The Labour Day long weekend was a relatively quiet one for both the St. Albert and Morinville RCMP detachments.

“We had no serious collisions to contend with and no impaired driving charges were laid on the long weekend,” said Cpl. Don Murray with St. Albert RCMP’s traffic unit.

New impaired driving penalties came into effect Saturday for individuals found behind the wheel with a blood alcohol concentration between 0.05 and 0.08.

Individuals in this range would receive an immediate three-day licence suspension and three-day vehicle seizure. Until Saturday, police officers could issue 24-hour suspensions.

Local RCMP did not charge any drivers for driving with a blood alcohol concentration between 0.05 and 0.08 over the weekend.

Murray said long weekends are generally quiet in the community, as people are out of town travelling for the weekend.

A Friday-night checkstop on St. Albert Trail near Hebert Road left 13 individuals with violation tickets, and another facing a 24-hour suspension. One driver is facing a drug charge and another is facing four counts of breaching court conditions.

RCMP issued 35 violation tickets Monday at a seatbelt and distracted driving check at the same location.

Morinville RCMP had a steady but not unusually busy long weekend, said Const. Yelena Avoine.

She said RCMP charged three drivers with impaired driving for having a blood alcohol concentration over 0.08.

The number of other traffic violations was not available by press time.

Early start to weekend

St. Albert RCMP got an early start to the long weekend Friday morning when a 23-year-old male went on a drunken joyride at 7:30 a.m.

“We had a male that was impaired in his vehicle leaving a trail of destruction though St. Albert,” Murray said. “(He) started off in Heritage Lakes, ran through three quadrants of the town striking and sideswiping parked vehicles, running over front lawns, hitting garbage cans (and) I believe he took out a street sign.”

The vehicle was intercepted on Boudreau Road near Sir Winston Churchill Avenue and the driver was charged with impaired driving.

“It’s good to see him off the road,” Murray said.

The man was also charged with refusal of a demand, dangerous driving and four counts of leaving the scene of an accident. He is set to appear in St. Albert Provincial Court on Sept. 17.

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