving - if you want to drink or engage in recreational drug use, stay off the roads and trails and keep our Island safe.
Kings RCMP will be joining Conservation Officers on the trails in the coming months for joint efforts towards ensuring the trails are safe for all users and thank those who conducted the patrols in an effort to take impaired snowmobilers off of Island trails. See you on the trails!