As of Monday, Albertans will face harsher roadside consequences for impaired driving
The Alberta Government has put its new Impaired Driving Law into effect April 9.
The legislation changes the way impaired drivers are policed, including giving more power to officers to administer provincial sanctions.
Officers can now issue a 90-day suspension for drivers with a blood alcohol level above .08 followed by a mandatory participation in a one-year ignition interlock program where the driver would have to pass breathlyzer test to start their car each time. If the driver refuses to participate, the licence suspension will remain in place during the one-year term.
Drivers will continue to be subject to criminal charges and all the associated penalties imposed by the courts, in addition to the provincial consequences.
The new legislation is hoped to further deter Albertans from impaired driving.
“The Alberta RCMP is committed to raising awareness of the devastation experienced by individuals, families and communities that all too often result from driving impaired,” said Supt. Gary Graham, Alberta Integrated Traffic Services. “We will continue to take impaired drivers, whether by drugs or alcohol, off Alberta roadways and anticipate these laws will help more people think twice about getting behind the wheel if they are under the influence.”
“The loss and suffering that result from impaired driving are unacceptable and entirely preventable,” said Brian Mason, minister of transportation. “As the country prepares for legalization of cannabis, we’ve strengthened our provincial impaired driving sanctions to make our roads safer and continue to deter impaired driving—whatever the source of impairment may be.”
Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) drivers will be kept to a zero tolerance standard for alcohol in the bloodstream and the legal framework now includes the standard for cannabis and illegal drugs. GDL drivers found with any amount of alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs or their combination will find the driver subject to a 30-day licence suspension, seven-day vehicle seizure and a lengthened term in the GDL program.
There have also been updates made to Alberta Transportation Safety Board’s procedures, streamlining their processes including limiting the number of reconsiderations the board is required to hear in the absence of new evidence.
Jeff Kasbrick, Alberta Motor Association (AMA) vice-president, government and stakeholder relations, said the new framework is needed in Alberta to continue deterring and dealing with impaired drivers.
“Impaired driving, whether due to alcohol or drugs, is a serious traffic and public safety issue. It’s for this reason that AMA supports these changes to Alberta’s impaired driving laws—to improve our overall safety,” Kasbrick said.
