#1 Car Club In Kitchener - Waterloo - Cambridge - Guelph - View Single Post - Legislation Passes Targeting Drunk Drivers And Street Racers

**crxforum** · 05-31-2007, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Ministry of Transportation

McGuinty Government Continues To Keep Families Safe On Ontario's Roads

Legislation Passes Targeting Drunk Drivers And Street Racers QUEEN'S PARK, May 29 /CNW/ - Ontario's families will be safer thanks tonew legislation that passed today that gets tough on drunk drivers and streetracers, Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield announced. "Ontario is a leader in road safety across North America. The McGuintygovernment has delivered on its commitment to keep communities and familiessafe," said Cansfield. "Our new legislation makes it clear - if you drink anddrive, or if you race on our roads, there will be tough penalties." The Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act, 2007, gets even tougher on thosewho endanger themselves and others with stronger sanctions for drinkingdrivers who have a 0.05 to 0.08 blood alcohol concentration ("the warnrange"). Penalties have increased to a minimum three-day suspension for afirst offence, up to a 30-day suspension, remedial measures, and an ignitioninterlock for a third or subsequent offence. Since 1999, there have been an estimated 35 street-racing related deathsin and around the Greater Toronto Area. The McGuinty government is increasingfines for street racers up to $10,000, the highest fine in Canada, and willallow police to immediately suspend drivers' licences and impound cars forseven days at roadside in cases where street racing, driving contests or stuntdriving are suspected. The new legislation also bans driving on a highway witha connected nitrous oxide system. To better protect police in the line of duty, the new law will allow acombination of blue and red flashing lights on police vehicles to make themmore visible, especially at night. Monte Kwinter, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services,applauded the tough new measures for drunk and dangerous driving. "Knowingthat there is a heavy price to pay provides a good deterrent to drivers whotake deadly risks on our roads," said Kwinter. "We are using criminal and civil law tools to keep Ontario's roads safefrom drunk drivers," said Attorney General Michael Bryant. "The early ignitioninterlock program will help prevent repeat drinking and driving incidencesbecause it actively prevents offences from being committed, and repeatoffenders who continue to drink and drive, without regard for the law, mayhave their cars forfeited, by court order, under new civil forfeiture laws." "The tougher measures for those convicted of drinking and driving andstreet racing offences will help all police agencies to protect the citizensof Ontario from dangerous drivers," OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said. Supporting regulations will be developed in consultation with police andinterested stakeholders. For more information visit the Ministry ofTransportation website at www.mto.gov.on.ca. The legislation will be effective upon proclamation and once allregulations are filed.

<< Disponible en français www.mto.gov.on.ca Backgrounder ------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW LEGISLATION IMPROVES ROAD SAFETY The McGuinty government is delivering on its commitment to improve roadsafety and keep communities and families safe. The Safer Roads for a SaferOntario Act, 2007, was passed by the provincial legislature today, and willhelp protect Ontarians from drinking drivers and dangerous driving. Each year, about 16,000 people are charged with drinking and driving inOntario - about two people each hour. About a quarter of the province's annualroad fatalities are alcohol-related. The new legislation targets impaireddriving by: - Creating escalating sanctions for repeat drinking drivers measuring 0.05 to 0.08 blood alcohol concentration (the "warn" range) - First instance: driver suspended for three days - Second instance: driver suspended for seven days and must undergo remedial measures - Third or subsequent instance: driver suspended for 30 days, must undergo remedial measures and have ignition interlock for six months. - Providing incentives to convicted offenders to install ignition interlock devices - Allowing the use of forfeiture law to take vehicles away from people who continue to drink and drive. Since 1999, there have been an estimated 35 street-racing related deathsin and around the Greater Toronto Area. The legislation includes toughmeasures for those who choose to race on Ontario's roads, including higherfines and longer suspensions: - Police can issue an immediate roadside seven-day licence suspension and seven-day vehicle impoundment for street racing, participating in a driving contest or stunt driving - The maximum fine increases from $1,000 to $10,000 upon conviction for street racing, making it the highest penalty in Canada. The minimum fine increases from $200 to $2,000 - Courts can impose a driver licence suspension of up to 10 years for a second conviction, if the second conviction occurs within 10 years of the first conviction - The Act also bans driving a motor vehicle on a highway with a connected nitrous oxide system. Some street racers use nitrous oxide to enhance the acceleration capabilities of their vehicle. In a separate measure, police vehicles can now use a combination of blueand red flashing lights, making them more visible, especially at night. This new legislation will help keep communities and families safe, sendinga clear message that drinking and driving and street racing will result intough penalties. Contact: Bob Nichols Ministry of Transportation 416-327-1158 Disponible en français www.mto.gov.on.ca >>-30-For further information: Media Contacts: Jamie Rilett, Minister'sOffice, (416) 327-9134; Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, (416) 327-1158;Public Inquiries: (416) 235-4686 (GTA), 1-800-268-4686 toll free,1-866-471-8929 TTY

Im not even sure what to say about that. This bill pretty much works like communism. It looks great on paper. Everyone is happy and no problem. Except they dont take into consideration people who dont want to follow the rules or guidelines.

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