Drink and Drive in BC? Big Penalties Ahead
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How Much Alcohol is Too Much?
Drinking and driving is a contentious issue in my province of British Columbia, Canada .On September 20, 2010, our government implemented the toughest DUI or DWI laws in the country. I'll explain them later and then you get a chance to agree or disagree with the stand taken.
Don't Drink and Drive in British Columbia, Canada
DUI/DWI
On September 20, 2010, BC implemented Canada's toughest drinking and driving laws.You are not allowed to refuse to give a breathalyzer test at the roadside. Police officers can now require you to take a breathyzer roadside without going in to the station.
Blow the Breathalyzer with a blood alcohol level (BAL) between .05 and .08 and get a three-day driving ban and a fine of $200. This is called the warning range. If its your second offence, you get a seven day ban and a fine of $300. For your third offence, you are looking at a 30 day driving ban and a $400 fine.
Blow the Breathalyzer over 0.08 and get a ninety day driving ban. Your car will be impounded for thirty days. You may face criminal charges and you may get penalties up to $4060. A mandatory ignition interlock device will be installed on your vehicle. It tests your breath for alcohol every time you start the ignition.
For a second offence, the penalties increase accordingly.
The same law also targets speeders, who also face increasingly large penalties and fines.
Duke It Out on Drinking and Driving
Do you think these laws will curb the amount of drinking and driving? Mothers Against Drunk Drivers call the law "innovative".
Or will it simply cause more confusion stemming from people not understanding whether they are at the limit? According to information released by the government, one drink would put a 120 pound woman over the 0.05 limit. But various factors affect this rating. It depends upon how long ago she had the drink, whether or not she has consumed food, whether she was using certain prescription or non-prescription drugs at the same time, and other factors.
And of course, not all people are 120 pound women. What puts a bigger person over the limit? Or a smaller person?
Would it have been better to have reduced the permissible amount of alcohol in the blood to 0 instead of 0.05? With zero tolerance, there is no room for guessing.
What's your take?
Are these laws likely to reduce drinking and driving?
No, serious drinkers will drink and drive regardless and social drinkers will simply guess as to their BAL and they'll guess wrong.
RuthClaire says:
NO. Laws are the mere skeleton to stop the further occurrence of the events but still there are people who do not follow the rules. Instead risking their lives or someone's lives in driving while intoxicated.
James A says:
this is total BS... ICBC or the law enforcements cannot take addiction away from the sick ones that need help! why don't they offer free school and education, rather than empty ones pocket and impound the car for 30 day, regardless someone else owns the vehicle and probably has a life without drinking problems and needs to get to work and feed the family! I am against this stupid law and punishment for not having any mercy. I think everyone should have a few chances to change before paying $5000 and getting the owners vehicle impounded for 30 days $700. Plus not to mention that ICBC always stereotypes all young drivers...I was once a new driver and young too , but never got a single ticket, had to wait 2 full years to get my class 5 and pay tons of fees!! They will only get hate towards them by approaching people this way.
Yes, it should scare people into putting the cork in the bottle long before they get behind the wheel of a car.
Breathalyzers on Amazon
Maybe having your own brethalyzer will help
Driving While Impaired Links on the Web
- The Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles
- The Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles regulates drivers to help ensure the safe and responsible operation of motor vehicles in British Columbia.
- B.C. INTRODUCES CANADA'S TOUGHEST IMPAIRED DRIVING LAWS
- The Province is introducing Canada's most immediate and severe impaired driving penalties to save lives, curb repeat offenders and give police more enforcement tools.
- CBC News - British Columbia - B.C. gets Canada's toughest impaired driving laws
- Canada's harshest impaired driving laws come into effect on Monday in B.C., including a 90-day driving ban and a $500 fine for anyone who refuses a breathalyzer test or blows over 0.08 blood alcohol level.
- ICBC | Drinking and driving
- Impairment starts with the first drink - not after you've had a few. Before heading out for the evening, plan ahead for a safe ride home.
- B.C.'s new impaired driving laws: What's changed?
- Impaired drivers continue to injure and kill people in B.C. In fact, each year over 100 people are killed and more than 3,000 people are injured by impaired drivers.
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Tweets about Impaired Driving
Please Share Your Thoughts
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ChrisDay
Jan 28, 2011 @ 12:48 am | delete
- Two of life's joys that should always be kept separate. However, the effect of a 'night before' on the morning's BAL can often be overlooked by drivers.
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nightcats
Jan 28, 2011 @ 11:12 am | delete
- True enough. Alcohol metabolizes slowly. Last night's fun can still be in the blood stream by morning. Thanks for visiting.
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About June Campbell
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by nightcats
I'm a writer and Internet marketer living in Vancouver, Canada. I opened my home business in 1996 and haven't looked back. I have various interests: cooking,... more »
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