Manitobans who drive while impaired by drugs or alcohol or who commit other serious driving-related offences now face much harsher penalties. This announcement was made by Attorney General Gord Mackintosh.
“Driving is a privilege. We are sending a strong message to high-risk drivers that if they choose to disregard the safety of residents and motorists, they will lose that privilege and pay the price,” said Minister Mackintosh. “People who engage in illegal driving behaviours, those who endanger the lives of innocent, law-abiding citizens, will face the consequences of their actions.”
The Safer Roads Act, which was introduced last June, takes effect today. It makes amendments to the Highway Traffic Act to specifically target drivers who make the choice to drive while impaired by:
- increasing immediate roadside driver’s licence suspension for first-time low-blood alcohol concentration (0.05 to 0.08) and drug-impaired drivers to three days from the current 24 hours;
- increasing the three-day suspension to seven days in cases where a person under 16 years of age is in the vehicle at the time of the offence;
- making participation in Manitoba’s ignition interlock program mandatory for all convicted impaired drivers; and
- clarifying this change takes effect on driver’s licence reinstatement, thereby eliminating the opportunity for impaired drivers to avoid the ignition interlock program by delaying licensing after a mandatory period of suspension has been served.
Amendments to the Drivers and Vehicles Act will also require law enforcement officers to notify the registrar of motor vehicles whenever a driver has been charged with a serious driving-related offence so the registrar can quickly invoke driver improvement actions, such as suspending a driver’s licence.
“MADD Canada applauds the government of Manitoba for its continued proactive strategies against impaired drivers,” said Andrew Murie, chief executive officer, MADD Canada. “The Safer Roads Act demonstrates Manitoba’s ongoing commitment to reducing alcohol and drug-related deaths and injuries on its roadways.”
The minister noted these changes come into effect today as police across the province gear up for their annual holiday check stops.
“Too often and all too regularly, our officers are called out to collisions on Manitoba highways caused by impaired drivers – collisions that are 100 per cent preventable.” said Insp. Joanne Keeping, officer in charge, Manitoba Traffic Services, RCMP. “While the majority of Manitobans make the right and safe decision before getting behind the wheel, we welcome these new amendments that target drivers that don’t and hold them accountable for their actions.”
“The Winnipeg Police Service is committed to enhancing the safety of Winnipeg’s streets and these amendments give police better tools to deal with drivers who engage in illegal, high-risk behaviour,” said Insp. Gord Friesen, traffic division, Winnipeg Police Service.
The minister noted a new provincial road safety committee, co-chaired by representatives from the Manitoba government and Manitoba Public Insurance, has been struck to ensure a more strategic and holistic approach to road safety is integrated into all aspects of transportation policy in Manitoba. The committee’s first meeting on Dec. 3 will focus on strategies to further strengthen legislation dealing with impaired and distracted driving, which contributed to the deaths of 235 people in the province from 2010 to 2014.
