Among the 488 charges listed on the court docket in Rankin Inlet this week, are for impaired driving. (File photo by Sarah Rogers)
Nunavut police denounce ‘plethora’ of impaired driving cases
Rankin Inlet’s circuit court saw 18 people up on impaired driving charges this week, say RCMP
Nunavut police are pointing to a “plethora” of impaired driving cases on this week’s court docket in Rankin Inlet as another reason to discourage drinking and driving in the territory.
The Nunavut Court of Justice is sitting in the Kivalliq community this week until Friday. Eighteen people appearing before the court face charges for impaired driving, Nunavut RCMP said in a Wednesday news release.
That includes one 29-year-old man who faced four different charges of impaired driving, police said.
The mandatory sentence for a first instance of impaired driving is a $1,000 fine and a one-year driving prohibition, the RCMP said.
“Of greater consequences in Canada, on average four people die every day and many more are injured in motor vehicle collisions involving alcohol and or drug use,” police said in the release.
“The RCMP would like to encourage people to keep reporting impaired drivers.”
It’s not clear if the number of charges on this week’s court docket indicates an increase in impaired driving in Rankin Inlet.
The Nunavut court had not held a sitting in the community since October, due to both COVID-19 restrictions and other administrative delays, resulting in more files than usual.
The court is also dealing with many assault cases this week: 64 charges of assault, 32 charges of assault with a weapon and three charges of aggravated assault.
People in Rankin Inlet can call their local RCMP detachment to report impaired driving or other crimes at 867-645-1111.
For help with alcohol addictions or substance abuse, call the Pulaarvik Kablu support line at 1-844-654-3580.
4 different offences.
How about they permanently take his drivers licenses away !
But maybe he does not a valid driver license ?
Ho about the rule of law ?
Thanks
“Of greater consequences in Canada, on average four people die every day and many more are injured in motor vehicle collisions involving alcohol and or drug use,” police said in the release.
This is stated in the article…. but how do these figures relate to northern Canada, not even remotely close Stupid comment
I think that it equates to roughly 1.25 people being killed a year in Nunavut due to operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol & drugs.
.
Given that this would include ATVs, snowmobiles, and also operating a boat I’m pretty sure that Nunavut would be at or over the Canadian national average.
This is only the Beginning !!
Wait until you Beer & Wine & Cannabis Store opens up.
In Iqaluit people are driving day and night intoxicated or high, some get caught but a lot don’t.
Don’t get me wrong…I don’t have anything against the Beer & Wine & Cannabis Store. Its the fact that a lot of stupid people are putting other peoples lives at risk driving high. It doesn’t matter if your driving a Car…Ski-Doo….ATV… or a Boat. Its still dangerous to you and the people around you.
So Sad 🙁 🙁
There has always been a huge problem with alcohol in this community, you see it being past down from one generation to the next.
Now with a beer and wine store let’s add fuel to the fire and hope things will get better over time without any real support programs in place.