Pubdate: Tue, 20 Dec 2005
Source: Alberni Valley Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Alberni Valley Times
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouverisland/albernivalleytimes/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4043
Author: Shayne Morrow, Alberni Valley Times
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving)

IMPAIRED IS IMPAIRED, BOOZE OR NO BOOZE

RCMP

A policing trend which has recently gained attention on the Lower Mainland 
applies equally in Port Alberni, according to the acting RCMP commander.

Over the weekend, it was announced that in one urban CounterAttack road 
check, police issued seven 24-hour roadside suspensions to drivers 
suspected of being impaired by substances other than alcohol. The Canadian 
criminal code has always given police that option, according to Staff Sgt. 
Lee Omilusik.

"You can be convicted of impaired driving or driving with a blood/alcohol 
content over .08 per cent," Omilusik explained. Typically, a suspect is 
charged with both offences, and, in the case of a guilty plea, will select 
one or the other for the permanent record.

Omilusik said the RCMP now trains drug recognition experts (DRE) who are 
qualified to evaluate whether a suspect is impaired by a substance other 
than alcohol.

"Right now, we have to bring in DREs from other areas (for CounterAttack 
road checks), because we don't have one right now," Omilusik said.

The DRE undergoes training to learn to identify the various symptoms of 
drug use, both prescription and illicit. Omilusik said drug interaction is 
a common problem.

"Sometimes we get people who are taking prescription medication and then 
consume alcohol," he said. Officers use a an approved roadside screening 
device to get a rough picture of a subject's blood/alcohol level, using 
three levels: Pass (under .05), Warn (.05 to .08) and Fail (over .08)

"A Warn gets you a 24-hour suspension, and a Fail gets you a breathalyzer 
test," Omilusik said. That is performed back at the RCMP detachment.

But if the subject gets a Pass and is still behaving questionably, the 
officer still has recourse to investigate further, Omilusik said.

"If they're sober or straight and just driving erratically, an officer can 
lay a dangerous driving charge (criminal code) or driving without due care 
and attention (Motor Vehicle Act), or he can still proceed to a 24-hour 
suspension," Omilusik said. But don't even think about haggling for a 
better deal with an officer who's investigating you for impaired driving, 
he added.

"You're not going to get a bunch of options and be asked which one you want 
to pick," Omilusik said.

Omilusik also noted another seasonal subject for police: driving according 
to weather conditions. Local RCMP are now seeing a number of 
weather-related motor vehicle accidents. And it's invariably because the 
drivers have been driving too fast on icy roads.

"With the colder weather, the roads are getting slippery - especially in 
shaded areas," he said. Even if the posted speed limit is 50 km/hr, you can 
still be ticketed for going 50 under icy conditions, Omilusik said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom