Changes to the Highway Traffic Act that increase sanctions for impaired drivers will take effect on August 15, Justice Minister Swan announced.
“We’re making it clear that it is not acceptable to be an impaired driver in this province by imposing harsher sanctions,” said Swan. “We are also protecting Manitoba families by extending driver’s licence suspensions to people found operating boats, planes or trains while impaired.”
Starting in mid-August, short-term driver’s licence suspensions will be longer for people who repeatedly drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) between .05 and .08 or fail a physical co-ordination test.
That provision and Manitoba’s other existing road vehicle driver’s licence suspension sanctions will also apply to those found operating boats, trains or planes while impaired. Currently, people charged under the Criminal Code of Canada with operating a road vehicle while impaired face an immediate road driver’s licence suspension under the province’s Highway Traffic Act. The new law makes sure suspensions of road driver’s licences also apply to people found operating a vessel, railway equipment or aircraft while impaired, said Swan.
When the changes take effect in August, there will be immediate tiered suspensions of 24 hours for a first violation of operating a motor vehicle, boat, train or plane with a BAC of .05 to .08 or failing a physical co-ordination test, 15 days for a second violation, 30 days for a third violation or 60 days for a fourth or subsequent violation. The window for determining who is a repeat violator will increase to 10 years from three years.
Suspended drivers will be allowed an appeal to challenge the grounds for the suspension. Repeat violators who receive the tiered suspension may apply for a conditional restricted driver’s licence if the suspension will result in undue hardship, such as job loss.
