Quinte West OPP, Belleville Police Service, Central Hastings OPP, Prince Edward County OPP and members of the OPP Highway Safety Division will be conducting Focused Patrols in various areas of the region to combat impaired driving. Focused Patrol uses analytical data to determine crime and traffic trends within municipalities. The information ensures detachments are better able to determine where and when resources should be deployed. Impaired driving charges have risen across Ontario and locally officers have increased efforts to successfully remove impaired drivers from our roads. "The increase in the number of impaired driving charges is staggering. It is proactive patrols such as RIDE programs that are helping get impaired drivers off our area roads", says Inspector Kristy McNaughton. From October 20th to November 2nd, the motoring public in the Quinte Region will see an increase in RIDE programs and, at a traffic stop, motorists will be required to provide a breath sample at the side of the road. Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) became law in Canada in 2018 and is used worldwide. Countries that have been using MAS for longer periods have noticed a reduction in impaired driving incidents. Officers are committed to ensuring the roads in the Quinte Region are safe for everyone who uses them. ^bd