Alcohol and the Law
Remember…
• It is NEVER okay to drink and drive!!
• A legal adult should aim to have a Blood
Alcohol Concentration of ZERO if they are
driving
• Even a small amount a alcohol can
affect your driving
• Do not get in a car with someone who has
been drinking
Alcohol and the Law - Canada
• In Canada there are liquor control regulations.
These regulations help to…
– Control the sale and advertisement of alcohol
– These laws set the age when drinking is allowed
• Drinking age is – 19 (all provinces and
territories)
– Except Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta
– Age is 18
Laws in Ontario
• May 1, 2009
• The Legal BAC when driving was changed from 0.08 to 0.05
(50mg of alcohol in every 100mL of blood)
• August 1, 2010
• All DRIVERS under the age of 21 MUST have a ZERO (0.00)
BAC at all times
Consequences:
1. Immediate 24-Hour Suspension
2. $500 Fine
3. Up-To 30 Day License Suspension
• Also have to return to the start of
Graduated Licensing System.
(G1 driver, G2 then G).
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/impaired/
Impaired Driving
• Impaired driving - driving while your ability is
affected by alcohol or drugs
– A crime under the Criminal Code of Canada
• If convicted, you can lose your licence, be
fined, or spend time in jail.
• Your vehicle does not even have to be moving;
you can be charged if you are impaired behind
the wheel, even if you have not started to
drive.
Drinking and Driving
• DEADLY combination
• There are approx. 13, 000 drinking and driving
convictions annually in Ontario
• Approximately 80% of convicted drinking
drivers are first time offenders
One Drink Can…
– Reduce your ability to
concentrate
– Reduce your ability to
react to things that
happen suddenly
– Cause difficulty judging
distances
– Difficulty reacting to
sudden hazards
– Alter your vision and
perception (blurry vision)
Impaired Driving Consequences
0.05-0.08 BAC “Warn Range”
Number of
Offence(s)
FINE
$$$
Suspension
Other
1
150$
3-Day
Suspension
2
150$
7-Day
Suspension
Mandatory Alcohol Education
Program
150$
30-Day
Suspension
Mandatory Alcohol Education
Program
6-Month Ignition Interlock
150$
30-Day
Suspension
Mandatory Alcohol Education
Program
6-Month Ignition Interlock
Mandatory Medical Evaluation
(within 5 years)
3
(within 5 years)
4+
(within 5 years)
What is Ignition Interlock?
• In-car alcohol breath screening
device that prevents a vehicle
from starting if it detects a
blood alcohol concentration
(BAC) over a pre-set limit of
0.02
• The device is located inside the
vehicle, near the driver's seat,
and is connected to the
engine's ignition system
How does an Ignition Interlock
Device work?
• Before starting the vehicle…
– A driver must blow into the device
– If BAC is above the pre-set limit, the vehicle will not start
• Once the vehicle is started…
– The interlock device requires the driver to provide breath
samples at random pre-set times while the engine is
running
– If a sample is not provided, or if the BAC exceeds the limit,
the device will issue a warning, record the event and
activate specific alarm systems (e.g., lights flashing, horn
honking, etc.), until the ignition is turned off
When Would Drivers use the IID?
• Drivers will be subject to Ontario's Ignition
Interlock Program if they are:
– Convicted of an impaired driving offence
under the Criminal Code of Canada
– Suspended for registering a blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) of 0.05 to 0.08 or 3
more times in a five-year period.
Impaired Driving Programs and
Campaigns
•
•
•
•
•
Reduced Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE)
arrive alive DRIVE SOBER®
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
iDRIVE
Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving
(OSAID)