Steinbach RCMP stopped 240 vehicles during the first week of the Holiday Checkstop Program.

Staff Sergeant Harold Laninga says the program will run the month of December. In seven checkstops the first week, there was one Criminal Code Impaired Driving Charge, one alcohol-related tiered administrative roadside suspension, 12 traffic-related Highway Traffic Act charges and one Liquor & Gaming Control Act offense.

Laninga says they are looking for high-risk behaviours such as impaired driving and will also be checking for seatbelt use. He notes unfortunately during the holiday season, some people choose to drink more alcohol. He suggests people consider using Operation Red Nose or calling a cab if they have had too much to drink.

Laninga says he thinks the program is making a difference.

"I'd sure like to think that if you know there's an excellent chance of you being caught by the police, losing your license, the associated fine," he says. "And that's not even counting the fact that you may kill someone."

Meanwhile, through week one of the program, there were 2,383 vehicles checked across the province during 51 checkstops. As a result of checkstops and regular patrol, 50 people were charged with a Criminal Code Impaired Driving offense, there were 23 alcohol-related tiered administrative roadside suspensions, 882 traffic-related Highway Traffic Act charges laid along with 200 warnings, 10 Liquor & Gaming Control Act offenses and 11 other Criminal Code Driving offenses.

There were no traffic-related fatalities during the first week of the program in Manitoba.