Quebec police to crack down on drunk driving over the holidays

Montreal and provincial police will be expanding their efforts to catchimpaired drivers until the end of the holidays and they want motorists to know about it.

The SQ set up a checkpoint inLongueuilThursday night to kick off the campaign and show drivers their commitment to keeping the roads safe.

They checked drivers to see if they had been drinking and handed out pamphlets to others.

"If someone takes the chance to drive after they've been drinking, police will be there to catch you doing it,"said SQ spokesperson PatrickDesprs.

And while parties around this time of year can lead to problematic situations, Desprsoffered a simple solution.

"After a holiday party where you've been drinking, you have two options:you sleep on the couch, or you'll sleep in a cell."

Repeat offenders

Police say 80 per cent of collisions are caused by someone who has already received a ticketfor impaired driving.

According to the roadside assistance provider CAA-Qubec, 15,000 motorists have their licences suspended for driving under the influence each year.

CAA-Qubecalso warnsthat if a motorist is caught driving while impaired they will face increased insurance fees, a minimum fine of $1,000 and even have trouble crossing the U.S. border.

"The financial consequences are clearly worth thinking about,"saidspokespersonSophie Gagnon.

Campaigning on roads and smartphones

Quebec's automobile insurance board, the SAAQ, is partnering with police for the campaign.

They are advertisingon television, social media and radio to help people understand the severity of drinking and driving.

They say to lower the risk of accidents people can:

• Let a friend who's been drinking stay over.
• Offer to be the designated driver if others are drinking.
• Call a taxi if you're not in a condition to drive.

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