A 20-year-old driver is facing impaired driving charges after a concerned caller reported a vehicle hitting the ditch and swerving back onto the highway west of Portage la Prairie on Friday night.

Just after 9:00 p.m. on December 5th, 2025, Portage la Prairie RCMP were alerted to a possible impaired driver travelling north on Highway 13 toward the Trans-Canada Highway. The caller was able to give officers a detailed description of the vehicle, including the licence plate, and reported that the vehicle had left the road and entered the ditch before returning to the highway.

RCMP say officers quickly headed toward the area and soon spotted the suspect vehicle travelling west on Highway 1 near Portage la Prairie. A traffic stop was initiated and police approached the 20-year-old male driver.

Tip from the public leads to arrest

Officers say the man showed clear signs of impairment when they spoke with him at the roadside. He was placed under arrest for impaired driving and taken to the Portage la Prairie RCMP detachment, where he provided breath samples for analysis.

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The samples came back at more than double the legal blood-alcohol limit to operate a motor vehicle. As a result, the driver now faces charges of Impaired Operation of a Vehicle While Over 80 mg% and Impaired Operation of a Vehicle, along with four additional offences under the Highway Traffic Act.

The man’s driver’s licence has been suspended, and the vehicle he was operating has been towed and impounded for a minimum of 30 days. He has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

RCMP remind drivers to plan a safe way home

RCMP say this incident is another example of how important it is for motorists to call police if they see a driver they believe may be impaired. In this case, the detailed information from the caller helped officers quickly locate the vehicle and get it off the road before anyone was hurt.

Police are reminding drivers that there is never a good reason to get behind the wheel after drinking, especially during the busy winter driving and holiday season. They’re urging people to plan ahead by lining up a sober driver, taking a cab, or arranging a safe ride home before the evening begins.

Officers add that one phone call from a concerned motorist can be the difference between a close call and a tragedy, and they’re asking everyone to help keep local roads safe by reporting suspected impaired driving whenever they see it.

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