| Canada has had a long history of combating drinking | | | | driving prohibition of 3 months (first offence), 6 months |
| and driving. When 'driving while intoxicated' became a | | | | (second offence) and one year (subsequent offences) |
| summary offence under the Criminal Code in 1921, the | | | | as well as a maximum 10 year prohibition from driving |
| laws were not as strict as they are today because | | | | following a conviction for impaired driving causing bodily |
| back then, people who were found guilty of driving | | | | harm or death." (Department of Justice, 2000) |
| while intoxicated were "subject to a term not | | | | A study by Simpson and Associates showed that in |
| exceeding thirty days and not less than seven days | | | | 1994 drinking and driving decreased significantly in |
| for a first offence, for a term not exceeding three | | | | Canada. The results revealed: "(1) there was a |
| months and not less than one month, for a second | | | | substantial decrease of about 30% in the proportion of |
| offence, and for each subsequent offence for a term | | | | impaired drivers detected in random nighttime roadside |
| not exceeding one year and not less than three | | | | surveys; (2) the percent of fatally injured drivers who |
| months." (Koles, 2003) | | | | were impaired (BAC >80 mg%) also declined by about |
| In 1969, there was a repeal of the offence of | | | | 30%; and (3) there was a 40% decrease in the |
| operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and the | | | | number of drinking drivers injured in road crashes." |
| creation of the offence of driving with a Blood Alcohol | | | | (Simpson et al.) |
| Content (BAC) of more than 80mg/100ml of blood as | | | | In 2000, Canadian Parliament passed Bill C-18 which |
| a summary conviction offence. During the 1980's, there | | | | "raised the maximum sentence for impaired driving |
| was a significant increase in the number of people | | | | causing bodily harm from 14 years to life, added drug |
| drinking and driving. The result was a promotion of | | | | detection to the blood-sampling warrant provision, and |
| education and awareness programs and the use of | | | | removed driving while disqualified from the list of |
| treatment facilities. In 1985, amendments were made to | | | | offences within the absolute jurisdiction of a provincial |
| the drinking and driving laws which created new | | | | court judge." |
| offences for impaired driving causing bodily harm "with | | | | Unfortunately, drinking and driving is still a serious |
| a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and | | | | problem that plaques Canadian society. In the |
| impaired driving causing death with a maximum | | | | University of British Columbia Applied Research and |
| punishment of 14 years in prison." (Department of | | | | Evaluation Service's report, 'Estimating the Presence of |
| Justice, 2000) As well, these amendments "increased | | | | Alcohol and Drug Impairment in Traffic Crashes and |
| the minimum mandatory punishment for impaired | | | | Their Costs to Canadians,' "in 2006, it was estimated |
| driving, driving with a BAC over 0.08 and refusing to | | | | that 3,122 individuals were killed in motor vehicle |
| provide a breath sample to $300 for a first offence, | | | | crashes in Canada." |
| maintained 14 days imprisonment for a second | | | | Canada has made great strides in enacting strict laws |
| offence and 90 days imprisonment for a subsequent | | | | for people who drink and drive. The best way to |
| offence." (Department of Justice, 2000) There was | | | | eliminate drinking and driving is through education and |
| also the "establishment of a mandatory minimum | | | | taking personal responsibility for one's own actions. |