EDMONTON – The holiday Checkstop season has begun, but drivers won’t face the tough penalties of the province’s new impaired driving legislation just yet.
Police will start enforcing the Traffic Safety Amendment Act in early 2012, said Alberta Transportation spokeswoman Donna Babchishin.
Bill 26 was passed in the legislature Tuesday night, but officers need additional training to ensure consistency across Alberta, she said. A tracking system for repeat offenders must also be created before enforcement can begin.
“But we hope to do a lot of education and stimulate a lot of discussion that helps people get through a safer holiday season,” Babchishin said.
Police in Edmonton kicked off their holiday campaign Dec. 1, laying 19 impaired driving charges over the first three days of the month. During the same period, 26 drivers were slapped with 24-hour licence suspensions. That penalty is handed out to drivers found with blood alcohol levels between 0.05 and 0.08.
Under the new legislation, those drivers will now face a three-day licence suspension and vehicle seizure on first offence. That increases to a 15-day suspension and seven-day seizure on second offence. On third offence, the licence suspension doubles to 30 days.
Drivers who blow over the legal limit of 0.08 will have their licences suspended until criminal charges are resolved, as well as have their cars seized for up to seven days.
Const. David Green, a member of the impaired driving countermeasures unit with the Edmonton police, said it’s frustrating that people continue to drink and drive despite the devastating consequences. According to the province, nearly one-quarter of drivers in fatal collisions last year had consumed alcohol. Since 2006, alcohol-related crashes in Alberta have killed 569 people and injured 8,535 more.
“We’re in the only business where we’re trying to put ourselves out of business,” Green said. “But that’s not going to happen. It’s not going away, unfortunately.”
Edmonton police are finding success with their Curb the Danger program, which encourages people to call 9-1-1 when they suspect a driver is impaired. In November, 553 calls resulted in 46 impaired driving charges and 17 24-hour suspensions. If a licence plate is given but police can’t intercept the car, the registered owner is sent a letter. There were 66 such letters sent in November.
Drivers can expect 11 more Checkstops in December. Green said people have many options during the holiday party season, whether that’s calling a cab, planning to have a designated driver or using a service like Keys Please. And while planning to have just one drink might be acceptable, people have to stick to that plan, he said.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve pulled somebody over saying, ‘I’m the designated driver,’ and they end up being charged with impaired.”
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