Saanich police is among the departments across B.C. that traditionally amp up impaired driving enforcement in December.

Halfway through the month, officers have already stopped 25 impaired drivers with 14 receiving 90-day licence suspensions and towed vehicles.

Aside from the human cost B次元官网网址� 61 people die every year in impaired driving crashes according  to ICBC B次元官网网址� B.C. has the highest financial consequences for impaired driving.

Penalties include vehicle impound which comes with costs B次元官网网址� fines from $600 to $4,060, jail time and installation of interlock

Drivers could also face a higher driver risk premium when insuring.

As well, anyone who drives impaired is likely in breach of their insurance policy, leaving them personally responsible for 100 per cent of damage and injury costs.

B次元官网网址淒rivers, there is no excuse for getting behind the wheel impaired by drugs or alcohol. Hail a taxi or ride-share, take transit, or have a designated driver,B次元官网网址� Saanich police said on social media. B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 have a safe and responsible holiday season.B次元官网网址�

Six members of the Saanich Police Department were recently recognized with AlexaB次元官网网址檚 Team Award for their work in taking dozens of impaired drivers off the streets in 2023.

The accolade is issued to an officer who removes at least 24 impaired drivers in a calendar year. Three Saanich officers were named Alexa Team-All Stars for removing 50 impaired drivers within 12 months.

Alexa's team was established in 2010 in honour of four-year-old Alexa Middelaer who was killed by a drunk driver.