Police increasing sobriety checks in Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon

Brampton residents are encouraged to plan ahead when it comes to New Year’s Eve celebrations or any holiday celebrations that involve alcohol.

This year, due to provincial restrictions, bars are prohibited from serving alcohol beyond 10 p.m., meaning many New Year’s Eve revelers will likely be celebrating at house parties.

Peel Regional Police (PRP) Chief Nishan Duraiappah is urging those who do intend to drink this holiday season to do so responsibly.

“One of the most common issues we see is impaired driving—it is the number one factor when it comes to collisions across the country, and we’ve seen instances of this increase in Peel Region,” he said during a press conference on Wednesday (December 29).

In order to prevent collisions associated with drunk driving, PRP has increased the number of officers on the road and the frequency of sobriety checks.

“Currently there are about 100 officers out seven days per week conducting ride checks,” Duraiappah said.

Duraiappah encouraged residents to prepare ahead of time if they plan on drinking, including downloading a ride-sharing app, such as Uber or Lyft; coordinating with a designated driver; or ensuring the host can accommodate overnight stays.

“We just want to ensure everyone can get to where they’re going safely,” he said.