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OPP Prepared Locally And Provincially For Marijuana Legalization

OPP prepared for marijuana legalization locally and provincially.

That’s the message Bancroft OPP Constable Philippe Regamey wants to get across after marijuana became legal across Canada yesterday. Regamey says the OPP have worked with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) to get a plan in place. “The OPP, in consultation with the CACP and OACP is committed to developing consistent training for members to understand their role and responsibilities and approaches to enforcing the new legislation,” Regamey says. He continues, “we are also committed to promoting community safety and well-being for everyone,” Regamey says. “The OPP will also continue to review and research partnership opportunities for safety programs that assist in preventing crime and victimization, as well as improving public safety,” he says.

A “Cannabis Working Group” has already been established by the OPP. The group consists of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, Highway Safety Division, Corporate Communications and Strategy Management Bureau, Career Development Bureau, Business Management Bureau, Provincial Police Academy, Community Safety Services and Legal Services. “Each area has and will continue preparing internal policies, procedures and information to support front-line officers and investigators including training, tools and information to be disseminated as they become available,” Regamey says.

There is no plan to do extra R.I.D.E. programs, but Regamey says the OPP are expanding the DRE program as well as the Standardized Field Sobriety Testing so they can better detect drivers who might be driving high. “We ask those citizens to call 911 if they suspect a driver could be impaired behind the wheel,” he says.

Charges for getting caught driving high range from a three day license suspension and $250 fine for the first offence, to a month-long license suspension, being ordered into a treatment program, having an ignition interlock device installed on your car for six months, a mandatory medical exam and a $450 fine for a third and subsequent offences. The fines for impaired driving are not currently in place, but will be as of January 2019.

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