The Guelph Police Service arrested two drivers on May 20, 2026, following separate incidents involving drug-impaired driving. Both individuals received 90-day licence suspensions and 7-day vehicle impoundments as part of ongoing efforts to increase road safety in the community.
The first arrest occurred just before 4 p.m. near Gordon Street and Wellington Street. Officers responded to a report of a driver who may have been impaired by cannabis and discovered a 31-year-old man from Whitby in a parking lot. Police noted a strong smell of burned cannabis and found a marijuana cigarette along with an open package of marijuana inside the vehicle. A drug recognition expert concluded the driver was impaired, leading to charges of impaired driving and having care of a vehicle with open cannabis.
A second incident took place at 6:35 p.m. on Teal Drive, where police were called to a two-vehicle collision. One of the drivers involved suspected the other was impaired. Upon arrival, officers observed signs of impairment in a 24-year-old Guelph man and placed him under arrest. A search of the individual uncovered a baggie of suspected cocaine. He now faces several charges, including impaired driving, dangerous driving, possession of a controlled substance, and driving while suspended.
These arrests follow provincial updates to the Ministry of Transportation Highway Traffic Act that came into effect on January 1, 2026. These changes implemented stricter penalties for impaired driving, including longer immediate roadside suspensions and an extended look-back period of 10 years for past offences when determining penalties. According to the Government of Canada, impaired driving remains the leading criminal cause of death and injury in the country.
Both drivers were released from custody with future court dates. Local authorities continue to emphasize the importance of road safety and encourage residents to plan safe rides home.
