Nanaimo RCMP are pleased with the results of their weekend campaign to remove impaired drivers from the roads, with only four out of over 500 drivers checked found to be impaired. (RCMP on Facebook)

By Jordan Davidson

holiday campaign

‘Overwhelming number of sober drivers:’ Nanaimo RCMP pleased with impaired driving checks

Dec 8, 2025 | 11:58 AM

NANAIMO — Local Mounties are satisfied with results of an annual ‘Light up the Province’ campaign on Saturday to get impaired drivers off the road.

Around 500 drivers of all ages were stopped in Nanaimo from the evening of Saturday, Dec. 6, until early Sunday morning, with only a handful found to be impaired.

RCMP Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien said they were very pleased with these results and hope the trend continues throughout the holiday season.

“We saw an overwhelming number of sober drivers. At the end of the night, about 500 vehicles were checked, and only four individuals were found to have failed a breath test. Two during the road checks, and one by our front-line officers on their regular duties, and one officer participating in the bar watch program.”

He said the drivers who failed the breath test were each issued a 90-day prohibition, with several other violation tickets were handed out for minor infractions.

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Most of the drivers they spoke with were happy to see officers out in full force, according to O’Brien, with many opting to take ride-sharing services, taxis, or getting rides from friends to reach their destinations safely.

Roadblocks were set up at different traffic chokepoints in Nanaimo, with officers looking for signs of driver impairment.

“They did have a lot of demands. People had shown symptoms that they were drinking, but they’re well below the legal limit for either a fail or a warning.”

During the 2024 Light up the Province campaign, over 200 drivers were removed from provincial roads for being impaired, with only two of those drivers coming from the mid-Island.

“The public can expect us to be out in force throughout the holidays, and again, as we said, it’s for a singular purpose: we’re going to remove impaired drivers from our streets.”

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