On January 24, 2026, the Ontario Provincial Police Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment conducted a high-visibility RIDE checkpoint targeting snowmobile traffic on OFSC District 6 (Snow Country) trails in the vicinity of Pembroke, Ontario to check riders for alcohol and drug impairment and to remind the community that impaired-driving laws apply on trails as they do on public roads.
Officers from the OPP Upper Ottawa Valley detachment, working with OFSC District 6 (Snow Country) trail patrols, used snowmobiles and stationary trail-side stops to carry out mandatory alcohol screening (MAS) and drug impairment assessments. The operation follows other local enforcement efforts (for example, RIDE checkpoints reported by the Pembroke Observer in December 2025) and comes amid a long-term safety push: the Upper Ottawa Valley area recorded 145 trail-related deaths between 2014 and 2024.
According to provincial guidance, a criminal conviction for impaired operation of a snowmobile can result in a driving prohibition of at least one year that applies to all classes of motor vehicles. Separately, amendments to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act that came into effect Jan. 1, 2026 mean that registering in the warn range (0.05–0.079 BAC) on a roadside screening device will now trigger an immediate seven‑day roadside licence suspension for a first occurrence (with longer suspensions for repeat occurrences).
Police remind residents that drivers aged 21 and under and novice drivers (Level One or Level Two — e.g., G1/G2/M1/M2) are subject to a zero-tolerance rule for alcohol and drugs. Riders seeking more information on legal requirements and trail safety can consult the Ontario government’s snowmobile safety guidance and the OFSC District 6 (Snow Country) trail resources.
