In Canada, it is a serious criminal offense to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Doing this can threaten other drivers and road users. The driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired if they are under the influence. In this blog post, you will learn what impaired driving is, the various types of impairment, and the penalties faced under the law.
Impaired Driving.
It is when your ability to drive a motor vehicle is compromised due to alcohol or drug consumption. Toronto impaired driving incidents are a troubling trend, and therefore, there is an urgent need to raise awareness of road safety. The various causes of impairment include:
You will be arrested for impaired driving if the blood alcohol concentration is 0.08 or more. If you intend to drive, it is always a good idea to avoid alcohol at all costs because even one drink can impair your judgment. You should know that your diet, body weight, and medication can influence the reading on the breathalyzer.
Although cannabis is legal in Canada, it does not mean you can get high and then drive. As a driver, it is your responsibility to ensure the safety of other road users. To measure the amount of THC in your system, a blood or urine test is done. You are breaking the law if the amount found is over two nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood.
Penalties for impaired driving.
- First-time offenders.
You will be required to pay a minimum fine of $1000 if your BAC is 0.119 or if your drug consumption is found to be five nanograms of THC or other drugs. The mandatory minimum fine is $1000 if you have a BAC of 0.05 combined with 2.5 nanograms of THC per ml.
- Second-time offenders.
If you get convicted for the second time for any of the above, you will get a mandatory minimum of 30 days in prison.
- Third-time offenders.
If you are convicted for the crimes above for the third time, you will get a mandatory minimum of 120 days in prison.
According to federal guidelines, you will get a minimum of $2000 if you choose not to provide your blood or urine samples to the police when asked. You will get a summary conviction with a maximum of 2 years in prison if your impaired driving injures another person. For serious cases, the offense can be charged as an indictment, and this can lead to 14 years in prison. If another individual loses their life because of impaired driving, the responsible driver can face a life prison term. In Canada, you will get two separate driver’s license suspensions if you are convicted of impaired driving. It includes:
- Criminal suspension. It is imposed by the federal government.
- Administrative suspension. It is imposed by the provincial government.
To foster a safe driving culture, it is essential to know what impaired driving is, the types of impairment, and the legal consequences. If your judgment to drive is impaired because you are under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or prescription medication, you are committing a crime. To avoid injuring others and legal consequences, make it your responsibility to arrange for a designated driver whenever you plan to consume drugs or alcohol.