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"A Family Tradition for 131 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 16, 1997 - 13 RIDE stats take dip for first time this season; six charged For the first time in three weeks it would appear that Durham Regional Police are getting their point across to impaired motorists. According to figures released by Durham Police yesterday, the total number of impaired drivers charged over the past week has dropped to 11. Police report 19 drivers were charged for impaired driving last week. Between Dec. 8 to 14, the third week of Durham's Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) pro- gram, a total of 7,050 vehi- cles were stopped in Clarington, Pickering, Oshawa, Whitby, Scugog and Ajax. While stopped, police issued 115 roadside breath tests and handed out 25 12-hour suspensions. Another six people were charged with driving with over 80 Mgs, and no one refused a breath test. During that same period of time five other motorists were charged with impaired driving by officers on regu- lar patrol. An additional six other charges were laid by officers in RIDE program including possession of narcotics,' driving under suspension and breach of probation. In total there have been 24,475 vehicles stopped to date, compared to 18,635 (up 31 per cent) at this time last year. Police have also given more roadside breath tests this year than last -- 426 compared to 327 -- and have issued 42 per cent (75 to 53) more 12-hour suspensions. Frustrating police is that impaired driving has increased 42 per cent In 1996 as 31 people have been charged with drinking and driving this year compared to 21 last year. Impaired drivers arrest- ed by regular patrols has gone down 40 percent and those charged with refusing a breath test has also dropped 100 per cent. Search for sleds yields nothing Scugog Firefighters spent more than an hour Sunday evening searching for victims after receiving a report of snowmobilers through the ice on Lake Scugog. Captain Dave Ballingall, said 18 firefighters searched the northern and eastern side of Scugog Island for 90 minutes before calling it quits. "We were called in but we didn't find anything. We searched up a the north end of the Island -- near the government park area - - and down to the east side of the Scugog Island to the Carnegie Beach area." Firefighters were called out just after 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 14 after a resident reported seeing people fall through the ice on the other side (Scugog) of the lake. A call to Ontario Provincial = Police was made, but was quickly transferred to the Scugog Fire Department. Mr. Ballingall says the department responded to two ice calls last year and are awaiting more this year as people flock onto Lake Scugog before the ice thick- ens. DECORATING | for your tree § & home 207 Queen St. Pon Len DJ rep INSURANCE BROKERS JERRY TAYLOR LTD. PERSONALIZED FRIENDLY SERVICE 085-8416 [G9 NORTIHI ST. PLACE POR P k RRY Atoastto the season The Scugog Chamber of Commerce hosted an Open House for the Community last Friday in an effortto introduce. the office to the public. Many local residents | took the opportunity 1 to take a look at | Scugog's business promoters. Here, Chuck Willes, Marion "Lee and Cliff Crowel enjoy a festive toast. | Deal Yet! Trade Up Now & Save Thousands! - INTEREST" *up to 48 months Ford F150 Grand Windstar Marquis : Taurus When you purchase from our wide TAYLOR selection of *See us FORD « MERCURY 97 & 98 brand new today for full Sales & Leasing ¢ Parts & Service & demo models. Bring in your trade details. . . and save even more! 985-3655 on NAVAS T/T & Port Perry ltl Nita . 8