Stiffer regulations for driving while impaired, speeding

Effective September 20, 2010

MapleLine Magazine report

September 14, 2010 - SOOKE, BC. There will be some new regulations for drivers in BC effective September 20, 2010. As released to the public from the Ministry of Public Safety and the Solicitor General on September 1, there are changes related to driving while impaired and driving over the speed limit. Here is an overview of changes (excerpted from ICBC report No. 27/10 dated September 1, 2010):

Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP).  A new immediate driving prohibition that police can issue at the roadside to drivers with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .05 percent or more. Drivers with a BAC between .05 and .08 will receive a 3, 7 or 30-day IRP depending on whether it's the first, second or third (or more) time they've received a similar IRP within a five-year period. Drivers with a BAC greater than .08 percent will receive a 90-day IRP. Administrative Driving Prohibitions (ADP) and 24-hour prohibitions will remain as available enforcement options for police, but will significantly reduce in volume. ICBC Driver Licensing support for the IRP includes:

• Reinstating licences after the prohibition period or after a successful appeal.
• Collecting re-instatement, new administrative and licensing fees,
• Booking and submitting reviews on behalf of customers for prohibitions of any length
• Collecting review fees.

Vehicle Impoundment for Impaired Drivers.  Police will have immediate authority to impound the vehicle driven by the impaired driver. Registered owners of vehicles that are impounded for 7 days or less will not need to attend a driver licensing office to process a vehicle release and may go directly to the lot after the impound term. No appeal process for vehicles that are impounded for 7 days or less.

Other Vehicle Imoundments. The non-impaired offences for which police can impound a vehicle have expanded to now include:

• Driving while unlicensed.
• Driving while suspended or prohibited.
• Excessive speeding (40 km/hr or more over the posted limit).
• Street racing or performing a stunt.
• Motorcycle operator or passenger improperly seated.
• Passenger carried on single occupant motorcycle.

New and increased fees as of September 20, 2010:

• New administrative penalties for impaired drivers upon reinstatement.
• Written and oral review fees will be doubling.
• Reinstatement for all prohibitions will increase to $250.

Send news releases to: news@maplelinemagazine.com