An Oro-Medonte man has been charged with impaired driving and Barrie police say he was also caught with "significant" amount of unmarked cigarettes following a traffic stop Friday night.
Shortly after 10:30 p.m., Oct. 20, an officer stopped a vehicle on Ferndale Drive, south of Dunlop Street.
The officer believed the driver exhibited signs of impairment and and failed a roadside breath test, city police stated in a news release.
The man was arrested and transported to Barrie Police Headquarters on Fairview Road for further testing, which determined he was not over the legal limit.
Prior to attending headquarters, police also say the driver’s vehicle was searched and 66 cartons of unmarked cigarettes were allegedly located.
The cartons were valued at approximately $4,000, according to police.
"Every cigarette purchase has to have a seal on it," Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon said.
The 62-year-old Oro-Medonte Township man was released from custody and has been charged with operation of a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, as well as possessing unmarked cigarettes and transporting unmarked cigarettes in bulk without a registration certificate. The last two charges are contrary to the Tobacco Tax Act.
Leon also clarified that the man was asked to provide a roadside breath sample, which he allegedly failed, after the officer observed what they believed were signs of impairment. Following another breath test at headquarters, police say the man's sample did not exceed 80 milligrams, but the impaired-driving charge could still be laid based upon the officer's initial observations and the results from the roadside test.
The accused is scheduled to appear in Barrie court on Dec. 4, 2023.
