A member of the public assisted Barrie police with a tip around 7 p.m. on Monday about a person who appeared drunk and was sitting in a car in a parking lot on Big Bay Point Road, west of Yonge Street.
"A person who works in a nearby store noted that the male driver appeared intoxicated and provided a description of the person, the vehicle they were operating, and the licence plate. The citizen also reported to police that the driver just left the parking lot" a police media release stated.
Soon after police received the tip, a responding officer saw the vehicle travelling northbound on Yonge Street as it approached Big Bay Point Road and initiated a traffic stop. In conversation with the motorist, the officer noticed signs of impairment and a roadside screening test was administered.
"The driver registered a "fail" and was immediately arrested and transported to Barrie Police Headquarters where a qualified breathalyzer technician confirmed that the driver was almost two and a half times over the legal limit," according to the media release.
A 38-year-old man from North York was charged with impaired driving and failing to surrender an insurance card.
He has a court date in July.
His vehicle has been impounded for seven days and his driver's licence has been suspended for 30-days.
