A 43-year-old Kelowna woman is facing impaired driving charges after she was stopped by police only minutes after 83 officers from the Southeast District were honoured for their diligence and success enforcing impaired driving laws in BC yesterday morning.
The Kelowna RCMP received a report of an intoxicated woman outside the Yaletown Apartment complex located at 1579 Glenmore Road North, April 29 at 11:04 a.m.
“Police located the woman unconscious inside her grey Pontiac Grand Prix and found that she had no alcohol in her system but that she was exhibiting gross symptoms of impairment,” said Const. Kris Clark. “The investigator called for a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) who is an officer specially trained to recognize and investigate suspected drug-impaired drivers.”
An Alexa’s Team All-Star and DRE, who had only just received his award for being one of the top impaired driving investigators in the province at the Southeast District Alexa’s Team event, responded to the call.
After the completion of an evaluation on the driver, the DRE believed her to be impaired by a central nervous system depressant and is allegedly a prescription medication.
“Incidence of drug-impaired driving is on the rise and DRE members have never been busier with requests for their expertise. Locally, prescription medications appear to be at the top of the list of substances causing impairment of drivers with a few illicit drugs also being detected. If you have consumed drugs, illegal or otherwise, then don’t drive,” said Clark.
The woman faces a potential charge of Care or Control While Impaired and was issued a 24-hour driving prohibition. She was later released on a Promise to Appear for Court on August 21, 2014.
For more information on the DRE program, please go to the RCMP Website.
