B.C. says it is addressing backlog of drunk driving appeals in court system

It has been four years since B.C.’s tougher drunk driving laws went into effect.

As part of those rules, if you are accused of driving while impaired, you can appeal as part of a process that is supposed to take 21 days.

But a law firm that specializes in fighting those charges says as many as 1,700 British Columbians are still waiting for a decision, some of them for two years or even more.

They argue that is something that can damage careers.

“What’s happening is that we’ve got this drunk driving scheme that the government brought in, they said it was going to expedite everything and speed things up and the hearing’s going to take place basically two weeks after the time that you’re pulled over and prohibited from driving,” said Paul Doroshenko from Acumen Law Corporation.

“And that does happen, the hearing takes place basically in two weeks time. They’re supposed to render a decision 21 days from the date that you’re issued the drunk driving prohibition and we’re seeing them being rendered sometimes years later.”

B.C.’s Solicitor General issued a statement saying the government is committed to clearing up this backlog.