(GODERICH, ON) – A combination of technology and some good old fashion police work has led to driving related charges against a Goderich resident.
09Sept at approximately 11:13 p.m. a Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer was operating a police vehicle equipped with the Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) system on Blake Street East when he was alerted to a possible suspended driver.
The ALPR system is a sophisticated licence plate scanning tool that uses Infra-Red illumination which captures an image of both the front and back of a vehicle. The system is capable of scanning thousands of licence plates per hour, checking them in real time against the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) database.
The system can quickly identify stolen plates, expired plates, plates that are associated to suspended and unlicenced drivers, wanted persons and those connected to Amber Alerts.
Upon stopping the vehicle the investigating officer confirmed the driver was indeed suspended. Additionally, while speaking with the driver the officer noted the driver had consumed some alcohol. A roadside screening test was conducted and the driver registered a fail.
He was arrested and transported to the Huron OPP detachment for breath testing. The tests were analyzed by a qualified intoxilizer technician and both tests were found to be over the legal limit.
Matthew HAKKERS, 32 years of age from Goderich has been charged with Operation While Impaired – Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) 80 Plus, Drive While Under Suspension and Drive Motor Vehicle – No Licence. He has been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich on November 23, 2020.