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~ Those OPP spot checks can dent your wallet From Nov. 1 to Dec. 16, OPP in District: 7 checked 6,863 drivers in an effort to rid our high- ways of drunk drivers. As a result of these roadside checks, a total of 74 drivers were charged while another 132 had their driver's licence suspended for a 12-hour period. December is no longer the worst time of the year for drinking and driving according to Ontario Provincial Police officials who credit the reduction to the public's increased awareness' of the problem during fhe party season. OPP Commissioner Archie Ferguson said, "We owe a_ debt gratitude to all the private groups businesses and the media for helping the police to reduce the number of drinking drivers. For our part, we want to get as many of these motoring criminals off the road as possible." The OPP will be pursuing its year-round spot -check program in order to catch drinking: drivers and discourage others from returning to past habits. In Ontario, the OPP checked 127,000 vehicles during -last Christmas and New Year's holidays. One driver in 100 checked out as impaired. 1.6 percent of the drivers received 12-hour licence suspensions. Average levels through the year are 1.6 percent impaired drivers and 2.3 percent 12-hour licence suspensions. In June 1983, the day- to-day provincial police campaign against drinking drivers was changed drastically with the inception of a pilot program of spot checks in the London OPP district. The London OPP increased their en- forcement of the drinking and driving laws, and the positive results were given a lot of publicity. The pilot project was extended province- wide in January 1984. Over the past two years, the OPP has joined other interested groups in trying to change the attitude of people to the drinking Eyeing taxation methods The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing will conduct discussions during 1985 to examine municipal taxation of recreational trailers occupying campsites on a_long- term basis. The announcement by Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Claude Bennett follows a series of preliminary discussions held recently to consider if municipalities should be allowed to charge fees for recreational trailers situated in cam- pgrounds on a long-term basis. This review would not apply to shorter term users of campsites, such as weekend or daily rentals, Bennett said. Under current legislation, the owners of recreational trailers are exempt from paying Gives its County of Simcoe District Health Council, at its Dec. 13 meeting, approved the recom- mendation of its Health Needs and Services Study Steering Com- mittee that .the con- sulting firm of Don Teasdale & Associates be retained for the conducting of Phase One of this Special Project. The budget being submitted for the consideration of the Ministry of Health for this Phase of the project is $130,000 for professional fees and $12,500 for expenses. Phase One is expected to take 12 months to municipal property taxes because it was felt at the time _ the legislation was enacted that trailers were transient vehicles located temporarily in different municipalities. However, a number of municipal councils have pointed out that many owners of recreational trailers now do not move about the province, but park their trailer at one campsite and Use it several onths each year. A number of municipalities have requested that such long-term residents of trailér campsites be required to contribute to local revenues. "Municipal councils are not concerned with tourists moving about the province in their trailers, spending a few okay complete. This special project, which had _ previously been endorsed by the District Health Council, is a comprehensive examination of the health care needs of the residents of Simcoe County and the delivery system which is in- tended to meet these needs. It is also a proactive planning exercise which will culminate in the development of an in- tegrated plan or blueprint for the evolution of the Health Care Delivery System in Simcoe County for the next five to 10 years. Basking in the sun was high on everyone's agenda Snowblowers were put away and the occasional lawn mower was dusted off over the weekend and put into operation during a late 1984 'Indian Summer."' Mild weather put a crimp on skiing but afforded outdoors types an opportunity to bask in warm sunlight nevertheless. Newspaper publishing dates are back to normal We willbe publishing The Citizen-Times Weekender this Friday as usual now that the Christmas-New Year's holiday period is nearing an end. Next week newspapers will be published both Wednesday and Friday as normal. It's back to school next week It's back to school next Monday for elementary, secondary and university students following a long Christmas-New Year's holiday period. Page 4, Wednesday, January 2, 1985 days or a few weeks at a trailer campsite,"' Bennett said. 'There has never been any thought of charging those people a fee." "The main concern municipalities have voiced is with the long- term residents of trailer campsites, who are using the same municipal services as cottagers but where it is uncertain that the current taxes on campgrounds are commensurate' with those on cottages." Bennett said _ his ministry plans to consuJt with various representatives of the tourism and cam- pground industries during the next year, as well as with a large nd m:-be or Dah municipalities. The ministry has no plans to bring forward legislation on the issue until the matter has been discussed fully, Bennett said. "This is a complex issue which requires careful examination and study," Bennett said. "I am confident that our discussions during the next year will result in a_ solution which will be acceptable to all parties involved with this issue."' driver. The OPP's slogan "Prove You Care' tries to put concern where it should be, and that is with every member of the | We guess you could say, Joe Toth's hobby is for the birds. public. Commissioner _ Fer- guson said police will be stopping drivers frequently over the holidays, and he asked He's Road home. photographed here filling a bird for support from the public by accepting this procedure as being in the interests of everyone using Ontario highways. feeder full of goodies near his Bert's FA CANADA'S LARGEST RICLAND FASHION FABRIC DISTRIBUTOR 944 Bayfield St. Barrie L4M 5A2 726-4400 (Next to Unclaimed Freight) eOpen Mon to Fri. 9:30 to 9:30 p.m ICLAND FASHION FABRIC DISTRIBUTOR CANADA'S LARGEST ae Se Sareea CR