VANCOUVER – Drivers caught drinking and driving in some parts of B.C. are having to wait four to six weeks for ignition interlock devices that prevent their cars starting if they have booze on their breath.
The delays are the result of soaring numbers of people required to install the devices after the province cracked down on drinking and driving last September.
Under the new rules, drivers caught with blood-alcohol levels of over 0.08 or who refuse to provide a breath test at the roadside are banned from driving for 90 days, their vehicles are impounded for 30 days, and they must use an ignition interlock device for one year.
B.C.’s superintendent of motor vehicles Steve Martin said his office is advising people caught drinking and driving to immediately apply for the locking devices so they won’t be stuck on a waiting list when they are eligible to drive again.
The waiting time to have the dashboard-mounted ignition interlock devices installed is four weeks in Vancouver, Victoria, Richmond and Abbotsford, according to statistics from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor-General. In Kelowna, it is six weeks.
The province contracts with a company called Guardian, which has 11 locations throughout B.C., for the devices.
Plans are underway for the company to double its capacity at its Richmond and Abbotsford sites immediately and it is looking to do the same in Kelowna. In the meantime, it is also opening a new ignition device installation site in Burnaby.
A total of 6,365 drivers were forced to install the device between September 2010 and February 2011, after B.C.’s automatic administrative penalties began Sept. 20, 2010.
Only 448 drivers had to install the devices in the same six-month time period a year earlier.
As well, between Sept. 20, 2010 and Feb. 13, 2011 there were more than 7,919 immediate roadside suspensions to drivers who blew in the warn range of 0.5 and 0.8 or who blew in the fail range, which is over .08.
“It certainly shows the new law is working,” said Martin.
“The high volume was expected [for referrals for the ignition interlock system].”
Martin said the device is very sensitive, and anything over 0.2 blood alcohol will prevent the car from being driven.
Complaints from some members of the public that the device is preventing them from driving when they are sober have not been substantiated, he said.
“We’ve heard of those issues and tracked down every single one. It’s always user error or the user is providing a breath sample over the limit. Sometimes people aren’t aware they still have alcohol in their system the morning after drinking,” said Martin.
The cost to have the ignition interlock system is about $1,730 before taxes for one year. That price includes a $150 administration fee to the office of the superintendent for motor vehicles, $150 installation fee to Guardian and a $105 monthly monitoring fee. Drunk drivers are also required to complete a responsible driver’s court which costs an additional $880.
Martin said the program was designed so taxpayers don’t subsidize drunk drivers.
Motorists caught in the “warn” range (between 0.05 and 0.08 blood-alcohol content) face, if a first offence, an immediate three-day driving ban, $200 administrative penalty, $250 driver’s licence reinstatement fee, possible three-day vehicle impoundment and impoundment and storage costs.
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