Harsher penalties for drug-impaired Ontario drivers to be introduced this weekend

Sep 29 2016, 8:07 pm

There’s nothing cool about driving while drug-impaired.

And it seems like the Ontario government is finally stepping up to ensure that less people decide to do so.

As of October 2, the province will be introducing penalties for drug-impaired driving that are on par with those already in place for anyone caught drunk driving. They include:

  • A $180 penalty
  • An immediate licence suspension of three days for the first occurrence, seven days for the second occurrence and 30 days for the third and subsequent occurrences upon failure of a roadside sobriety test
  • A possible 90-day licence suspension and a seven-day vehicle impoundment following further testing by a drug recognition expert at a police station
  • Mandatory education or treatment programs, and installation of an ignition interlock device in their vehicle, for drivers with two or more licence suspensions involving alcohol or drugs within a 10-year period

If you have any trouble understanding why Ontario is taking a stronger stance on drug-impaired driving, they’ve included some facts ‘Quick Facts’ that should suffice to scare the sh*t out of anyone using our roads, namely that according to the Office of the Chief Coroner, “39 per cent of drivers killed on Ontario’s roads in 2013 had either drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol in their system.”

Find a DD. Buckle up. And stay safe.

See also
DH Toronto StaffDH Toronto Staff

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