While many of us have been enjoying what seems to be one of the best summers on record, the provincial Ministry of Transportation has been working diligently to implement some significant amendments to the Highway Traffic Act through passage of Bill 126.
While there are several amendments contained in the new legislation, the most notable deals with novice and young drivers under the age of 22 years with respect to the consumption of alcohol. For the record, a novice driver is any person, regardless of age, in possession of either a G1 or G2 class licence.In short, Section 44.1 has been added to the act, which imposes a condition on the driver's licences of novice drivers and young drivers under the age of 22, that their blood alcohol concentration must be zero when driving and it makes it an offence for novice and young drivers to contravene this condition. Now as responsible citizens, we all know the only way be remain at a zero blood alcohol level is to not consume any alcohol at all. I have often been asked as to the accuracy of the breathalyser. Breath testing equipment used by police forces throughout Canada and the United States, known in the law enforcement industry as the Intoxalyzer, is sensitive to any indication of the presence of alcohol in one's body so there is no margin of error here.The law also adds another new section, 48.2.1, which in addition to being charged for contravening the licence condition, the section also give police officers the authority to administer an 'on the spot' 24-hour suspension of the drivers' licence of a novice or young driver who provides a roadside breath sample to a police officer and there is an indication on the breath machine that alcohol is present in that person's system. If that same breath sample shows a blood alcohol level of between 50 and 80 milligrams, the suspension is increased to three days for a first offence, seven days for the second offence and 30 days for each subsequent offence.Refusing to provide a roadside breath sample is also an offence under the law and carries the same consequences. Offences committed under Section 44.1 carry a penalty upon conviction, of a fine of between $60 and $500 and the court may impose an additional licence suspension of up to 30 days. A step in the right direction I believe, toward making our roadways safer.