New Impaired Driving Laws in Alberta - Ignition Interlock to be Mandatory

[fredr123]

Starting July 1, ignition interlock device will be mandatory for 6 months after court-ordered license suspension is served for the following people:
- BAC of .16 or higher
- multiple convictions in the past 10 years
- refusing to provide a breath sample

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...4-bf721cc2fc05

Alberta will now require anyone convicted of having twice the legal blood alcohol limit of 0.08 per cent to use an ignition interlock device for a minimum of six months before they can drive again.

Interlock devices hook up to a car's ignition system. A driver must blow and hum into the device for three seconds; if the person isn't sober, the car won't start. The devices will also be required for repeat offenders or people who refuse a breath or blood sample.

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/...11376-sun.html

As of July 1, Alberta drivers who are convicted of having twice the legal alcohol limit or higher will be required to attach alcohol sensors to their vehicle ignition before they are allowed to drive again.


Ontario adopted the requirement six years ago and most other provinces also have some form of the so-called interlock program.

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Columnis...911701-sun.php

Not only will they have to pay a $150 installation fee and a $50 removal fee, they'll be charged $105 a month for rental and hundreds more in assorted registry and safety course fees.

More info on the Ignition Interlock Program in Alberta: http://www.atsb.alberta.ca/506.htm

[Boblobla]

My only question is how they came up with if you are over .16 you get one.

[JD]

I would hope that this 6 months is over and above the usual driver's license suspension and not in-lieu-of like the optional program is now.

Currently, you can get this device put into your car for 9 months of the 1 year suspension (for first-timers) and thus only be without your vehicle for 3 months.

[ken0042]

That's just one of the conditions, Bob. Others include repeat offenders, and my personal favourite is people charged with failing to provide a breath sample.

I like these laws. Good on them for going hard against the worst offenders.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I'm not advocating drinkin and drivin, but is .16 that much to warrant a penalty like this?? The legal limit is a joke, so twice the legal limit isn't that big a deal either. What's that, like 4 beers?? Big deal.

That ignition thing would be a pain in the ass. Not only are you wasting like 800 bucks during the six months, you gotta blow into it before you start EVERY TIME. So, if I go to the store to get some milk, I gotta blow into my igntion......thats garbage.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

My only question is how they came up with if you are over .16 you get one.

Because everyone knows that .08 isn't really drunk. Especially if your Irish.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I'm not advocating drinkin and drivin, but is .16 that much to warrant a penalty like this?? That ignition thing would be a pain in the ass. Not only are you wasting like 800 bucks during the six months, you gotta blow into it before you start EVERY TIME. So, if I go to the store to get some milk, I gotta blow into my igntion......thats garbage.

The cost doesn't concern me at all. If your going to drink and drive you need to pay the consequences. The only thing that might worry me is somebody freezing to death because their vehicle woud'nt start. Allthough I'm sure its hard to develop a device that allows the vehicle to start without being able to put it in gear.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

The cost doesn't concern me at all. If your going to drink and drive you need to pay the consequences. The only thing that might worry me is somebody freezing to death because their vehicle woud'nt start. Allthough I'm sure its hard to develop a device that allows the vehicle to start without being able to put it in gear.

I'm all for paying the consequence, but I think this one is too steep for something like this. .16 doesn't mean you're drunk at all. Well, maybe it's me. I dunno.

[fredr123]

0.16 or higher has been considered an aggravating factor for sentencing purposes in the Criminal Code for quite some time: http://www.canlii.org/ca/sta/c-46/sec255.1.html

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I'm all for paying the consequence, but I think this one is too steep for something like this. .16 doesn't mean you're drunk at all. Well, maybe it's me. I dunno.

It has nothing to do with being drunk or not drunk. It has to do with getting behind the wheel of your automobile when you are at twice the legal limit of alcohol in your bloodstream.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I'm all for paying the consequence, but I think this one is too steep for something like this. .16 doesn't mean you're drunk at all. Well, maybe it's me. I dunno.

.16 isn't drunk? Well blow me down. I'll bet you you're fataing wasted.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I'm all for paying the consequence, but I think this one is too steep for something like this. .16 doesn't mean you're drunk at all. Well, maybe it's me. I dunno.

That is drunk enough I wouldnt want to be driving on the same road as that person so thats good enough for me.

Should be longer, like 12-18 months.

[CaptainCrunch]

I think for multiple convictions they should burn your drivers license and give you a bus pass on a permanent basis. Everyone makes mistakes once, but to endanger peoples lives on a multiple basis.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I'm not advocating drinkin and drivin, but is .16 that much to warrant a penalty like this?? The legal limit is a joke, so twice the legal limit isn't that big a deal either. What's that, like 4 beers?? Big deal.

yes, you ARE advocating drinking and driving. the next time you have 4 beers and think its ok to drive, let me know, so i can get the hell out of the road.

I'm always amazed how people can treat these things so casually.

[Boblobla]

Drunk driving threads are always good for a bit of entertainment.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I think for multiple convictions they should burn your drivers license and give you a bus pass on a permanent basis. Everyone makes mistakes once, but to endanger peoples lives on a multiple basis.

You know, drinking and driving has been drilled into us for so long, there really are no excuses anyone can use. Responsibility needs to happen from day 1. I would suspend first time offenders for a year...second time, boom, permanent.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'm always amazed how people can treat these things so casually.

I'm amazed at how people think drinking 4 beers makes you too drunk to drive.

I'll be the first to admit that I have gotten behind the wheel of my car absolutely smashed and got lucky to get home safely. But I do think that if someone has four beers over the course of 3-4 hours. you know what, they are fine to drive. Sure, if you shotgun four beers in a half hour, gimme your keys.

[ken0042]

Also, to get to .16 if you are a 180 pound man would take 7 drinks in the first hour.
http://www.faslink.org/bal.htm

If you happen to be a scrawny little 140 pound dude, it would take 5 drinks in the first hour.

I get the .16- basically they are saying if you made a slight error in judgement and drove at .09- still illeagal but we aren't going to fry you. If you ever drive at .16 you need some serious help.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I'm amazed at how people think drinking 4 beers makes you too drunk to drive.

I'll be the first to admit that I have gotten behind the wheel of my car absolutely smashed and got lucky to get home safely. But I do think that if someone has four beers over the course of 3-4 hours. you know what, they are fine to drive. Sure, if you shotgun four beers in a half hour, gimme your keys.

Yeah, and 4 beers in an hour will get you no where near .16.
Hell you'll problaby be well under .08.

How exactly does that back up your arguement that .16 isn't even drunk?

[JD]

.16 is not 4 beers. It is not a linear relationship. To be at that level one would have to be visibly drunk, ie, stumbling, slurring, loss of motor control, hitting on unattractive members of the opposite sex, etc.

Another example of the mythology out there regarding BAC and the number of drinks you've had.