A Port Lambton man has avoided serious impaired driving charges despite being arrested in Chatham for having a blood alcohol level over the legal limit.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service said officers were conducting a RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program on Wellington Street on Friday when they stopped a vehicle at around 8:24 p.m.
Authorities conducted a breathalyzer test on the driver, which registered a fail. The driver, a 56-year-old Port Lambton man, was then arrested for operating a motor vehicle with over 80 mg of alcohol in 100 mL of blood.
The driver’s vehicle was also towed from the scene.
According to police officials, no criminal charges have been laid in connection with the incident, however, the accused was issued a ticket for an unspecified Highway Traffic Act offence and was given a three-day licence suspension.
When asked for clarification as to what charges were laid, if any, CK police spokesperson Shelomi Legal told CKXS News that “The officer in this occurrence used discretion and gave a three-day licence suspension.”
Driving with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit (80 mg) is a criminal offence, which also includes a mandatory 90-day driver’s licence suspension and a seven-day vehicle impoundment under the Highway Traffic Act.
