(Quinte News File Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber)
Stiffer penalties for drug impaired drivers will take effect Sunday.
As we reported Wednesday, the province is improving the safety of Ontario roads by bringing in penalties for drug-impaired driving that match those already in place for drunk drivers.
While she couldn’t provide exact numbers related to how many drug induced driving charges were laid in previous years, Quinte West Detachment Commander Christina Reeve said impaired driving is a huge problem on our roadways.
Drivers under the influence of drugs will face the following penalties: a $180 fine, an immediate licence suspension of 3 days for the first occurrence, 7 days for the second and 30 days for the third and subsequent occurrences upon failure of a roadside sobriety test.
A 90-day licence suspension and a 7-day vehicle impoundment is possible following more extensive testing.
There isn’t technology available yet to assist officers with roadside testing for drugs so they’re trained in drug recognition and field sobriety.
These new measures were introduced as part of the Making Ontario’s Roads Safer Act last year. In addition to these penalties, impaired driving can lead to criminal charges which could ultimately result in a loss of licence, additional fines and jail time.
