Police board looking to ding more people into New Year

A free trip home after a night of drinking may seem like it sells itself, but statistics on Prince Albert’s bus ridership for the “Ding in the New Year” campaign beg to differ.

The issue was brought up after a simple proposal came forward at the October Prince Albert Board of Police Commissioners meeting.

The proposal explains SGI has offered to fund it again this year.

However, member Lee Atkinson noted the plummeting numbers since Ding in the New Year helped 631 people get home safe in 2011.

In 2012 just over half of that – 348 people – took the bus home on New Year’s Eve between 7:45 p.m. and 3:15 a.m.

Raiders win 5-3

Defensive scoring leads Raiders over Wheat Kings

7h ago

GST Holiday

Federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

23h ago

Imminent need

Council set to discuss possible location for homeless shelter on 15th Street

Dec 14, 2024

There were even less people on board in 2013, with a ridership of 181.

“Impaired driving is part of our priorities as an enforcement body and it’s disheartening to see the numbers dropping when we’re encouraging responsible driving habits,” Police Chief Troy Cooper said in the meeting.

While the proposal includes following the same route as last year, Mayor Greg Dionne noted going off the beaten path may be a wise choice.

He cited last year when the route failed to go by a large event at the P.A. Exhibition Centre.

“We should look at the program and say, ‘OK we put all these buses on free, and the biggest party going on and the only party going on, 1,200 people at the Exhibition Centre, that we should make sure the bus is going there,’” Dionne mentioned in the meeting.

The proposal for 2014’s Ding in the New Year, which is in its 25th year in Prince Albert, notes police haven’t charged anyone with impaired driving in the past two years.

The document, signed by Sgt. Curtis Halcro, states “I believe there is a direct correlation between this program and the absence of an impaired driving criminal charge. Although the ridership is low, the message is out there with the media campaign.”

Cooper shed some insight into the current statistics for impaired driving.

“Impaired driving charges are just up slightly over last year which was a six year high. We’re up slightly now but not as a result of… the public reporting impaired driving. It’s a result of enforcement actions by police.”

claskowski@panow.com

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk