November 24, 2010

It’s that time of year again that all Canadian football fans wait for – the annual Grey Cup game and the festivities that surround it. Enjoy the Grey Cup festivities but, please, if you drink, don’t drive. Make plans to get home safely before you have that first drink. Call a cab, take a bus, or ride with someone who hasn’t been drinking. If you’re hosting the celebration, ask for car keys as your guests arrive and be sure to stock plenty of non-alcoholic beverages for those who are designated drivers.

What that also means is winter has descended on Northern Alberta with the challenges of winter driving.

The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) suggests preventing problems before they occur:

CAA Top 10 tips

1. Get your vehicle ready for winter in the fall.
2. Install four matching winter tires.
3. Pack an emergency kit.
4. Learn and practice winter driving techniques before you need them.
5. Plan your trip, check road and weather conditions.
6. Remove all snow from your vehicle before each trip.
7. Give yourself extra travel time in bad weather.
8. Avoid using overdrive and cruise control on slippery roads.
9. Travel with a fully charged cell phone.
10. SLOW DOWN and wear your seatbelt.

Prevention is better than recovery! Winter driving can be risky, so be prepared .

For more information, please visit CAA’s website:

http://www.caa.ca/publicAffairs/public-affairs-rbss-brochures-e.cfm

NEWS FROM OTTAWA
What is the punishment for a person convicted of an impaired driving offence?
Impaired driving is a serious criminal offence.
For the offences of impaired driving, driving with a blood alcohol content "over 80," or refusing to give a breath or blood sample without a lawful excuse, the Criminal Code sets minimum penalties that the judge must impose. In addition to these minimums, the judge can decide that other punishments are also appropriate in the circumstances. For example, a judge could sentence a person convicted of impaired driving for the second time to a minimum of 14 days in prison, prohibit the offender from driving for three years and order the offender to report to a probation officer.





In some provinces in Canada, a judge can reduce the time a first offender is prohibited from driving if the driver participates in an alcohol ignition interlock program. When the ignition interlock is installed, a driver cannot start or run a motor vehicle unless the driver gives an acceptable breath sample.

What happens if a person who is prohibited from driving is caught driving?
When a person who has been prohibited from driving is caught driving, the person can be charged with the offence of operating a motor vehicle while disqualified. The Crown prosecutor may choose to process the charge as an indictable offence with a maximum punishment of five years in prison. Or, the Crown prosecutor may choose to process the charge as a summary conviction offence with a maximum punishment of six months in prison and a $2,000 fine.

Can a victim of an impaired driving offence make a victim impact statement?
Yes. A victim of an impaired driving offence can prepare a written victim impact statement that the judge must take into consideration when deciding on the appropriate punishment for the offender.

Where is more information available?
If you or someone you know have been a victim of crime, help is available. All provinces and territories have services for victims of crime. They can help if you need information or other assistance.
Policy Centre for Victim Issues
Department of Justice
112 Kent Street, Suite 870
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H8
Fax: (613) 952-1110