The Central Interior region saw 3,213 vehicles checked, 23 impaired-driving prohibitions issued, and 76 tickets written during this year’s Light Up The Province enforcement night on December 6. BC Highway Patrol and partner police agencies set up 10 check stops across Kamloops, Merritt, Kelowna, and Clearwater, creating a strong early push for safer holiday roads.

Inspector Adam Tallboy of BC Highway Patrol said most drivers were cooperative and supportive, noting that Mandatory Alcohol Screening helped officers remove several impaired drivers who showed no visible signs of impairment until tested.

Local officers reported steady traffic volumes but few major issues, crediting designated drivers, ride-share services, and better planning as reasons for the lower impairment numbers in the Kamloops area. With winter conditions taking hold on Interior highways, Tallboy urged motorists to “drive sober, slow down, and give yourself extra time.”

The province-wide campaign also delivered some unusual moments, including a speeding driver on the Sea to Sky Highway who falsely claimed she was racing home to a child in medical distress—later revealed to be her dog.

Provincial totals: Across B.C., officers checked 52,091 vehicles and issued 190 impaired-driving prohibitions and 662 tickets at 74 check stops, marking an increase in total screenings but a decrease in impaired drivers compared to last year.