Pubdate: Thu, 29 Sep 2016
Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.therecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225
Author: Liz Monteiro
Page: A1

TOUGHER RULES FOR DRIVING IMPAIRED BY DRUGS

WATERLOO REGION - New legislation will mean harsher penalties,
including licence suspensions, for motorists who drive while impaired
by drugs.

The new provincial rules, which take effect on Sunday, will allow
police to suspend the licence of drivers impaired by drugs just like
they do for drunk drivers who are charged with impaired driving.

The increased penalties include a $180 fine, a licence suspension of
three days for the first occurrence and seven days for the second
occurrence. A third offence leads to a 30-day suspension after failing
a roadside test.

Acting Sgt. Gregory Blundell of Waterloo Regional Police said the new
rules are good news for police who in the past could charge those
driving while impaired by marijuana or narcotics but they could not
take their licence away.

"We could lay a charge and the driver could drive a car the next day
and there was nothing we could do about it," he said.

"There were no repercussions for the licence," said Blundell, one of
nine drug recognition officers with the service who are trained in
recognizing impairment by drugs.

The new legislation could also mean a 90-day licence suspension and
the impounding of a vehicle for a week after more testing by a drug
recognition expert at a police station.

Blundell said the testing involves evaluating clinical signs including
blood pressure, temperature and pulse as well as psychophysical
testing that can take up to an hour at a police station.

Drivers will also need to participate in mandatory education or
treatment programs. Ignition interlock will be required for drivers
with two or more licence suspensions because of alcohol or drugs
within a 10-year period.

Blundell said the new rules give "more teeth" to the charge of
impaired driving by drugs.

 From January to September, police laid 60 drug impaired charges while
drunk driving results in about 500 criminal charges a year.

The majority of impaired driving is still by alcohol and not drug
consumption.

Blundell said front-line officers are trained in recognizing the signs
when stopping drivers in routine checks.

Blundell said the increased rules will also be helpful when the
federal government legalizes marijuana.

In Colorado, the number of impaired by drug charges went up 100 per
cent when marijuana was legalized in that state, he said.
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