BARRIE & AREA: 1)Barrie Police take 10 impaired drivers off the road in two days; 2)41 distracted driving charges in 12-hour shift: Huronia West OPP 3)McKay Road East full road closure begins November 27
1) Barrie Police take 10 impaired drivers off the road in two days
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Julius Hern, November 24, 2025
As the holiday season approaches, RIDE programs are becoming much more common, and Barrie is no different.
Barrie Police says it charged 10 drivers with impaired operation through RIDE checks by its Traffic Unit and general patrol on Saturday and Sunday.
In one incident on Saturday morning, one driver alerted an officer on patrol on Collier Street to a possible impaired driver. Eventually the officer initiated a traffic stop.
Upon speaking to the 23-year-old male driver from Barrie, the officer arrested him for impaired operation. Later, when his female passenger arrived at Barrie Police headquarters to pick the man up, she was arrested after it was realized she was wanted on several warrants outside Barrie.
Just after midnight on Sunday morning, one officer noticed another driver being erratic and cutting across lanes near Dunlop Street West and Sarjeant Drive.
When police stopped the vehicle, the 37-year-old male driver resisted arrest. During the struggle, he reached into his pocket, which led to the officer using their stun gun in consideration of their own safety. The man was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Among the charges the man was booked on are impaired operation, operation while prohibited, assault with intent to resist arrest, failure to comply with probation, and refusal to comply with demand.
“Impaired driving, whether it involves alcohol or drugs, is dangerous – not only for drivers and their passengers, but also for everyone else on the roads,” Barrie Police said in a release. “There are many other options available, including taxis, public transit and ride sharing. Our officers, including our dedicated Traffic Services Unit are out around the clock, working to keep our roads safe.
2) 41 distracted driving charges in 12-hour shift: Huronia West OPP
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, November 27, 2025
A traffic safety enforcement initiative throughout Clearview Township, Springwater Township and Wasaga Beach on Wednesday resulted in provincial police laying 41 distracted driving charges.
Police say increased attention was paid to school and community safety zones.
Among the charges laid during the 12-hour shift, police say 15 offences were committed in a school zone while officers were monitoring a crosswalk as students made their way to school.
Penalties for distracted driving include:
• 1st offence: $615 ticket (up to $1,000 in court), 3 demerit points, 3-day licence suspension
• 2nd offence: $615 (up to $2,000), 6 demerit points, 7-day suspension
• 3rd+ offence: $615 (up to $3,000), 6 demerit points, 30-day suspension
3)McKay Road East full road closure begins November 27
Courtesy Barrie360.com and News Release
By Release, November 26, 2025
McKay Road East will be closed to all through traffic between Veteran’s Drive and Huronia Road beginning November 27, 2025, until approximately January 23, 2026, to allow for sanitary sewer installation as part of the McKay Road East Watermain & Trunk Sanitary Sewer project.
This project supports planned growth and essential infrastructure upgrades in the area, including the installation of a new watermain on McKay Road East (east to west of Highway 400) and a new trunk sanitary sewer between Highway 400 and Huronia Road. Overall construction is expected to be completed by spring 2028. Work will be completed in stages over the course of the project, and the contractor will work to optimize efficiencies and manage road impacts as construction progresses.
This full road closure is necessary to ensure the safety of residents, motorists, and construction crews during trenching operations, major sanitary sewer installation, and heavy equipment use.
Local traffic will only be permitted from Veteran’s Drive up to the work zone. Detour signage will be installed to help guide motorists around the closure.
Detours will be in place during the road closure:
McKay Road West – Veteran’s Drive – Mapleview Drive West – Huronia Road – McKay Road East
McKay Road East – Huronia Road – Innisfil Beach Road – Veteran’s Drive – McKay Road West
Barrie Transit routes and schedules will not be affected, though Transit ON Demand Zone F may experience temporary service impacts, which will be posted in advance at MyRideBarrie.ca/news.
For more information and updates on this and other City construction projects, visit barrie.ca/roadwork.