Two Sault drivers charged in separate RIDE checks north of city

Reserve the Festive Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) checkpoints north of Sault Ste. Marie saw two drivers charged this week.

Around 3:45 a.m. Sunday, Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were conducting a Festive DRIVE check on Highway 17 and Highway 556.

During the check, a driver failed a screening test, indicating he had alcohol in his system.

Upon further investigation, Joseph Doiron, 43, of Sault Ste. Marie was arrested and charged with:

• operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
• driving a motor vehicle with an open liquor bottle
• Operating a motor vehicle with readily available marijuana

Around 2:38 a.m. Monday, Sault Ste. Marie OPP were conducting a Festival RIDE check at Highway 17 and Trout Lake Road.

Police say a driver refused to provide a breath sample during the RIDE.

As a result, Alain Carrier, 31, of Sault Ste. Marie was arrested and charged with:

• refuse to comply with the request

Both defendants were released from custody and will appear in court on Sault Street. Marie on January 6, 2025.

They were given a 90-day administrative license suspension and their vehicles were impounded for seven days.

None of the allegations have been tested in court, and both men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.