The Prince Edward Island government is creating safer roads and protecting Islanders by bringing in tougher penalties for impaired driving, says Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Robert Vessey.
“There is no excuse for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This government is serious about reducing the number of impaired drivers on our roads,” said the minister. “The measures introduced are among the most progressive in the provinces.”
Amendments to the Highway Traffic Act introduced today will strengthen impaired legislation by:
• Expanding the ignition interlock program to include mandatory participation for first-time offenders;
• Outlining minimum time frames for participation in the program including: one year for the first offence, two years for the second offence, and five years for the third offence;
• Increasing the mandatory time in the ignition interlock program by one year if a passenger under the age of 16 is in the vehicle at the time of the offence;
• New measures to impound vehicles, including:
- Drivers convicted of any Criminal Code of Canada driving offence causing bodily harm or death will immediately have their vehicle impounded for six months;
- Drivers convicted of any Criminal Code of Canada driving offence not causing death or bodily harm, but who have been convicted of a death or bodily harm offence in the past 10 years, will have their vehicle impounded for six months; and
- Drivers convicted of any three Criminal Code of Canada driving offences not causing death or bodily harm within the past 10 years will have their vehicle impounded for six months. Currently, depending on the circumstance, vehicles could only be impounded for a maximum of 60 days with a two-year window on past convictions.
“Impaired driving causes needless collisions and fatalities on our roads each year,” said the minister. “While impaired driving is unacceptable at any time, it’s especially atrocious if children are present in the vehicle. That’s why those who are caught will have to spend an additional year in the interlock program.”
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal will continue to review impaired driving legislation and other measures aimed at reducing impaired driving on Island roads, in partnership with groups such as MADD.