Manitoba RCMP have announced changes to this year's Holiday Checkstop Program.

Sergeant Paul Manaigre says because of COVID-19, they will not be running checkstops this Christmas season. He says by not having checkstops, they will minimize their contact with the public, especially those who are law abiding motorists.

"We don't want to perhaps have a member contract COVID-19 or perhaps have a member that could be symptomatic passing along COVID-19," suggests Sergeant Manaigre.

Rather than hold checkstops this month, he notes they will focus instead on the enforcement aspect.

"We're going to be out and about in the communities, the highways, looking for these high risk driving behaviours," notes Sergeant Manaigre. "The officers are still going to be out there, we're just not going to be set up on a certain highway, where people are coming to us."

He notes they will still be looking for impaired drivers, motorists not wearing seatbelts and intersection related violations.

"In usual times we have a concern with people attending locations, establishments, homes and having something to drink and getting behind the wheel," he says. "We know times are different right now, but there is still that risk that people are drinking and driving."

In 2019, the month long Holiday Checkstop Program saw more than 11,000 vehicles stopped provincewide. Eighty people were charged with Impaired Driving. Police report 11 people lost their lives in nine traffic-related collisions throughout the month.