htc tt a 2 - "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2000 -- ---- DET Queen 1/2 PRICE HELD OVER ALL BURGERS ¥ 1/2 PRICE Th on all DQ Frozen Cakes DLT FR [034 We 131 AY - in stock cakes only - 1881 Scugog St., Port Perry 20 charged in first two weeks Beefed-up RIDE effort nets more drunk drivers By Chris Hall Weekend Star It would appear that motorists in Durham' are still not getting the message about drinking and driving. _ Statistics gathered during the first two weeks of the Durham Regional Police's 2000-2001 Holiday RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program show 20 people have already been arrested for drunk driving. That compares to only seven arrests during the same time frame last year. But Durham Police have increased their effort to combat drinking and dri- ving this year. They have stopped more vehicles, which has resulted in the increase in charges. During the first two weeks of the annu- ~ al RIDE program, officers set up check- points in Port Perry, Oshawa, Whitby, Bowmanville, Ajax, Pickering, and Courtice. Police have stopped 12,675 vehicles, and administered 157 breath tests. Those tests saw 27 drivers issued 12- hour license suspensions, and 20 others charged with impaired driving. Other charges laid include possession of stolen property, possession of a con- trolled substance, driving while disqual- ified, breach of bail, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, and contra- ventions of a G2 license. with = SCO of Bell Suhsse st By Och express | F Limited Satellite TV! In 1999, after the first two weeks of the RIDE program, Durham Police stopped 6,945 vehicles and administered 170 roadside breathalyzer tests. Thirty-three people were issued a license suspen- sion and seven people were charged with drunk driving. "We are stopping more vehides than we have in the past, but in looking at the stats the number of impaired charges have increased, and that's a scary stat," said Const. Dennis Glazier, Traffic Co- ordinator for North Durham's 26 Division. "Realistically, we just can't come out and say there's more impaired drivers on the road than before, just that we're catching more." Man faces drug charges A Sunderland man is facing drug charges after he was stopped by police last week. Durham Police pulled over a 39- year-old Sunderland man around 9:45 p.m. on Nov: 28 when they observed him driving erratically. He was found to be in possession of marijuana. He has been charged with one count of possession of a controlled sub- stance. | Offer available from Dec. 8-12 only! While supplies last! Time Offer! Dish, remote & receiver Programming Credit* $199.00 -$100.00 © Add $99 for installation "Apple to work programing package @ $52.95 mth