A call from a concerned citizen led police to a 29 year old Kelowna man who was prohibited from driving and allegedly impaired by drugs yesterday.
On March 12th, 2012 at 12:35pm, the Kelowna RCMP received a report of a possible impaired driver on Gordon Drive at Casorso Road. The report indicated that a white Ford pickup was all over the road, hitting the curb and nearly causing several collisions with other vehicles. With the help of the caller, police were able to track the driver down on the 3100 block of Lakeshore Road. The man exhibited obvious signs of impairment, but not of alcohol. He had apparently been consuming crack cocaine and heroin earlier that morning. And to top it all off, he had been served a prohibition from driving the previous day.
Being impaired from drugs is the same as alcohol, and carries the same penalties. Drugs can affect reaction time and decision making abilities the same as alcohol.
The man now faces potential charges of Impaired Driving, Dangerous Driving and Driving While Prohibited. He was released on a Promise to Appear for Court in July, 2012.
The Kelowna RCMP would like to thank the caller for reporting this incident as their actions may have prevented tragedy.
While most people understand that drinking alcohol and driving is dangerous, people need to understand that using drugs, illegal and prescription, and driving is as just dangerous.
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