MPP JOURNAL for the week of March 12, 2021

David Tilson, MPP Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey

Getting Tough with Drunk Drivers

Over the past five years, the Mike Harris government has demonstrated our commitment to get tough with drunk drivers by implementing one of the most comprehensive anti-drinking and driving programs in Canada through initiatives including: administrative driver's licence suspension, vehicle impoundment, a mandatory education/treatment program and longer suspension periods for repeat offenders.

Currently provincially imposed sanctions in Ontario include the following:

• 1st Conviction: One-year provincial suspension and successful completion of mandatory education/treatment program,
• 2nd Conviction: Three-year provincial suspension and successful completion of mandatory education/treatment program,
• 3rd Conviction: Lifetime provincial suspension reducible if certain criteria are met and successful completion of mandatory education/treatment program,
• Subsequent Convictions: Lifetime provincial suspension-not reducible.

My colleague Garfield Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North, introduced a private members bill this past fall that would once again improve the safety of our provincial roadways. Mr. Dunlop's bill takes a further step to prevent convicted offenders from drinking and driving before having their driving privileges fully reinstated. This legislation would force impaired driving offenders to drive vehicles with an ignition interlock device, installed and located near the drivers seat, as a condition of re-instating their driver's licence. An ignition interlock device is a small breath-testing unit connected to the engine of a vehicle to prevent the vehicle from being started if the driver's blood alcohol concentration is above a pre-set level. If no alcohol is detected, the vehicle will start. If alcohol is detected, the vehicle will not start and the data will be recorded on the interlock devise.

The device is quite sophisticated and is equipped with various anti-tampering devices and records all starts and/or failed attempts with the device. It also requires the driver take periodic breath tests during the trip, while the engine is running. If the sample is not provided, or if the driver's blood alcohol concentration exceeds the pre-set limit, the device will issue a warning and record the event. After a short safety interval allowing the driver to move to the side of the road, the engine will turn off. Drinking and driving offenders who have the device installed will be required to pay for the unit and its installation as well as a monthly upkeep fee.

This legislation introduces ignition interlock to all convicted drinking driving offenders as a further deterrent to impaired driving in Ontario. Garfield Dunlop's legislation reinforces Ontario's position as a leading jurisdiction in the fight against impaired driving. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, police officers and crown attorney's that I have spoken to agree this legislation will be one more deterrent in our ongoing fight against drinking and driving.

Our government continues to take tough action to combat drinking and driving. All Ontarians deserve to feel safe in their homes, in their communities, and with this legislation, on our roadways.

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For further comment: David Tilson, MPP

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