Is Drunk Driving Among Police a Potential Problem?

Ontario has experienced an increasing number of reports of police officers being suspected and/or charged with DUIs, officially known as impaired driving. If these allegations are true and drunk driving is on the rise in some of our nation's police departments, it could be the sign of a serious problem.

Canada as a whole has seen reductions in the number of drunk driving offences, and Calgary and Alberta have enjoyed this downward trend as well. When supposed role models such as police officers begin engaging in what has become criminal behavior, there is a risk of seeing this trend start to reverse.

"If you're caught for an impaired driving offence, you should no longer be a police officer," says Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Vince Hawkes.

"Drinking and driving is something that is very public and someone needs to make the decision to get into the vehicle and drive when they have been drinking. I just think there is no excuse for that."

Fortunately, no similar allegations of drunk or impaired driving have been made against members of the Calgary Police Service or other law enforcement agencies in the Greater Calgary Area or throughout Alberta, not in the numbers apparently being seen in Ontario.

Everyone in Calgary, from police to average citizens, criminal defence lawyers to Crown prosecutors, should be aware of the dangers of drunk driving. Not only are there harsh legal penalties for impaired driving convictions, but such behavior presents a great risk to the safety of everyone on Calgary's roads.