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Impaired driving – chose your ride

April 11, 2013   ·   0 Comments

The consumption of an alcoholic beverage, in any quantity, affects your cognitive abilities, potentially impairing your ability to drive. If you’re driving after having consumed alcohol and evidence exists to support the conclusion that your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle is impaired, you can be arrested for impaired driving. While you may feel it doesn’t affect you and you may be used to the quantity of intoxicants that you’ve consumed, your abilities can be tested by police.  The tests are acute and articulate your level of impairment accurately.

If your legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is less than .05 (50mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood): A BAC of .05 – .79 will result in an immediate warn range roadside suspension of 3, 7, or 30 days escalating in duration with each occurrence.

A BAC of .08 or greater will result in a criminal charge of “Over 80 mgs”, a 7 day vehicle impoundment, a 90 day Administrative Driver’s Licence Suspension (ADLS), and any subsequent sanctions or fines from a court disposition including time in jail.

In 2012, the South Simcoe Police charged 117 people with Impaired Driving, 78 with Drive Over 80 mgs and issued 141 warn range suspensions.

“These numbers are staggering,” according to Staff Sergeant Steve Wilson. “These are all preventable occurrences through proper planning and choices.”

South Simcoe Police urges you to remember the following when consuming alcohol in any quantity:

• Pre-plan how you’re going to be getting home;

• Pack accordingly to spend the night, should you not feel comfortable driving home;

• Call a Taxi;

• Familiarize yourself with some of the local designated driver programs in the area that will drive you and your vehicle home at  reasonable rates;

• An incident with police, should you have consumed too much alcoholic beverage, will inconvenience you for a minimum of 3 days;

• Impaired driving is the leading cause of death on roadways and no impaired driver ever thought they would be involved in a collision.

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