Even though the number of fatalities investigated by the Ontario Provincial Police was down over the Civic Day Long Weekend from last year, police were busy responding to calls and handing out fines.
Last year, there were eight fatalities across the West Region of Ontario, including six on roads patrolled by the OPP. This year, there were two, both in Haldimand County.
The total number of charges laid didn't change much. OPP officers laid 1,665 charges last year and 1,624 this past long weekend.
Fines for speeding dipped from 938 to 732 last weekend, marking a 22 per cent decrease. OPP officers laid 70 per cent fewer charges for distracted driving and failure to move over.
Impaired driving charges were up from last year, as were fines for not wearing a seatbelt. Those charges rose 226.9 per cent.
OPP Marine Units also enforced the law on waterways, ensuring boaters were wearing life jackets or personal floatation devices.
This year's provincial traffic safety campaign focused on distracted driving, impaired driving, seatbelt use, aggressive driving, and Ontario's "Move Over Law."
A breakdown of the charges laid include:
* Seatbelt fines: 170
* Distracted Driving: 31
* Impaired Driving: 45
* Stunt Driving: 24
* Fail to Move Over: 13
* Liquor Licence and Control Act related to traffic: 23
* Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act: 100
* Off-Road Vehicle charges: 1
* Cannabis Control Act: 8
* Canada Shipping Act small vessel regulations: 26
* Other Criminal Code violations related to traffic: 13
* Other provincial traffic-related charges: 438
The OPP responded to 4,800 calls for service throughout the long weekend.
"Our officers responded to a significant number of calls for service over the course of the Civic Day Long Weekend. Although we achieved some excellent results, members of the public still need to be reminded that operating a vehicle or vessel under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs should never be an option," said Staff Sergeant Tyler Holmes with the West Region Traffic Safety and Marine Unit.