Coquitlam RCMP, Port Moody Police receive MADD ‘Top 5″ award for efforts to catch drunk drivers

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Metro Vancouver has recognized Port Moody and Coquitlam as two of the region’s top performers in impaired driving enforcement.

In its third “Top 5” awards — based on per capita enforcement data from July 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2024 — Port Moody ranked second overall with a score of 92, while Coquitlam placed fourth with a score of 38.

“We are proud to recognize these police jurisdictions for their leadership in impaired driving enforcement and their commitment to keeping our roads safe,” said Tracy Crawford, MADD’s regional manager for Western Canada.

The ranking measures both criminal charges and roadside administrative actions, compared to each jurisdiction’s population. 

According to data provided by MADD Metro Vancouver, Port Moody officers carried out 212 enforcement actions in the 18-month period. Coquitlam RCMP officers, meanwhile, carried out 343 enforcement actions in both Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. 

Delta’s force, which ranked first overall among Metro Vancouver’s 13 municipalities, carried out 752 actions, equivalent to one impaired driving enforcement for every 144 residents. The cities of Surrey and Langley placed third and fifth, respectively.

MADD Metro Vancouver secretary and board member Kristine Li said the awards highlight police agencies that meet public expectations for strong enforcement.

“All the work we do, all the laws passed and advertising, means nothing if we don’t have vigorous enforcement,” Li said. “These jurisdictions are leading the effort the public expects, and we want to celebrate them.”

A key factor in enforcement, according to MADD, is the use of Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS), which allows police to demand a breath sample from any driver they lawfully stop. 

MADD is urging all police services to use MAS at every lawful traffic stop to detect impaired drivers more efficiently and deter risky behaviour.

MADD has presented the awards to both departments in recent days.

Const. Sam Zacharias, media officer for the PMPD, said the force was proud to have been recognized, noting it has been recognized with the award in previous years.

 “The Port Moody Police Department is committed to road safety,” he said. “We will continue to proactively enforce impaired driving legislation along with other traffic laws in our community to ensure our roads are safe for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike.”

In a post to social media celebrating the award, the PMPD stated it has conducted 249 impaired driving investigations in the last year alone.

In an email, Coquitlam RCMP said promoting public safety is one its four priorities in the 2023 to 2026 strategic plan, adding addressing road and traffic safety plays a large part.

“Coquitlam RCMP is honoured to be a recipient of a 2025 MADD ‘Top 5’ Award. It is humbling to receive recognition for the dedication and hard work provided by our teams 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” they said.

Coquitlam RCMP officers issued 32 impaired drug/alcohol charges under the Motor Vehicle Actin 2024, according to the force.