OPP seek more resources for enforcement in Norfolk

Luke Edwards

Grant Haven Media

An early 2026 uptick in the number of impaired driving charges laid by Norfolk OPP has the county’s detachment board looking for some outside support.

Board members approved a motion by member George Santos to have a staff report prepared looking at grant opportunities that may exist with the solicitor general’s office at Queen’s Park. They did so at the March 18 board meeting.

“There’s a definite need, there’s no doubt in my mind. This issue of drinking and driving. I’m 56 years of age, for the last 40 years this has been on my radar and I don’t see much change, unfortunately,” he said.

According to the detachment’s latest crime stats update, officers laid 29 impaired driving offences in January and February of this year. That’s up from 16 last year and 18 the year before.

Santos said while education efforts have a role to play, the message isn’t getting through to everyone.

“I think it’s time to enforce, charge and allow the court system to deal with it,” he said.

Staff Sgt. Catherine Braceland said impaired driving charges come as the result of members of the public calling in when they see someone driving erratically, from regular RIDE stops and also routine patrols.

There are some grant opportunities for enhanced services through the solicitor general’s office, Santos suggested.

Impaired driving wasn’t the only traffic related stat that was up. Police laid 675 speeding tickets in January and February of this year, a significant increase of more than 300 per cent over last year.

“We’re very proud of those numbers,” Braceland said, adding it’s been a focus of the detachment to do more speeding enforcement.

“What we’ve done is really enforced the message that part of their daily duties is to conduct traffic enforcement,” she said.