Alberta legislature passes drunk driving bill into law
Bill 26, Alberta’s contentious Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2011 was passed into law on December 6, just weeks after it was introduced.
The legislation brings some of Canada’s strictest impaired driving laws to the province.
“Impaired driving is preventable and Alberta will pursue coordinated actions that are proven to change behaviours when taken together,” said Minister of Transportation Ray Danyluk. “This legislation has sparked some important conversations around the province. I encourage everyone to keep talking – keep talking to your spouses, to your sons and daughters, to your parents, to your friends, to your colleagues and to those important to you.”
The Alberta government says an estimated 22 per cent of drivers in fatal collisions in Alberta last year had consumed some alcohol. Alcohol-related collisions resulted in 569 fatalities and 8,535 injuries over the last five years in Alberta.
In the coming months, the government will work with partners to run a public education and awareness campaign to help Albertans prepare for the new law.
The new law takes an integrated approach that builds on existing sanctions and education programs. The law reserves the strongest sanctions for repeat offenders and those who are criminally impaired with blood-alcohol content (BAC) over .08. It also expands existing sanctions for drivers impaired with BAC from .05 up to .08. Repeat offenders will face progressively harsher penalties with each offence. Accompanying changes will also be made to regulatory sanctions for new drivers who are found with any BAC in their system.
In a post on social media site Twitter, Premier Alison Redford wrote “Proud to have voted for Bill 26 which will keep Alberta’s families safe on our roads. Thank you to the police & MADD for your support.”
The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) says that while the organization supports the intention of the bill, it is “frustrated and disappointed by the process, and by government’s unwillingness to listen to concerns about flawed sections of the Bill.”
“Why was the government in such a hurry to push through this legislation when it isn’t even ready to implement it?” asked Garth Whyte, President and CEO of the CRFA. “We will now hold the government accountable to roll out the legislation responsibly and to work with us to educate Albertans on what it means.”
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