Another frigid night.

The traffic team of Sensational Steve and Chick Magnet Curtis were our hosts for another night with Checkstop.  We started with a group of about 10 officers with the Checkstop van on Regent.  It was SO cold.  I was very impressed again with how courteous both the drivers and the officers were.  I also appreciated how many designated drivers were out there.

One older gentleman that we pulled over received a WARN when given the ASD.  This meant he received a 24 hour suspension.  He was very concerned about leaving his car in the cold without being plugged in.  As it turned out, he didn't live too far away so I volunteered to drive him, his passenger, and his car to his home for him.  He gave me a nice interview,I had a lovely drive complete with Christmas carols on the radio and I learned a little more about the two men.  One had recently retired after 37 years at the same company.  Had never missed a day of work....and I believe him.  He was originally from Chile.  The driver had recently arrived from Halifax.  Two hardworking guys out for a few drinks. But they learned a relatively inexpensive lesson and more than anything....everyone was safe.

Towards the end of the night we were called to a collision near the Norwood bridge.  The driver was clearly intoxicated and he was arrested and charged.  The young woman he hit was in pretty good spirits - but it could have been so much worse.  The guy blew 140 and will lose his licence for at least a year.

Then we were called over to a significant crash on Logan.  Here's the official release.  I took a few pictures at the scene.  The guy was a total menace and although he put two other drivers (in separate collisions) in the hospital in addition to himself...no one was killed.  Serious property damage too.

http://winnipegpolicenewsreleases.blogspot.ca/

This vehicle had been through a lot. 

Was very impressed at how quickly they were able to get this house fixed up to survive terrible temperatures.

This was our last night of filming and I just have to take a moment to thank Steve and Curtis again.  We learned so much about road safety, photo radar, cellphone and distracted driving laws, and impaired driving tests and laws. Steve served in Afghanistan with the Canadian Armed Forces and he's just someone I'm proud to know.  Honest, committed and a sneaky sense of humour.  Curtis is an enthusiastic world traveller - leaving for Ghana at the end of January, a great cook and just a charming rogue.  Between the two of them, we have fantastic content for our road safety video.

Add to that the ever entertaining Dave Gaudet and his enthusiasm for the project, dedication to the cause no matter the conditions and genuine talent of an experienced cinematographer and you get a memorable experience.  A shout out to Shea who assisted with many of the shoot days - helping out a ton.

Dave, Curtis, moi, Steve

Now it's up to me, with the help of trusty George, to cut this into something.

But first...finishing off the last.two more Doctors Care episodes.

Sorry - it's been awhile.

Since beginning production on Doctors Care, I haven't really felt like I've had a lot of "down" time.  When I said back in March that it was an ambitious project - I sure wasn't kidding.  I guess, to be honest, I didn't realize just HOW ambitious.  So this blog is quite out of date.

But - I'll update on Doctors Care later.  Today I want to talk about the Winnipeg Police Service.

The WPS issued an RFP in June and we put together an elaborate proposal.  After a very long wait of 3 months, we were rewarded with the good news that we won in mid-September.

I have such a high regard for the WPS, it's difficult to put into words how sad I would have been if we had lost.  But, be that as it may - we were successful and are pursuing pro-active ways of getting Road Safety messages out there and continuing with Just Slow Down.

We are currently working on a Road Safety video that will encompass messages about Speeding, Distracted Driving and Drinking and Driving.

Last night it was minus 30 degrees celsius, and we were out with the dedicated members of the WPS, filming the Checkstop program.

Getting the lowdown on the process.  

That's me on the right.  Good thing Dave had an extra snowsuit.

First impaired.  Blew 1.2.  

On Disraeli around 1 am.  Too slippery though. 

Driving the wrong way down Osborne was a bit of a tip off.  Blew 1.2

About to get the Breathalyzer at the PSB. 

Getting fingerprinted.  

I don't want to sound holier than thou -everyone enjoys having drinks with friends, but, an evening with the WPS is very eye-opening.  Here's what I've learned as of last night.

1.  The bottom line is...the police want you off the road when you have had too much to drink.   The WARN reading on the ASD (alcohol screening device) means you will have your licence suspended for 24 hours and you will need to find another way home.  This is a big part of what Checkstop is all about.

2.  Having said that....the police do not believe that an impaired charge is a minor or insignificant charge.  It is a criminal offence.

3.  Many of the people who received the 24 hour suspension expressed gratitude.  Certainly they were relieved that they did not blow over the .08 legal limit - but they also were very courteous to the officers and praised them for what they were doing.

4.  It takes more alcohol than you might think to be over the legal limit.  We witnessed people we thought were quite impaired who received only the 24 hour suspension. (The ASD device can indicate the WARN or the officer can merely determine if you are impaired through your behaviour and certain observances they are trained to make.)   It is not a good idea to refuse a Breathlyzer - there's a very good chance that you aren't over that legal limit - and a 24 hour suspension is really a very small penalty to pay.

5.  The officers were very courteous to everyone.  I do not believe that this was only because our camera was there.  They were courteous, respectful...but firm.

6.  It was SOOOOO cold!  That is not an easy job.

7.  For a time we were on Disraeli Freeway.  The roads were so icy the officers felt they themselves might cause some difficulties in that spot - and they were very concerned about safety for the drivers and for their own personnel (and for us!)  So we did not stay there.

8.  We knew that word was out that we were outside a particular Beverage Room - and yet the drivers kept coming and we kept pulling them over.  It was a bit weird.

9.  There is a lot of paperwork involved.  It ties up the officers for quite some time when they find a driver that shouldn't be out there.

10.  One of the drivers who was pulled over had a suspended licence from 3 years ago.  His vehicle also was not licensed. It is likely that he has been driving illegally all that time.  He also blew a WARN into the ASD.  A really good thing to get him off the road.

11.  Not really much point in lying when the officer asks you how much you've had to drink.  (everybody does.)  The officers really do know .  It's quite funny watching each respondent make up their number.

12.  One of the officers was relatively new (1 year) on the force.  She is in general patrol but likes working with Traffic.  She feels it is a very important job.  I couldn't agree more.

13.  The 23 year old who blew 1.2 and so will receive a number of charges - ie Driving while impaired plus Driving over the legal limit - was primarily worried about his mother's reaction.  Some things are just so consistent - we hate to disappoint our moms.  (This was the guy who was observed doing an illegal u-turn and then heading up Osborne the wrong way.)

14.  Cameras don't really like it when it gets that cold.  And batteries like it even less. Big challenge keeping everything running.   Kudos to Dave Gaudet for capturing all the great footage out there.

15.  It was a very interesting evening and I believe people will be impressed by what they see in the video.

If possible, I have even more respect for the WPS now, than I did before.