Erratic driving complaint leads to impaired driving charge near Perth

Lanark OPP charged an area resident with impaired driving following an early-morning traffic stop outside Perth Tuesday morning.

Lanark County OPP say they received a report from a member of the public on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, about a vehicle being driven erratically in Perth. Shortly before 7:45 a.m., officers located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop after observing it travelling at a high rate of speed on County Road 511 in Drummond-North Elmsley Township.

The driver was arrested and transported to the OPP detachment in Perth for testing.

As a result of the investigation, Owen Cardiff, 23, has been charged with operation while impaired by alcohol and operation while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration over 80 milligrams. Charges have not been proven in court.

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Perth on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.

His driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.