Will it really make the roads any safer??????

[Snow Monkey]

And I would bet that none of those drivers were between .05 and .08.... They were DRUNK, throw the book at the drunk drivers and lay off the not legally impaired (below .08) folks...Thats all I'm saying...

Whoaaa Bogger if you read what I said, it was the idiots I was talking about. Those who are impaired and know it and still choose to drive. Those are the ones to thank for the stronger laws. I think stats look at more of who killed who and why, not the smart guy/girl who knew when they were okay to drive and when they weren't. I agree, throw the book at the drunk drivers, the rest have brains to make wise choices.


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[malibumama]

This new law will not make roads safer imo. One drunk driver is like a bullet waiting on the highway. You just never know if you, a friend, or a family member will get hit by it. My dad was hit by a drunk driver in the GBCA. She died pretty much instantly as she ran the stop sign doing mock speed. My dad ended up in the hospital for a month or so and was never the same after that. Physically and mentally he was changed. My dad passed away about 10 years later and there is an ultimate connection to accident for his passing. She left 2 young sons behind. So many lives have been changed by one bad decision. Yet, people I know continue to drink and drive because "it'll never happen to them" Will the new law make some people think before they put the keys in and drive? We can hope but I doubt it. Chances are if you are still drinking and driving, you haven't got the message in the first place.




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[JaySimon]

I have to agree with Bogger on this one. It targets a family having a beer with dinner, not the plastered azzhole weaving his way home after a bottle of tequila.

Pushing it in a week or so after the BC law was found unconstiutional is kinda odd as well.

 

[KVF 700]

I got a public intoxication ticket last week after leaving a bar on whyte ave an walking home. Of course there is more to the story. Anyways, the cop was not thrilled when I mentioned his time would be better spent catching drunk drivers who are actually a threat than drunk walkers like me..... Never was breathalyzed so kinda thinking of fighting it

 

[JaySimon]

I was in court the other day watching all the REPEAT impaired drivers being sentenced and fined, there was a gentleman who are in his late 50's and he hadn't had a licence since 1988 but continues to drive without a licnese andd impaired!!

And just what will a law defining the limit as .05 do to stop this?

Just a guess, but I'm imagining it will have ZERO effect on the case you described. Stiffer penalties for the laws in place would have dealt with this scenerio FAR better than this .05 business.

 

[malibumama]

I have to agree with Bogger on this one. It targets a family having a beer with dinner, not the plastered azzhole weaving his way home after a bottle of tequila.

Pushing it in a week or so after the BC law was found unconstiutional is kinda odd as well.

But honestly if I had a palm bay with dinner I couldn't drive. 2 palm bays and I'm flat out drunk. How do you know the person at the dinner table doesn't have a good buzz going after one drink? Or if they are taking meds that with one drink will make them impaired? I'm not sayin I'm just sayin....

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[etecheaven]

Got this letter from my MLA Jeff Johnson

There is a new law targeting drinking and driving that passed in the legislature this week. It has received a fair bit of media attention. This law was one of Premier Redford's campaign promises to get tougher on impaired driving. Since the reports of the bill have not been entirely accurate, I thought I would send a quick note to give you a summary of the critical pieces of the bill. It is important to note that the bill will not be in force until proclamation and regulations are developed (ie. This bill wIll not be in force for this Christmas / new years season).

Bill 26 does not change any of the impairment levels that Alberta currently uses...it only toughens the penalties...


- drivers convicted of a criminal offence (above .08) will now have a mandatory ignition interlock for one year, escalating to 3 years for a second offence, 5 years for a 3rd offence

- drivers who are criminally charged (above .08) will have their license suspended until the charge is resolved.

- there will be escalating penalties for repeat offences between .05-.08. Currently, you can just keep getting 24-hour suspensions with no escalation. Under this legislation, it will be a 3-day suspension/3-day vehicle seizure for a first offence, 15/7 for a second offence, 30/7 for a third offence. There will also be mandatory courses on second and third offences.

- new drivers under 18 will be limited to one passenger and prevented from driving between midnight and 5am for the first six months of their probationary license period.

- unlike BC, we will have a robust appeal system in place, and we will not stop charging drivers above .08 under the criminal code.
It's very important to know that the penalties for driving at a level of .05 are not new! The .05 blood alcohol level has been enforced for years as a 'warn' to the criminal charge and an acknowledgment that impairment begins at .05.....the administrative penalty today is a 24 hour suspension. As a matter of interest, last year 7700 Albertans received this penalty....and Saskatchewan has a 'warn' limit of .04 and BC has a limit of .05

Please feel free to pass this info on to whomever you wish and please call or email with any questions or concerns...

thx

Jeff Johnson
Minister of Infrastructure,
Member Legislative Assembly of Alberta,
Athabasca-Redwater

 

[Bogger]

And changing the law will not prevent those repeat offenders from doing what they do... maybe jailtime would or as I stated before manditory community service dealing with victims of drinking and driving and thier families.... the law is not the problem, the enforcement of it is...

No body says you can't make the choice to have a drink and get behind the wheel, if that's what you want to do, then do it, NO ONE can stop people who want to do this no matter what the law say.

If you're saying the .05-.08 drivers aren't killing people, where do you get your facts? I HAVE lost some friends to drunk drivers too and I don't believe the laws being made to stop people from getting behind the wheel are really going to work, but at least it's going to make some people (like everyone on this site) think twice about driving even after a couple of drinks.

You are never going to please everyone when it comes to law making but they have to start some where. The 0.08 BAC law wasn't working, that's why it's being changed. I was in court the other day watching all the REPEAT impaired drivers being sentenced and fined, there was a gentleman who are in his late 50's and he hadn't had a licence since 1988 but continues to drive without a licnese andd impaired!! What does that say about repeat offenders, if we don't get them off the roads, they continue to drive under the influence injurying and killing people. He's not the only one out there I am sure but it scares me to think my sons drive on the same roads as this guy did.

It's everyone's chioce and no one is telling you have to live your life, just trying to get people to think of the others on the road when they are driving under the influence. Just saying...

 

[BrownEyes420]

I might get them to think twice about getting above 0.05 levels and getting behind the wheel. The guy in court was already paying a $5000 fine every time he got caught and that didin't seem to stop him. That was his 15th offence!!!

And just what will a law defining the limit as .05 do to stop this?

Just a guess, but I'm imagining it will have ZERO effect on the case you described. Stiffer penalties for the laws in place would have dealt with this scenerio FAR better than this .05 business.

 

[JaySimon]

But honestly if I had a palm bay with dinner I couldn't drive. 2 palm bays and I'm flat out drunk. How do you know the person at the dinner table doesn't have a good buzz going after one drink? Or if they are taking meds that with one drink will make them impaired? I'm not sayin I'm just sayin....

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There's the rub, alcohol effects different people in different ways.

The real challenge is nobody knows what they would blow, until it's too late. That and two beers today can have a different effect than two beers tomorrow (food and other variables can change things) on what you may blow.

 

[malibumama]

Well said bogg.....its not the law its the enforcement. I would have just "liked" your comment but I can't on my phone.

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[JaySimon]

I might get them to think twice about getting above 0.05 levels and getting behind the wheel. The guy in court was already paying a $5000 fine every time he got caught and that didin't seem to stop him. That was his 15th offence!!!

If the threat of blowing over .08 didn't stop him from doing it, you REALLY believe that the law saying .05 would change his attitude?

I'm going to have to disagree there.

Frankly, the dude sounds like he needs to be in rehab for a pretty obvious alcohol addiction. They have rehab in prison no?

 

[BrownEyes420]

Totally true what you say about that individual but this law is also aimed at the new and younger drivers who haven't been breaking the impaired driving law for over 30 years. So if we see our parents doing it, that's ok?

It a risk that some people are still willing to take and can't make anyone abide by the law, it's a person's own choice, hopefully the law will have people making the right choice.

If the threat of blowing over .08 didn't stop him from doing it, you REALLY believe that the law saying .05 would change his attitude?

I'm going to have to disagree there.

Frankly, the dude sounds like he needs to be in rehab for a pretty obvious alcohol addiction. They have rehab in prison no?

 

[JaySimon]

Totally true what you say about that individual but this law is also aimed at the new and younger drivers who haven't been breaking the impaired driving law for over 30 years. So if we see our parents doing it, that's ok?

In that instance, I have to agree, it will encourage younger drivers to second guess whether they are 'ok'.

I still don't feel the police officers should have that level of power while at the door of my automobile however.

 

[BrownEyes420]

I still don't feel the police officers should have that level of power while at the door of my automobile however.

I don't like it either, but remember they are just doing their job, like most of us do everyday, but their job is to keep us safe on our roads and in our communities. It all comes down to individuals making choices about risks they are willing to take. I am not saying anyone is wrong on here, I am just saying that we all have to make choices about our behaviour and no one can make anyone do something they don't want to so whether or not the law is in our out, there will always be offenders and even some who never get caught.

 

[Toyboy]

That chart is fawked..No way levels would be that low.

Depending on the person they could be lower. It affects everyone differently so these charts are pretty much useless.

The only way to know your BAC accurately is a tester. They make disposables for $2 or digital ones for anywhere from $100-1000 depending on quantity and accuracy of their testing capabilities.

I am buying one for fun and to know where I stand and then I can check myself before i leave.

 

[powderbound]

Well this is my first response to a thread on any site so be kind....

I find the responses to the question of weather or not it will make our roads safer is rather entertaining. Like most sites there is a lot of people who just like to sound off thier opinions, and that is what is great about our country... we get to do that, it really helps stimulate some great debates that sometimes lead to great ideas. But in all honesty some people are fear mongering the idea, to get to .05 you are pretty much on your way and you would definitley know that you have had enough.... Unless of course you drink alcohol every day. At .08 you are pissed.... and that it is not a question of mis judging the line, and yes the higher the number you blow, the judge takes that number into consideration as an aggravating facotor in his decision for the penalty of the crime. so to say all are treated the same is not exactly right.

Those of us that consume alcohol in a responsible way know that we would never put ourselves or another at risk by consuming to a point where we felt that we had to much... but then there are those that do what they do anyhow....say at .05 to to points beyond...

The fear that one drink in an hour would put you over is ridiculous.....two possibly, I am no scientist but it doesn't take being a scientist to know that.

The problem with some is that the government and police are trying to do the best they can with a very serious problem, drinking and driving, and yes there is a lot of people hurt and killed with drivers in the .05 to .08 range.......I just wish we could get the numbers to help with this post.


why should the police be judge jury and executioner?, well don't forget it is not your right in this country to own and operate a motor vehicle it is a privilege. So by saying you would rather have a judge hear the evidence of a .05 case then lets make a change to the Criminal Code and make it .05 instead of .08??? If you want to take your chances in court and spending 5-6 g's on a lawyer go ahead be my guest, but wouldn't you rather spend that cash on sleds, gas and ridin...
So at the end of the day a regulatory action against a person who has chosen to be selfish is much better than being arrested and and getting a criminal record.

And finally yes, there are those stupid people out there that will drink and drive no matter what the consequence or what law or societal pressure has been willed upon them, they will continue to drive over what ever limit is put in place by the government.

 

[crazy_wheeler]

The only way drinking & driving will cease to exist is for all vehicle manufactures to install blow boxes right at the assembly line.

 

[TylerG]

The only way drinking & driving will cease to exist is for all vehicle manufactures to install blow boxes right at the assembly line.

even then someone would find a way to get around it.

 

[Bogger]

When I began this thread I did not know how many drinks vs time constitutes a .05... I was under the traditional belief that one beer an hour for up to 3 hours was legally acceptable and the change to .05 would impact that. I can easily drink 3 beer in under an hour and not feel the effects, although I'm confident that put me above .08 so if I was only around for an hour or so 2 has been my personal limit, 3 if it was over the span of a few hours. It's been stated that alcohol affects everyone different and at that level of consumption I feel no effects, I don't notice ANY effect until 4 to 5 beers in a 1-2 hour timeframe and do not notice and obvious effects until 8-10.... however I've set my driving limits based on the .08


Without hard numbers I find it hard to believe that people from .05 to .08 cause and are involved in a high number of traffic incidents, infact I know when I have had one or two I am purposly a more careful and curtious driver due to the fact that although my BA level may be legal I still don't want to deal with an accident with the possibility of alcohol on my breath, I would assume that many are the same.

It is what it is, I can't change it and I'm not trying to "fearmonger" I was just initiating a conversation and maybe learn a few things which I have... As far as my original question about whether the law will make the roads any safer, I'm still not convinced.

Well this is my first response to a thread on any site so be kind....

I find the responses to the question of weather or not it will make our roads safer is rather entertaining. Like most sites there is a lot of people who just like to sound off thier opinions, and that is what is great about our country... we get to do that, it really helps stimulate some great debates that sometimes lead to great ideas. But in all honesty some people are fear mongering the idea, to get to .05 you are pretty much on your way and you would definitley know that you have had enough.... Unless of course you drink alcohol every day. At .08 you are pissed.... and that it is not a question of mis judging the line, and yes the higher the number you blow, the judge takes that number into consideration as an aggravating facotor in his decision for the penalty of the crime. so to say all are treated the same is not exactly right.

Those of us that consume alcohol in a responsible way know that we would never put ourselves or another at risk by consuming to a point where we felt that we had to much... but then there are those that do what they do anyhow....say at .05 to to points beyond...

The fear that one drink in an hour would put you over is ridiculous.....two possibly, I am no scientist but it doesn't take being a scientist to know that.

The problem with some is that the government and police are trying to do the best they can with a very serious problem, drinking and driving, and yes there is a lot of people hurt and killed with drivers in the .05 to .08 range.......I just wish we could get the numbers to help with this post.


why should the police be judge jury and executioner?, well don't forget it is not your right in this country to own and operate a motor vehicle it is a privilege. So by saying you would rather have a judge hear the evidence of a .05 case then lets make a change to the Criminal Code and make it .05 instead of .08??? If you want to take your chances in court and spending 5-6 g's on a lawyer go ahead be my guest, but wouldn't you rather spend that cash on sleds, gas and ridin...
So at the end of the day a regulatory action against a person who has chosen to be selfish is much better than being arrested and and getting a criminal record.

And finally yes, there are those stupid people out there that will drink and drive no matter what the consequence or what law or societal pressure has been willed upon them, they will continue to drive over what ever limit is put in place by the government.