Four charged with impaired driving in Prince Edward County over the weekend

Officers from the Prince Edward County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were kept busy over the weekend, resulting in impaired charges for four separate drivers.

The first charges were laid on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, at approximately 9:20 p.m. Prince Edward County OPP conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on County Road 1 for speeding, according to a release from the OPP. A roadside test was administered, and the driver was arrested for impaired driving.

Colin McQuaid, 34 years old from Quinte West, was charged with the following offences:

• Operation while impaired – alcohol
• Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
• Fail to comply with a probation order, and
• Speeding.

At approximately 9 p.m. the next evening, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on Highway 62 for speeding. OPP said that a roadside screening test was administered, and as a result of the test, the driver was arrested for impaired driving. Additionally, open alcohol and cannabis were seized.

Niall Chomitz, 26 years old from Kingston, was charged with the following offences:

• Operation while impaired – alcohol
• Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
• Drive motor vehicle with cannabis readily available
• Drive motor vehicle with open container of liquor, and
• Speeding

On Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, at approximately 3:20 a.m., Prince Edward County OPP conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle for failing to obey a traffic signal on Picton Main Street. A roadside screening test was administered, and the driver was arrested for impaired driving, according to the release.

Michael Hargan, 32 years old from Prince Edward County, has been charged with the following offences:

• Operation while impaired – alcohol
• Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus), and
• Amber light – fail to stop

On that same evening, at approximately 9:50 p.m., officers from Prince Edward County OPP responded to a single motor vehicle collision on County Road 13 at Mitchell Crossroads. According to the release, police arrived on scene to find the vehicle well off the roadway and heavily damaged. A roadside screening test was administered, and the accused was arrested for impaired driving. Additionally, open alcohol was located within the vehicle.

Braydon McQuaid, 21 years old from Prince Edward County, was charged with the following offences:

• Operation while impaired – alcohol
• Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
• Young driver – blood alcohol concentration above zero, and
• Driving motor vehicle with liquor readily available

According to the release, all accused were released from custody and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville in October 2022. Additionally, all vehicles involved were impounded for seven days and their drivers’ licenses were suspended for 90 days.