News release

RCMP in Nain and Hopedale arrest impaired snowmobilers

February 4, 2026 - Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
From: Newfoundland and Labrador RCMP

Content

Labrador District RCMP arrested two women for impaired operation of an off-road vehicle in separate incidents on Monday night, after tips from the public in Hopedale and Nain.

Just before 11:00 p.m. on February 2, 2026, Hopedale RCMP responded to a call from a concerned member of the public, indicating that a woman had driven her snowmobile from a local bar while intoxicated, headed towards potentially unsafe ice. The woman was located a short time later, showing signs of intoxication, and was arrested for impaired operation and provided with a breath demand.

The 60-year-old Hopedale woman was returned to the local RCMP detachment where she provided breath samples in excess of the legal limit. Her license was suspended and her snowmobile was seized and impounded. She will appear in court at a later date to answer to the charges of impaired operation. 

At approximately 11:30 p.m. Nain RCMP received a similar report of an impaired snowmobile operator in the area of Harmony Street in Nain. The operator was located after her vehicle crashed nearby, and she exhibited clear signs of impairment.

The 41-year-old Nain woman was given a demand for a breath sample, which she refused, and was arrested. She was released to appear in provincial court on later date to answer to criminal charges of impaired operation and refusing to comply with a breath demand.

Refusing to comply with a demand issued as part of an impaired driving investigation is a criminal offence. If convicted, the penalties are the same as a conviction of impaired driving.

Impaired operation of any motor vehicle — including all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles — is a choice that places the driver and others at an increased, and unacceptable, level of risk. If you suspect an individual is driving any type of vehicle while impaired, please call 911 to make a report.

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