New Measures Target Drinking Drivers

Nova Scotia is cracking down on some of the most unsafe drivers on the road. Premier John Hamm announced today that effective Dec. 1, Nova Scotia will increase penalties for repeat drunk drivers and introduce a new measure to remove potentially dangerous drinking drivers from the road.

"The public needs the protection of strong measures that will take and keep drunk drivers off our roads," said Premier Hamm, in announcing the effective date for the new, tougher law.

Dr. Hamm introduced the legislation as a private member's bill in November 1998. "Drinking drivers put all others at risk and they will be held more accountable and responsible for their actions."

Starting Dec. 1, a second drinking driving conviction will result in a driver's licence suspension of three years, up from two. A third offense results in a minimum ten-year suspension. Fourth-time offenders lose their licence for life. The new laws also lengthen the time convictions are kept on a driver's record to 10 years, up from five.

Last year, 33 people died and 289 were injured in 563 alcohol-related accidents. This makes drinking drivers responsible for almost 40 per cent of all fatalities on Nova Scotia's roads.

"Drinking and driving is a very serious criminal offence," said RCMP Staff Sgt. Parker Glencross. "We're all supportive of getting tougher on those who choose to drink and drive. It comes down to an irresponsible choice with often violent and devastating results."

The new law also introduces a proactive measure to get potentially dangerous drinking drivers off the road. The province will introduce a 24-hour administrative roadside suspension for drivers with a blood alcohol composition between .05 and .08. While the suspension will immediately take away driving privileges for 24 hours, it is not a Criminal Code offence.

"This is a nationally supported preventative measure," said David McKinnon, Halifax Regional Municipality police chief. "Even drivers with a relatively low blood alcohol composition are more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than the average non-drinking driver."

All other provinces in Canada, with the exception of Quebec, have implemented similar suspension programs and achieved substantial success in curbing accidents.

Combined with the federal government's Bill C-82, Nova Scotia will have some of the toughest laws against drinking drivers in Canada. Bill C-82 included increased penalties for impaired driving: it doubled the minimum fine for first-time offenders, and raised the maximum driving prohibitions for repeat offenders and the mandatory minimum driving prohibitions for all offenders.

Bill C-82 also amended the Criminal Code to require sentencing judges to consider, as an aggravating factor, a blood alcohol level exceeding twice the criminal offence level and to specify that judges can order convicted impaired drivers to undergo assessment and treatment for alcohol addiction and to use an ignition interlock, where such programs are available. As well, police were given more time to demand a breathalyser test when they suspect a driver was alcohol-impaired. Bill C-82 was given Royal Assent on June 17, and the provisions came into force on July 1, 1999.

"Beginning Dec. 1, we will have a powerful combination of penalties that should deter people from ever drinking and driving," said Premier Hamm.

A newspaper and radio campaign will begin next week to let people know about the new provincial laws. Additional information can be found at www.gov.ns.ca/tran/roadsafety .

NOTE TO EDITORS: A backgrounder on the new legislation is available; please e-mail [email protected] or call 902-424-4492 for a copy.