Law enforcement agencies launch Operation Christmas

BY JOHN DECOSTE

NovaNewsNow.com

Representatives of law enforcement agencies from throughout the province gathered Wednesday at the Kentville Fire Hall to officially launch the 2008 Operation Christmas campaign.

Among those present at the event, co-hosted by the Kentville Police Service and Kings Detachment RCMP, were provincial transportation minister Murray Scott and MADD Canada president Margaret Miller of Shubenacadie.

Operation Christmas, the annual campaign to reduce impaired driving, especially during the holiday season, is a joint effort by government and police agencies to improve highway safety in Nova Scotia.

Following the official launch, police and other emergency personnel set up information checkpoints at five locations in the eastern Kings area. Police will continue to target impaired drivers throughout the holiday season.

A total of 99 people were killed on Nova Scotia highways in 2007. Of that number, 32 were alcohol-related fatalities. Alcohol was the leading contributing factor in fatal collisions in our province last year.

"Operation Christmas plays an important role in making our roads safer, particularly during the busy holiday season," said Scott, a former police officer.

"Cars are stopped and impaired drivers are taken off the road, which will, without a doubt, save lives."