The chance to ring in the new year with alcoholic drinks won’t go unnoticed by Winnipeg police.

The third week of Winnipeg police’s holiday checkstop program saw another increase in the percentage of motorists stopped that were impaired, according to a Tuesday news release.

A total of 784 vehicles were stopped and 37 impaired driving incidents were reported. Police charged four individuals with impaired driving and issued 33 immediate roadside driving bans, while handing out 23 traffic tickets for offences, the release said.

Five individuals also failed drug screening tests that were positive for cannabis.

“Our message is simple — if you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs, don’t drive,” police said in the release.

WATCH | Winnipeg police report ‘alarming’ numbers of impaired drivers during holiday checkstop program:

The 4.72 per cent of drivers who were impaired is up from the second week of the program, which saw 3.43 per cent of the 1,018 vehicles failing tests for impairment.

The opening week of the program, which launched Dec. 3, saw police stop 1,219 vehicles and report 21 roadside warnings or breathalyzer failures. That equated to 1.72 per cent of motorists.