2 charged with impaired driving after Confederation Bridge checkpoint staff call RCMP

Staff at the COVID-19 checkpoint in Borden-Carleton have called in the RCMP twice recently to deal with drivers they suspected were impaired.

The checkpoint is staffed by government employees with the Department of Transportation and Department of Health. The RCMP patrol the area in and around Borden-Carleton and say they are able to respond quickly if there are any issues.

A 35-year-old Charlottetown man is facing charges after an incident early Saturday morning. RCMP were called to the bridge at about 1 a.m. when a man failed to produce a valid driver's licence when asked at the checkpoint, and staff thought he might be impaired.

"[RCMP] confirmed that the male was, in fact, drinking and driving," said Const. Jamie Parsons. "He was arrested and later provided two samples well over the legal limit."

Police transported the man to the East Prince detachment, where Parsons said he provided samples of his breath more than 2.5 times the legal limit.

The man's vehicle was towed and impounded. He was later released from custody under safe circumstances and is scheduled to appear in court in November.

Summerside man arrested mid-morning

Monday morning, a 22-year-old from Summerside was detained in the same manner at around 10 a.m. — after checkpoint employees suspected impairment. 

He too has been charged and will appear in court in the next couple of months. 

"It's just disappointing overall to know that this hour in the morning, mid-morning on a Monday, that an individual was driving over the Confederation Bridge while impaired by alcohol," Parsons said.

"I know there has been at least one or two other cases similar to this over the summer period where, again, the COVID-19 staff here, while doing their screening, observed impaired driving and they called the police."

Mounties were on the scene Monday afternoon taking statements. 

Police say the thought of someone driving impaired on a narrow two-lane bridge is concerning — especially with two suspected cases within three days. 

In a separate case Saturday night, at around 10:30 p.m., checkpoint staff again phoned RCMP and reported a suspended driver. RCMP issued that driver a ticket.

RCMP said they are grateful to the staff at the COVID checkpoint for helping to make roads on P.E.I. safer.

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