Shortly before midnight on January 5^th, 2026, a member of the Owen Sound Police Service observed a snowmobile on the sidewalk in the city’s downtown and conducted a traffic stop.

During the interaction with the driver, the officer detected signs of alcohol consumption.  The officer requested a roadside breath sample which resulted in the driver registering a ‘fail’.  The driver was placed under arrest and was taken to the Owen Sound Police Service for further testing, which revealed a blood alcohol concentration in excess of the legal limit.

As a result of this investigation, the 31-year-old Owen Sound resident was charged with:

-          Operating a vehicle with over 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

-          Operating a motorized snow vehicle on a sidewalk.

-          Operating a motorized snow vehicle in the prohibited downtown area.

The driver’s license was immediately suspended for 90 days, and the snowmobile was impounded for 7 days.  The driver was later released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court later this month.

The Owen Sound Police Service would like to remind citizens that Owen Sound city by-law No.1976-027 restricts operating a motorized snow vehicle on any sidewalk and that the city also prohibits snow vehicles from operating on several streets in the community.   

For more information on the Owen Sound city by-laws please visit the following link:

 https://www.owensound.ca/city-government/by-laws-and-policies/