Pubdate: Tue, 08 Jul 2008
Source: Sundre Round Up (CN AB)
Copyright: 2008 Sundre Round Up Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.sundreroundup.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4049
Author: Jennifer Wilson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

LAW INCREASES PENALTIES FOR IMPAIRED DRIVERS

New Impaired Driving Laws Will Help Crack Down On Those Under The 
Influence Of Drugs While Driving.

Last week, provisions on impaired driving under the federal Tackling 
Violent Crime Act came into force, giving police better tools to 
detect and investigate drug impaired driving. It also increased 
penalties for those under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.

"In Alberta, hundreds of people are killed by drunk drivers, so the 
need has been there for a long time," said Red Deer MP Bob Mills. "I 
think it'll make a difference."

"Nearly two years ago, Prime Minister Stephen Harper tied a MADD 
Canada ribbon to a vehicle to raise awareness for sober and safe 
driving and to announce legislation that would result in tougher 
penalties for impaired driving," said Rob Nicholson, Minister of 
Justice and Attorney General. "I am pleased to say that we have 
delivered on our commitment to Canadians by passing the Tackling 
Violent Crime Act. As of July 2, if you are caught driving impaired, 
you will be held fully accountable for your actions."

The act specifically mentions drugs when talking about impaired 
driving. Peace officers will be authorized to conduct roadside 
sobriety tests to see if a driver is impaired by a drugs or alcohol 
and to take samples of bodily fluids to confirm.

Refusing or failing to comply with demands for sobriety tests or 
bodily fluid samples for drugs would be punishable by the same 
Criminal Code penalty as refusing a demand for a breath test for 
alcohol - a minimum $1,000 fine for a first offence, with a maximum 
penalty of 18 months imprisonment.

As well, when defending an impaired charge, an accused will only be 
allowed to use scientifically valid defences as evidence, to avoid 
conviction for driving with a blood-alcohol concentration over 80. 
This should reduce the number of defendants who can avoid conviction 
on technicalities (e.g., the "two-beer defence").
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom