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

[Bogger]

I'd be curious to know how many traffic accidents and more specifically injury/fatality accidents are caused by drivers in the .05 to .08 range.

I belive that people who drive drunk are going to drive drunk no matter what number they place "impairment" at and all this new law is going to do is cause law abiding people who would normally go out and have a drink with dinner or a beer at the hockey game to forego that drink or in many cases just stay home. talk about punishing the majority for the actions of a few.

If they really want to make a difference why is it that someone who blows a .08 faces the same fines/penalties as someone who blows a .24, one person missjudged the line while the other pissed all over it and said "fawk-um-all" yet the punishment is the same...

Friggin bureaucrats.......


Alberta’s new drunk driving legislation – one of the stiffest in the country -- has now passed.

Under the new legislation, if a person is caught driving with a blood alcohol level from 0.05 to 0.08, his license would be suspended for 3 days, and his car could also be seized for the same period. That's an increase from the standard 24-hour suspension currently being handed out to those caught driving drunk.

For repeat offenders, the penalties would also increase incrementally.

In a news release sent out late Tuesday night, Minister of Transportation Ray Danyluk says “Impaired driving is preventable and Alberta will pursue coordinated actions that are proven to change behaviours when taken together.”

When the legislation will take effect is still not known.

“I find it hard to implement any of the legislation before Christmas," Danyluk told reporters today at the legislature.

“I's going to take some time to train the police,” admits Solicitor General Johnathon Denis, “but I'd also like to see an education campaign for the public.”

There has been a lot of opposition to the bill, mainly from the hospitality industry, who are concerned the law will hurt business as less people will be willing to have a drink.

But the government moved forward saying safety was more important.

“This new legislation is one important step toward making Alberta’s roads safer,” said Minister of Justice and Attorney General Verlyn Olson. “It’s now up to all Albertans to take the next steps forward by making smart choices when it comes to drinking and driving and encouraging others to do the same.”



Read it on Global News: ​

 

[Junior Highmark]

The rate since BC brought it in has gone down 50%. that's a huge step forward.

Sent from my Nexus S

 

[Summitric]

135,412 ............. Lol

 

[whoDEANie]

The rate since BC brought it in has gone down 50%. that's a huge step forward.

Interesting, I wouldn't have expected that. I wonder what the reason is. This new legeslation is meant to address the high number of impaired charges and "incidents" we're seeing in Alberta. Since the penalties aren't criminal, I can't see how it would reduce the number drivers who are already risking criminal prosecution by driving over .08. Perhaps people are just choosin to stay at home knowing that one drink will put them over the provincially allowed limit? Perhaps the cops are choosing not to test people they suspect at being between .05 and .08?

Like Bogger, I would expect that the people who drink WAAAAY over the legal limit now, will continue to do so. ...at least once the police are done with their initial over-emphasized enforcement of the new laws.

In the end, I'm not really interested in the number of impared convictions that are issued as I am with quality stats on the number of alcohol realated (both fatal and non fatal) incidents before and after the new legislation. I'll bet someone's Polaris that those stats don't change much in Alberta.

 

[JaySimon]

The thing that was aggrivating in BC was the cops ability to be judge, jury and executioner. So you blew a .06, now your car is gone and you have a number of fines with no chance to defend yourself. THAT was bogus.

The federal law is .08, they shouldn't be handing out fines/restrictions like that, save those cases for a judge.

 

[Summitric]

the thing that was aggrivating in bc was the cops ability to be judge, jury and executioner. So you blew a .06, now your car is gone and you have a number of fines with no chance to defend yourself. That was bogus.

The federal law is .08, they shouldn't be handing out fines/restrictions like that, save those cases for a judge.

therefore lies the problem......... I understand quebec has the highest number of alchohol related incidents, then the maritimes and nwt, then bc, then sask, then alberta...... Tried to print it off the what i found on google, but wouldn't allow it........ Can't seem to find a gov't or rcmp statistic anywhere???

 

[STYKO]

Why not just make 0.00 ???? How much does it take to blow over 0.05 or 0.08??? One drink, two drinks.....is it not different for everyone??? Problem is as long as its not 0.00 people will always think that its okay to drink then drive....its not illegal to drink then drive as long as you don't blow over...Limits are hard to control based on percentages and what you blow...

If you go fishing and the law states 3 walleye catch, that's cut and dry law. You get caught with 4 your in trouble...

If go hunting and the law states 1 deer, and you get caught with 2 your in trouble...

If 5 people consume 2 alcoholic drink but all blow different amounts... how is that a cut a dry law....

make the limit 0.00 and its cut and dry law....... a 0.00 limit would suck as I like to have a drink if I go out for supper.....

just my thoughts....

 

[Bogger]

They say the fatality rate has dropped 40% in the first year I'll give you that, but I still find it hard to believe that has anything to do with dropping the limit from .08 to .05...drivers at .05, .06 and .07 do not kill people, or at least not due to impairment stupidity maybe, it's the "drunk" drivers that kill people....

The rate since BC brought it in has gone down 50%. that's a huge step forward.

Sent from my Nexus S

 

[Bogger]

So as a responsible adult I should not have the choice to go to my brothers place and have a beer with him if I want to get home? or have a glass of wine with my wife at a restaurant? at what point do we make people accountable for thier own actions? I'm very cautious with my consumption when I know I have to drive, if I were to blow over .08 by all means I did the crime I'll do the time. a person who blows 3x that at .24 should face 3x or more that penalty. I understand why drunk driving laws exist and support them but I would like the ability to govern my own choices....

Why not just make 0.00 ???? How much does it take to blow over 0.05 or 0.08??? One drink, two drinks.....is it not different for everyone??? Problem is as long as its not 0.00 people will always think that its okay to drink then drive....its not illegal to drink then drive as long as you don't blow over...Limits are hard to control based on percentages and what you blow...

If you go fishing and the law states 3 walleye catch, that's cut and dry law. You get caught with 4 your in trouble...

If go hunting and the law states 1 deer, and you get caught with 2 your in trouble...

If 5 people consume 2 alcoholic drink but all blow different amounts... how is that a cut a dry law....

make the limit 0.00 and its cut and dry law....... a 0.00 limit would suck as I like to have a drink if I go out for supper.....

just my thoughts....

 

[Bogger]

Suds nights will have to be sleep-overs from now on....

 

[buck50]

They say the fatality rate has dropped 40% in the first year I'll give you that, but I still find it hard to believe that has anything to do with dropping the limit from .08 to .05...drivers at .05, .06 and .07 do not kill people, or at least not due to impairment stupidity maybe, it's the "drunk" drivers that kill people....

and comparing stats from one year to the next is useless. to many variables to be able to say that the drop was totally due to the law. the rate varies from year to year all the time, without any changes to the law. but the people in favor sure like to trott that out there and say we told you so. wonder what'll they say if next year the rate is higher again?

 

[STYKO]

So as a responsible adult I should not have the choice to go to my brothers place and have a beer with him if I want to get home? or have a glass of wine with my wife at a restaurant? at what point do we make people accountable for thier own actions? I'm very cautious with my consumption when I know I have to drive, if I were to blow over .08 by all means I did the crime I'll do the time. a person who blows 3x that at .24 should face 3x or more that penalty. I understand why drunk driving laws exist and support them but I would like the ability to govern my own choices....

its the only way to make it cut and dry imo ...do you have a better way?

 

[sledheadrevxp]

nthing will change except the ones who are responsible enough to stay out of trouble. hoestly i would be willing to bet that the amount of incidents and suspensions of the people under .08 is less then 10% so the only thng that is going to change is people like me dont get to have a drink with my wife when we go on a date. the guy thats going to get smashed and drive home crashing into whatever happens to be in his way i still going to drive. B.S NEW LAW!!!

 

[Summitric]

Guess it's gonna be pretty tough for a 135 lb person(or lighter) to "go for a beer" afterwork now........ 1 drink will put them in the .05 to .08 range.........

 

[Bogger]

So are they going to breathalyze everyone all the time to ensure .00??? they continue to make a criminal out of your every day joe while going easy on the real criminals...

There is no 100% effective way, but throwing the book at the drunks is a good start...

its the only way to make it cut and dry imo ...do you have a better way?

 

[intmid8or!]

guessing the courts will see a fair increase in trials fighting impaired driving charges...

 

[sledheadrevxp]

if i do happen to go for dinner and have a drink and get pulled over and a suspension you can bet your *ss id spend 3 months wages fighting it if nothing else to prove a point. it is absolut horse ch!t when a grown man no longer has the choice to be responsible because a bunch of idiots get loaded and crash killing someone! like earlier said its not right to punish the responsible for the actions of the idiots!

 

[STYKO]

So are they going to breathalyze everyone all the time to ensure .00??? they continue to make a criminal out of your every day joe while going easy on the real criminals...

There is no 100% effective way, but throwing the book at the drunks is a good start...

Throwing the book at them is a start, I agree... but that doesn't solve one person blowing over with one drink and the next person being okay because they are bigger/fatter/taller whatever....

I think the law should stay at .08 this way you can have one drink at supper or your brother house.... i just think that if they move it to 0.05 they may as well just drop it to 0.00.

 

[scotts]

Haha, what a bunch of pisstanks, fact is it's gunna stop dinosaurs like me from having that 1... Maybe 2, wellllll guess another couldnt hurt shot on the way back to town or whatever.. Now I know your all gunna jump on the "not me" bandwagon but the fact remains a good number can't say whoa!

 

[Summitric]

haha, what a bunch of pisstanks, fact is it's gunna stop dinosaurs like me from having that 1... Maybe 2, wellllll guess another couldnt hurt shot on the way back to town or whatever.. Now i know your all gunna jump on the "not me" bandwagon but the fact remains a good number can't say whoa!

so true...... Often gone out and have 1 or 2............ And usually talk myself into 3(with gentle twist of the arm)...... And i assure myself it's safe to have that in 3 or 4 hours.............. Right? Lol .......... Not anymore. 1 drink limit