The quiet of a late November night in Mississauga was shattered when a driver, already forbidden from being behind the wheel, made a desperate bid for freedom.
On November 28th, just after 1 a.m., officers conducting a routine RIDE check near Britannia Road and Millcreek Drive signaled a vehicle to pull over. The annual campaign, designed to curb impaired driving, had begun its seasonal enforcement.
The encounter quickly took a dangerous turn. Officers detected the unmistakable scent of alcohol on the driver’s breath and requested a roadside breath sample. Instead of complying, the driver slammed the vehicle into gear and sped away, leaving the officers behind.
A swift pursuit ensued, culminating in the suspect’s capture. The man was taken into custody, but the story didn’t end there.
Investigators soon discovered the driver was 43-year-old Blair Titterson, a Mississauga resident with a troubling history. He wasn’t simply facing a single impaired driving charge; Titterson was under a lifetime driving ban, a consequence of previous convictions.
His past offenses included failing to provide a breath sample and repeatedly driving while suspended, earning him the label of a “prolific suspended driver” within the Peel Regional Police. This latest incident added to a long list of reckless disregard for the law.
Titterson now faces a barrage of serious charges: dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police, operating a vehicle while prohibited, and refusing to comply with a breath demand. He is scheduled to appear in court to answer for his actions.
The incident underscores the ongoing risks associated with impaired driving, even as police intensify their efforts. The RIDE campaign, running from November 15th to December 31st, has already checked approximately 11,000 vehicles.
So far, the campaign has resulted in 660 Highway Traffic Act charges and 85 individuals facing impaired driving related offenses, a stark reminder of the prevalence of this dangerous behavior.
The pursuit and arrest serve as a potent warning: the consequences of driving under the influence, or while prohibited, are severe and far-reaching.
