Kirsten Larsen
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 11/98) - There's just no way around it, RCMP Check Stops are popping up everywhere.

Yellowknife RCMP have launched their Christmas season Check Stop program in a big way this year.

"We're doing more Check Stops than we did a few years ago," said Const. Ward Hoffman, highway patrol officer and co-organizer for the Yellowknife RCMP Check Stop program.

Over 500 vehicles were stopped during a major Check Stop between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9. near the firehall on Franklin Avenue.

Since the beginning of December, there have been four Check Stops held and there are approximately 10 more scheduled throughout the month of December and into early January.

There is no pattern to the days or times during which the Check Stops are set up. RCMP use the surprise approach and, given the number of people available to work a Check Stop, there could be as many as three police cars covering an area.

"We set up where we can be seen, but we also set one up to go hide too," said Hoffman.

Wednesday's Check Stop was assisted by student members of Students Against Drinking and Driving groups in the high school, who handed out candy canes and pamphlets warning against drinking and driving.

The primary target of the Check Stops is to catch impaired drivers and discourage people from drinking and driving. So far, one impaired charge has been laid by RCMP during the Check Stops, but Hoffman expects more to come as the holiday season approaches.

Two drivers have had their licences suspended for a 12-hour period after being stopped during the Check Stops. One of which was issued on Wednesday.

"He admitted to drinking," said Hoffman. "He wasn't over the legal limit but we didn't think he should be driving. We suspended his licence for 12 hours."

Of course there are people who will try to avoid the Check Stops, as RCMP are well aware.

"We are not going to get everybody," said Const. Hoffman. "There are going to be those that go around us."

You might think about sneaking down back streets, but RCMP warn drivers that if they see somebody obviously avoiding a Check Stop, they will pursue.

"We have people come up and try to run it, but we chase them," said Hoffman. "There was one on Airport Road just a while back and I chased them down. It wasn't an impaired, but they had (alcohol) in the vehicle, so it was an open liquor charge."

The consequences of an impaired driving charge doesn't just end at a possible fine or a suspended licence. Hoffman advises people to think about the long-term consequences before getting behind the wheel when impaired.

"If you get an impaired driving and you want to (drive) down to the States you won't be admitted, so you have to consider the consequences. Some people won't hire you if you have an impaired (charge)."