More than 40 people were arrested in four days this past week for drunk driving, Toronto police said. The numbers have increased by three per cent from the same time period last year.
Authorities are not sure why there's been an increase, especially since in the past 20 years, there has been a steady decrease in collisions that involve alcohol and the number of people killed in them.
Supt. Earl Witty of Toronto police traffic services said he is concerned by the recent jump in arrests.
"When a person decides that they are going to drink and drive they have made the decision to possibly kill themselves or an innocent person," he said in a press release. "All that remains to be seen is whether they will follow through with the actual act."
In the last week, news headlines have been dominated by horrific car accidents.
On Saturday, two police officers were injured after a suspected drunk driver rammed their cruiser in North York.
Early Monday morning, a man was arrested after his car ended up driving the wrong way on the Don Valley Parkway. The driver was hospitalized with serious injuries.
On Tuesday, a 59-year-old taxi driver was killed on the Queen Elizabeth Way in Mississauga after his van was hit by a speeding car. Police suspect alcohol was a factor in the crash.
According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, a convicted drunk-driving offender faces a number of costs, including:
- Legal Costs (estimated range) $2,000 - $10,000
- Criminal Code Fine $600
- 'Back on Track' program $475
- Licence Reinstatement $150
- Ignition Interlock $1,300
- Minimum Total Cost $4,525
