Northern Ont. snowmobiler charged at RIDE check

An Ontario Provincial Police cruiser with its lights flashing at a RIDE check setup in Cochrane, Ont., on February 28, 2025. (Ontario Provincial Police/Facebook)

A 47-year-old is facing multiple charges – including impaired driving and driving insurance – after being stopped at a RIDE check on a snowmobile early Saturday morning, police said in a news release on Monday.

Just after midnight on March 1, officers with the James Bay Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachment were conducting Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere or RIDE operations on Concession Roads 6 and 7 in Cochrane, Ont.

“A motorized snow vehicle entered the checkpoint and officers requested a breath sample using an approved screening device,” OPP said,

“The driver refused to comply.”

Police said officers located two sealed cans of beer in the driver’s possession during the incident and their investigation revealed that the rider was “criminally prohibited from operating a motor vehicle and was bound by a recognizance to keep the peace.”

As a result, the 47-year-old local man has been charged with impaired driving, driving while prohibited, driving while suspended, driving without insurance, failing to securely fasten a helmet chin strap, breach of recognizance and refusing to comply with a breath demand.

In addition to the charges, per provincial regulations, the accused also had their licence suspended for 90 days and the snowmachine involved was impounded by police for seven days at the owner’s expense.

The accused is scheduled to appear in court on April 1 to answer the charges.

“The OPP remains committed to removing impaired drivers from our roads and trails,” said police.

“If you suspect impaired driving, call 911.”

“Plan ahead, make responsible choices, and keep our roads and trails safe,” said OPP in a related social media post.

“If you drive impaired, expect to be caught,” added OPP Const. Kyler Brouwer in the post.