WATCH ABOVE: If you text and drive, you may soon get more than a ticket. Alberta’s justice minister says he supports a private member’s bill that would give demerit points to offenders. Fletcher Kent reports.
EDMONTON — Alberta’s justice minister says it’s “simply time” to look at tacking on demerits for distracted drivers in Alberta.
“I’m definitely of the opinion now that it’s time to look at demerits in distracted driving,” Jonathan Denis said Wednesday. “I’ve talked to the local police agencies and this is definitely something that they want to pursue.”
The comments came following a meeting between Denis and Renaye Wade. Two years ago, the young woman was inside a stalled car on the Yellowhead when she was hit by a distracted driver and thrown into the path of a semi.
The crash left Wade in a coma for 34 days, with a brain injury few survive. Her broken pelvis, tailbone and jaw have since healed. But her brain injury continues to take a heavy toll. It’s impacted her speech and stolen some of her memories.
Now, it’s become Wade’s mission to push for tougher penalties for distracted drivers.
“I think they should at least get their licence suspended,” Wade said. “If they lost their licence for a little bit of time they will really think about doing that again.
“I really, really don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”
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Wade brought her message to the legislature Wednesday. While licence suspensions aren’t on the table, there is a private member’s bill before the house calling for stiffer fines and demerit points for distracted drivers in Alberta.
“After meeting with Renaye this afternoon it makes me more determined to make sure that this bill goes through,” said Calgary-East MLA Moe Amery, sponsor of Bill 204.
Bill 204 would see the fine for distracted driving go up to $250 from $172. It would also include three demerit points.
Denis says he will support the bill when it comes forward for debate on Monday.
“I have talked to many government members and a lot of government members think that it’s time that we do this,” said Denis. “We are now the only province that doesn’t have distracted driving demerits.”
While Wade and her family would like to see the penalties go even further, they say Bill 204 is a step in the right direction.
“It’ll make a big difference,” said Wade. “One life changed is way more than enough.”
Wade and her family plan to hold a rally at the legislature this Sunday, calling for changes to distracted driving legislation. At 4:50 p.m. they will release balloons to mark two years to the minute since her crash.
With files from Fletcher Kent, Global News.
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