|
Drinking
and Driving in Alberta
Did you know that people between the ages of 16 and 24 make up 20%
of licensed drivers, they drive about 20% of the total kilometers
driven, but they account for 42% of all alcohol-related crashes in
which somebody dies. Everyone knows that drinking and driving is a
bad idea.
Play it safe and smart:
never drink and drive.
 The
legal limit for operating (care or control of) a motor vehicle in
Alberta is a blood alcohol concentration of .08 (80 milligrams of
alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood). However, even one drink slows
reaction times and impairs coordination. Police routinely issue 24-hour
license suspensions for BAC's of .05, and an impaired driving charge
can result even if your BAC is under .08. Novice drivers cannot have
any BAC.
|
| Legal
Consequences: |
Your vehicle can be seized or immobilized and if you are convicted
of impaired driving with a BAC over .08, it becomes a criminal matter
and you will have a criminal record. The minimum penalties for convictions
on impaired driving charged in Alberta are:
• First
Conviction: minimum fine of $600 (fine increases with
BAC), you lose your license for 1 to 3 years and may spend days in
jail.
• Second Conviction:
(within 5 years): at least 14 days in jail and you lose your license
for 3 to 5 years.
• Third
or Subsequent Convictions: 90 days to 5 years in jail
and you lose your license from
5 years to lifetime.
• A conviction of impaired
driving causing injury or death
carries a mandatory 5 year license suspension. |
|
