So far, Coquitlam Mounties have handed out six impaired driving prohibitions - which means a 90-day suspension, 30-day vehicle impound and thousands of dollars in fines.
Photograph by: NOW , file
It's become about as common during the holiday season as a Christmas tree and a Santa in the mall - police out on the roads looking for drunk drivers.
Coquitlam RCMP have once again launched their CounterAttack program for the month of December.
But in the first two weeks of the campaign, it appears most drivers aren't mixing their booze with the wheel.
So far, Mounties have handed out six impaired driving prohibitions - which means a 90-day suspension, 30-day vehicle impound and thousands of dollars in fines.
Police also handed out three 24-hour roadside suspensions and one three-day roadside prohibition since the campaign began.
Other Lower Mainland municipalities are seeing similar low numbers with regard to impaired driving.
RCMP Cpl. Jamie Chung noted the numbers aren't particularly high, but he didn't really have a reason for the change.
He noted that cab companies have reportedly been busier this holiday season.
"I know that some people are getting the message, but not everyone is," Chung told The NOW.
Part of the decrease could also be related to the success of programs like Operation Red Nose, which provides volunteers to drive motorists home in their own car in exchange for a donation.
In the first two weeks of this year's campaign, Operation Red Nose volunteers have provided 168 rides home in the Tri-Cities.
That number is more than triple the amount of rides in Burnaby, more than double the amount on the North Shore and slightly ahead of Ridge-Meadows.
This past summer's CounterAttack program also yielded similar results in Coquitlam, with the number of drivers receiving roadside prohibitions dropping by one-half from the previous year.
Despite the extra attention paid to drunk drivers this holiday season, Chung noted the RCMP would continue to target impaired drivers throughout the year.
Under tough provincial drinking and driving laws, which were reinstated in June following a court challenge, drivers can receive immediate roadside suspensions, have their cars impounded and face fines of up to $4,000.
