Effective July 2nd 2008, all Canadian drivers
caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol will no longer be able to
refuse roadside sobriety tests and will now face tougher penalties
including:
- $1,000 fine for 1st offence
- 30 days in jail for 2nd offence
- 120 days in jail for 3rd offence
- 10 years sentence if bodily harm is caused
- Life sentence if death is caused when blood alcohol concentration is over .08
Under the old law, police were obligated to tell suspected impaired drivers that roadside tests were not mandatory. The new federal law closed this loophole by giving police officers the right to take all drivers to a hospital or police station for a blood, saliva or urine test if they suspect the driver is impaired by drugs or alcohol.
"More and more often individuals are refusing to give those samples and so now finally we are changing the law in this country so that you will be compelled, by law, to provide a sample or you will be charged. I think that's a reasonable response to the problem," said Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson.
Don't take the risks of driving impaired. The consequences have lasting effects on your own life and society as a whole. Getting a ticket for driving under the influence will also hit you in the wallet as your insurance rates will increase by at least 100%.
Regardless of your driving record, InsuranceHotline.com will search for the lowest insurance rate available from over 30 top insurance companies in Canada.