Edmonton Journal has reported:

Wood Buffalo RCMP issued charges or penalties to 58 drivers in Fort McMurray, Alta., over the Thanksgiving long weekend, following 10 check-stops between Friday, Oct. 9, and Monday, Oct. 12. Police said the stops resulted in more than 115 mandatory alcohol screening demands.

The enforcement was part of Operation Impact, an annual nationwide road safety campaign aimed at reducing road incidents, injuries and deaths caused by “impaired, aggressive, or fatigued driving.” The campaign also targets violations of seatbelt and child car seat laws.

RCMP said 47 drivers were charged with various offences under the Traffic Safety Act. Three were charged with impaired driving, one was charged for failing to use a car seat and another was found driving without a licence. One driver received an Immediate Roadside Sanction (IRS) Caution and a three-day driving suspension.

Five drivers received IRS fails under the Traffic Safety Act. The sanction carries a minimum fine of $1,200, a 90-day licence suspension and a 30-day vehicle seizure. Police said repeat offenders face harsher fines.

Whenever officers detected impaired driving, police said, the driver and vehicle were immediately removed from the road. One of the 58 drivers was a 38-year-old Edmonton man who was involved in an impaired-driving collision. Breath samples showed his alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit.

At 10:35 p.m. Sunday, officers responded to a 911 crash notification about a single-vehicle collision on Highway 63, 10 kilometres north of Fort McMurray. The driver, the vehicle’s only occupant, was believed to be under the influence of alcohol and was found in a grey Audi SQ5 that had rolled into a ditch.

The man faces impaired-driving charges and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 25. Police did not identify him in the information provided.

In response to the weekend’s number of incidents, Wood Buffalo RCMP urged residents to plan transportation before drinking. Police advised arranging a designated driver among friends or family, using a rideshare service or taxi, or staying overnight with a friend or family member.