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Legislation Passes Targeting Drunk Drivers And Street Racers
QUEEN'S PARK, May 29 /CNW/ - Ontario's families will be safer thanks to
new legislation that passed today that gets tough on drunk drivers and street
racers, Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield announced.
"Ontario is a leader in road safety across North America. The McGuinty
government has delivered on its commitment to keep communities and families
safe," said Cansfield. "Our new legislation makes it clear - if you drink and
drive, or if you race on our roads, there will be tough penalties."
The Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act, 2007, gets even tougher on those
who endanger themselves and others with stronger sanctions for drinking
drivers who have a 0.05 to 0.08 blood alcohol concentration ("the warn
range"). Penalties have increased to a minimum three-day suspension for a
first offence, up to a 30-day suspension, remedial measures, and an ignition
interlock for a third or subsequent offence.
Since 1999, there have been an estimated 35 street-racing related deaths
in and around the Greater Toronto Area. The McGuinty government is increasing
fines for street racers up to $10,000, the highest fine in Canada, and will
allow police to immediately suspend drivers' licences and impound cars for
seven days at roadside in cases where street racing, driving contests or stunt
driving are suspected. The new legislation also bans driving on a highway with
a connected nitrous oxide system.
To better protect police in the line of duty, the new law will allow a
combination of blue and red flashing lights on police vehicles to make them
more visible, especially at night.
Monte Kwinter, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services,
applauded the tough new measures for drunk and dangerous driving. "Knowing
that there is a heavy price to pay provides a good deterrent to drivers who
take deadly risks on our roads," said Kwinter.
"We are using criminal and civil law tools to keep Ontario's roads safe
from drunk drivers," said Attorney General Michael Bryant. "The early ignition
interlock program will help prevent repeat drinking and driving incidences
because it actively prevents offences from being committed, and repeat
offenders who continue to drink and drive, without regard for the law, may
have their cars forfeited, by court order, under new civil forfeiture laws."
"The tougher measures for those convicted of drinking and driving and
street racing offences will help all police agencies to protect the citizens
of Ontario from dangerous drivers," OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said.
Supporting regulations will be developed in consultation with police and
interested stakeholders. For more information visit the Ministry of
Transportation website at www.mto.gov.on.ca.
The legislation will be effective upon proclamation and once all
regulations are filed.
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Disponible en français
www.mto.gov.on.ca
Backgrounder
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NEW LEGISLATION IMPROVES ROAD SAFETY
The McGuinty government is delivering on its commitment to improve road
safety and keep communities and families safe. The Safer Roads for a Safer
Ontario Act, 2007, was passed by the provincial legislature today, and will
help protect Ontarians from drinking drivers and dangerous driving.
Each year, about 16,000 people are charged with drinking and driving in
Ontario - about two people each hour. About a quarter of the province's annual
road fatalities are alcohol-related. The new legislation targets impaired
driving by:
- Creating escalating sanctions for repeat drinking drivers measuring
0.05 to 0.08 blood alcohol concentration (the "warn" range)
- First instance: driver suspended for three days
- Second instance: driver suspended for seven days and must undergo
remedial measures
- Third or subsequent instance: driver suspended for 30 days, must
undergo remedial measures and have ignition interlock for six
months.
- Providing incentives to convicted offenders to install ignition
interlock devices
- Allowing the use of forfeiture law to take vehicles away from people
who continue to drink and drive.
Since 1999, there have been an estimated 35 street-racing related deaths
in and around the Greater Toronto Area. The legislation includes tough
measures for those who choose to race on Ontario's roads, including higher
fines and longer suspensions:
- Police can issue an immediate roadside seven-day licence suspension
and seven-day vehicle impoundment for street racing, participating in
a driving contest or stunt driving
- The maximum fine increases from $1,000 to $10,000 upon conviction for
street racing, making it the highest penalty in Canada. The minimum
fine increases from $200 to $2,000
- Courts can impose a driver licence suspension of up to 10 years for a
second conviction, if the second conviction occurs within 10 years of
the first conviction
- The Act also bans driving a motor vehicle on a highway with a
connected nitrous oxide system. Some street racers use nitrous oxide
to enhance the acceleration capabilities of their vehicle.
In a separate measure, police vehicles can now use a combination of blue
and red flashing lights, making them more visible, especially at night.
This new legislation will help keep communities and families safe, sending
a clear message that drinking and driving and street racing will result in
tough penalties.
Contact:
Bob Nichols
Ministry of Transportation
416-327-1158
Disponible en français
www.mto.gov.on.ca
>>
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For further information: Media Contacts: Jamie Rilett, Minister's Office, (416) 327-9134; Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, (416) 327-1158; Public Inquiries: (416) 235-4686 (GTA), 1-800-268-4686 toll free, 1-866-471-8929 TTY
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