Police fight back against those tweeting RIDE locations

TORONTO – Toronto Police are fighting back against people exposing locations of RIDE checkpoints this holiday season.

With the expanding RIDE programs during the holiday, people have taken to social media to let others know where RIDE checkpoints are across the Greater Toronto Area.

SOUND-OFF: Should people be allowed to tweet RIDE locations? Let us know by visiting Global Toronto on Facebook.

Those who tweet the locations argue that they are simply letting sober drivers know how to avoid the checkpoints and get to their location, faster. Though the Toronto Police Service has made it well known they disapprove of the public notices, they have little legal recourse.

Sgt. Tim Burrows, of Toronto Police, has taken to Twitter, to publicly shame those who tweet locations. On Christmas eve, Burrows wrote, “If you tweet a #RIDE location tonight, make sure you also apologize tomorrow to any families who lose a loved one to a drunk driver.”

Though people sharing RIDE locations argue they are simply helping sober drivers avoid the checkpoints, some Twitter users may unintentionally – or intentionally – help drunk drivers avoid arrest. On Christmas Eve, one person wrote “Spotted:#RIDE program on the southbound 400 ramp at Major Mackenzie! #avoidifhammered.”