As part of the province’s efforts to make streets safer, Manitoba has introduced legislation that would provide tougher consequences for street racers and convicted impaired drivers. This announcement was made by Justice Minister Andrew Swan.
The amendments to the Highway Traffic Act introduced today in Bill 23 would increase the impoundment period for vehicles used in street racing from 48 hours to seven days. Police officers would be given the power to immediately suspend the driver’s licence of anyone caught street racing. This one-week driver’s licence suspension would help police stop street racers from putting others on the road at risk, the minister said.
The changes complement Bill 21, introduced last week, which would ensure convicted impaired drivers could have their vehicles impounded if they do not follow the rules of the ignition interlock program.
“Street racing and impaired driving are threats to the safety of every Manitoban,” said Swan. “We will continue to introduce tougher sanctions for street racers and use every tool at our disposal to discourage this illegal and dangerous behaviour, while continuing our work to remain a leader with some of the toughest drinking and driving legislation in the country.”
“I am pleased to support stronger provincial sanctions against illegal driving like impaired driving and street racing,” said Winnipeg Police Chief Devon Clunis. “These pieces of legislation give law enforcement even more tools to keep our streets and communities safe from these highly dangerous activities.”
Under the existing legislation, street racers may also face other sanctions including fines of up to $5,000 and driver’s licence suspensions of up to one year. Serious street racing incidents can result in criminal charges, jail time and vehicle forfeiture.
Bill 21 would build on amendments to the Highway Traffic Act passed in 2012, which expanded the ignition interlock program to all convicted impaired drivers and required them to apply for a restricted ignition interlock driver’s licence if they wished to drive in the time period immediately after their licence suspension ends. If these requirements are not met, individuals can be charged with driving while disqualified. The changes would clarify the consequences for this offence, which include vehicle impoundment.
“We know that ignition interlock programs are an important component of effective anti-drunk driving legislation.” said Melody Bodnarchuk, president, Winnipeg Chapter, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). “MADD is happy to support this bill, which provides greater consequences for drivers who fail to use interlock devices when required in Manitoba.”
Convicted impaired drivers participating in the ignition interlock program are required to do so for one year for a first or second conviction, three years for a third conviction and for life for a fourth or subsequent conviction.
The proposed legislation would allow a driver with a restricted licence to apply for permission to operate an employer’s vehicle not equipped with an ignition interlock device only if its use is required to maintain employment.
Both amendments would build on other initiatives taken by the Manitoba government to make roads safer including more police, graduated driver licensing, tiered driver’s licence suspensions, and banning text messaging and talking on hand-held cell phones while driving, said Swan.
