Some Torontonians tweeted the location of RIDE checks Christmas Eve, drawing the ire of police and other Twitter users.
Sgt. Tim Burrows, a member of Toronto police traffic services, was among those condemning the tweets about the Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere spot checks.
"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," he wrote Saturday night.
Corey Mintz, a food columnist with the Toronto Star, rounded up some of the names of those tweeting the RIDE locations, setting off a round of public shaming.
"The drunk driving fans who tweeted #RIDE locations last night," he wrote Sunday morning, before listing off the guilty parties.
One Twitter user wrote: "Spotted: #RIDE program on the southbound 400 ramp at Major Mackenzie! #avoidifhammered."
But others said they were merely helping those who wanted a speedy commute.
Another user listed the location of about a dozen RIDE programs Saturday night.
However, after coming under criticism he issued a mea culpa, asking drivers to "Drink responsibly & Drive sober!"
Some police organizations have said tweeting the locations of drinking-and-driving spot checks is a double-edged sword. While Twitter may give a driver the ability to know where a police check is, it also serves as a message that police are out in force, allowing for that sober second thought before getting behind the wheel.
