Checkstop campaign begins in Calgary for 2025 holiday season

Calgary police are starting their Checkstop campaign, targeting impaired and distracted driving.

The Calgary Police Service is stepping up its Checkstop campaign in the city for the 2025 holiday season.

Officials are launching the initiative as part of National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day along with Alberta Sheriffs, Tsuu T’ina Nation Police, the RCMP and Canadian Pacific Kansas City.

Authorities say impaired driving continues to be a problem in Calgary, where impaired driving was found to be a factor in five out of this year’s 35 traffic fatalities.

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“Every impaired driving collision is preventable, and we are working tirelessly to avoid more tragedies,” said Staff Sgt. Andy Woodward of the CPS traffic unit in a news release.

“While we are stepping up enforcement, we want to remind people in our community that we can all play a part in education and awareness. Choosing to drive sober, or helping someone else make that choice, can mean the difference between someone coming home safely, or not at all.”

So far this year, police have laid 109 Criminal Code charges for impaired driving or refusal to provide a breath sample.

More than 2,100 roadside sanctions were also handed out as of Dec. 3.

As part of the campaign, police are asking the public never to drive impaired or ride with anyone they know is impaired.

If anyone is attending an event where they will be drinking on consuming cannabis, police encourage them to arrange for a designated driver, call a taxi or rideshare service, take public transit or stay the night.

Checkstops happen year-round, police say, but during the month of December, the public should expect to see an increase in presence on Calgary roads and highways.

“Police can stop drivers at random and conduct roadside test for alcohol or drugs, even without suspicion of impairment. People who drive impaired risk criminal charges and loss of their driver’s licence,” officials said.