Alberta should model new impaired driving rules on British Columbia: MADD Canada

The chief executive director of MADD Canada said Thursday that impaired driving rules in British Columbia could act as a guidepost for Alberta as it refashions its impaired driving laws following an appeals court ruling that struck down a portion of the law.

“I think this is a great opportunity for Alberta to take this situation and look at a B.C. like model,” said Andrew Murie.

LISTEN: MADD Canada points to B.C. as a model for Alberta’s impaired driving laws

The Alberta Court of Appeal ruled in May that part of the law allowing police to suspend the license of a suspected drunk driver, until their case is resolved in court, was unconstitutional.

Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley told News Talk 770 on Thursday that the province will look at impaired driving rules in other jurisdictions as it works to amend its own legislation.

“What we’re focused on looking at, is where different jurisdictions have managed to reduce the number of collisions, fatalities and injuries. More so than Alberta has done,” Ganley said.

LISTEN: Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley on the next steps after a portion of Alberta’s impaired driving law was struck down

MADD Canada said B.C. is an example of a province that did it right.

Under B.C. impaired driving legislation, if you blow over 0.05 per cent, your license could be suspended and vehicle impounded for up to 30 days depending on the number of infractions. There’s also an administrative penalty. Anyone with an alcohol level over 0.08 per cent faces a 90-day license suspension.

The province’s tough drinking laws were upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2015.

Murie said the administrative sanctions, which were found to be constitutional in B.C.’s case, mean that more officers can be “on the road detecting impaired drivers.” He said processing a criminal charge can take up to four hours to process, instead of just one hour for an administrative sanction.

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But, he said impounding a suspected drunk driver’s vehicle is more important than suspending their license.

“What we know with license suspensions is that about 80 per cent of people who have their license suspended continue to drive,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "What we know with license suspensions is that about 80 per cent of people who have their license suspended continue to drive," he said.

He suggested that Alberta may have avoided an unfavorable court ruling by introducing the option of an ignition interlock device that allows drivers to have their license returned to them before their court date – but prevents them from driving drunk.

Ganley said the province has until next May to introduce new impaired driving legislation.