A Barrie man is facing several charges after a downtown traffic stop allegedly uncovered open alcohol, cannabis and a blood-alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit.
According to the Barrie Police, officers on patrol shortly before midnight on Wednesday, March 4th noticed two men walking north on Clapperton Street near Dunlop Street East who appeared unsteady on their feet. Police watched as one of the men entered the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle while the other got into the passenger seat.
Officers positioned their cruiser behind the idling vehicle and conducted a licence plate check, which showed the registered owner’s driver’s licence had recently expired. When police approached the vehicle, they noticed several open alcoholic beverage containers in the rear seat and open cannabis packages near the centre console.
Police say the driver showed signs of impairment, including slurred speech and glossy eyes, and admitted to having consumed “a few” drinks. He was arrested and taken to police headquarters, where breath tests indicated a blood-alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit.
A 36-year-old Barrie man has been charged with:
- Drive motor vehicle – no licence
- Have care or control of a vehicle with cannabis readily available
- Operation while impaired
- Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
Barrie police say nine drivers have been taken into custody for impaired driving in the past week and are reminding motorists to plan a safe ride home.
