Honourable Michael Currie, Minister of Transportation and Public Works, today announced that his Department has set the date for implementation of the amendments to the Highway Traffic Act tabled in the 1996 sitting of the Legislative Assembly. The legislation was enacted on May 29, 1997. It is another component in Government's overall strategy to improve the safety of our Island highways for Islanders and visitors.
The amendments provide for two new programs, The Administrative Driving Prohibition and Vehicle Impoundment, as well as a change in the screening process for repeat impaired driver offenders.
Mr. Currie stated, "the new legislation is aimed toward keeping the drinking driver off the roads by targeting impaired drivers and repeat driving while impaired offenders. Most importantly, it deals with the possible addiction which may contribute to people driving while impaired."
Drinking and driving continues to be the number one cause of criminal death and injury in our society and alcohol is the greatest single factor contributing to fatal vehicle crashes on Prince Edward Island. While there has been a respectable decline in the number of impaired drivers over the past decade, records indicate those numbers have remained relatively constant for several years. Department of Transportation and Public Works statistics indicate that 58% of convictions for impaired driving were for second, third or subsequent offences.
The Administrative Driving Prohibition is a new program which provides peace officers authority to suspend a driver's license. Drivers who are apprehended driving with a blood alcohol count in excess of 80 mg/ml (.08), or who refuse to take a blood alcohol test, will have their driving license privileges suspended for 90 days, effective seven days after the date of the offence.
In the case of a driver who is under the age of nineteen years, a blood alcohol count reading in excess of .05 will be subject to the administrative driving prohibition in addition to the existing 24 hour driving suspension.
Mr. Currie said, "the suspension is separate from any criminal charges which may result from the same offence and is designed as a deterrent to those who might drive while under the influence."
The Vehicle Impoundment program will allow peace officers authority to immediately impound a motor vehicle driven by an individual who is arrested for drunk driving or refusal to submit to a blood alcohol test, and who is at the time prohibited from driving as a result of a similar conviction.
Impoundment will be for 30 days for a first offence, and up to 60 days if an impoundment occurred within the previous two years. The owner is responsible for all towing and storage costs.
"Impoundment can occur even if the driver is not the registered owner of the vehicle," Mr. Currie stated. "Hopefully this program will make Island roads safer by getting vehicles driven by prohibited drivers off the road immediately."
A further change deals with the repeat offender. The new legislation requires all drivers with two or more lifetime convictions of impaired driving to undergo an alcohol/drug assessment and possible curative treatment.
"This legislation will send a clear message to everyone that drinking and driving in Prince Edward Island will not be tolerated. I am confident it will bring significant positive change to the driving behaviours of motorists and will go a long way to improving overall safety on our roads," the Minister concluded.