Stricter penalties for impaired drivers

Posted on: Staff Writer

From edition: December 11 2020 Strathmore Times

By Janet Kanters, Editor

As of Dec. 1, police will be administering stricter impaired driving penalties on the road, with impaired drivers facing larger fines and losing their vehicles for up to 30 days.

The Provincial Administrative Penalties Act empowers police to get impaired drivers off the streets immediately. In addition, most first-time impaired driving charges will be handled quicker outside of court through SafeRoads Alberta.

SafeRoads Alberta, a new adjudication branch, will allow drivers to pay their fees online, request more time to pay their penalty, or dispute their Immediate Roadside Sanction or vehicle seizure.

According to Ric McIver, Alberta’s Minister of Transportation, SafeRoads Alberta will deliver a fast and efficient way to pay for first-time impaired driving charges.

“But if you get behind the wheel impaired, the toughest and swiftest penalties in Canada are waiting,” said McIver. “These moves make Alberta roads safer and get police back fighting rural and urban crime instead of stuck in the courts.”

In the most serious cases, including repeat offenders and impaired driving causing bodily harm or death, individuals will still receive criminal charges on top of the other penalties. In addition, significant penalties will be handed out roadside to get impaired drivers off the streets immediately. Stronger penalties for impaired driving include fines of up to $2,000, vehicle seizure up to 30 days, new mandatory education programs as well as mandatory ignition interlock for repeat offenders. New zero-tolerance consequences for novice drivers and commercial drivers will also be introduced.

MADD Canada stated it welcomes the implementation of these new measures to address the impaired driving problem.

“These measures deliver strong, immediate penalties and sanctions to those individuals who continue to disregard the law and put lives in danger by driving impaired,” said Andrew Murie, chief executive officer, MADD Canada. “They will reduce impaired driving and save lives.”