Mandatory breath samples now required in every Toronto-area traffic stop: OPP [Video]

Ontario Provincial Police say they are taking their strongest measures yet by requiring a mandatory breath sample from drivers for every traffic stop in the Greater Toronto Area.

The OPP said it is using the full extent of Canada’s Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) which was amended in 2018 to allow police to demand a breath test of any driver even in the absence of suspicion.

OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said breath samples to check for alcohol will be required even if drivers are pulled over for speeding, using a cellphone or other offences.

Impaired driving charges are up almost 30 per cent from five years ago. Schmidt said there was 11,000 impaired driving charges last year compared with more than 8,000 in 2019.

“We’re seeing a huge increase in those numbers and specifically in the GTA,” Schmidt told 640 Toronto’s Greg Brady.

Schmidt said there has been a dramatic increase in collisions so …