BC reconsiders new drinking and driving rules

Are the all-wise politicians in Victoria already having second thoughts about their tough new drinking and driving law? It would seem so.

British Columbia’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Rick Coleman, has announced his office will be reviewing the new rules that came into effect just two short months ago in light of pressures by the food and beverage industry which claims that many businesses have taken a 15-30% hit because of it. Added onto the huge cuts in profits caused by the introduction of the HST only three months before that, this new law has apparently put many food and beverage businesses dangerously close to brink of total collapse.

In a media release this week, the minister says that while the review is being conducted his department will be initiating a massive education program aimed at helping British Columbia’s drivers to make informed, responsible decisions, and law enforcement to consider the discretion available to them around impounding vehicles.

“I think most British Columbians share the same objective –- we want people to make good choices, and we want safer roads,” he says. “We also want a fair system that the public supports, so we committed to look at the results of our approach.”

In his media message, Mr. Coleman said “People need to know that they are able to legally drive their vehicles if they drink small amounts of alcohol over time. Most people can still enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or a beer after work”. Later, however, a CBC news report quotes him as saying “I think people don’t understand they can still go in and have a couple of glasses of wine with dinner and still be OK.” ( http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/11/08/bc-impaired-driving-restaurants-coleman.html )

Obviously, there is need for clarification and people are now asking whether it is one glass of wine or two. The 0.05% blood-alcohol content threshold has been in place since 1977 but the new penalties have caused confusion in the minds of drivers and many responsible people, who are not a threat to road safety at all, are erring on the side of extreme caution.

Mr. Coleman wants the public to know that if they are concerned about taking any alcohol at all, there are various tools available such as online calculators and personal blood-alcohol readers to allow them to know if they are legally able to drive. One of these devices in purse or pocket right at the restaurant or nightclub could mean the difference between arriving home safely or having your vehicle towed.

It would seem that BC’s law enforcement officers have also taken the law very seriously because the police have impounded a far higher number of vehicles than anticipated. Mr. Coleman says “ Our educational efforts will extend to police officers at the roadside. The fact is, they have discretion over whether or not to impound the vehicle of someone who’s caught once or twice in the ‘warn’ range of 0.05 to 0.08 per cent BAC. There’s still the option of parking a vehicle, if it is safe to do so, or allowing a sober passenger or friend to get a vehicle home. … A vehicle doesn’t have to be towed under the legislation,” he said. “So, those are the things we need to look at. I’ve already spoken to law enforcement and they agree.”

The minister continued, “What we’re committing to now is further education, consultation with the public, the hospitality industry, police and others, and a willingness to revisit the legislation next spring, if necessary.

“The law can’t work for our province if it’s based on widespread and unreasonable fear. The new rules, and their enforcement, must be understood and accepted by the public –- and we intend to work quickly to ensure they are”.

BC’s restaurant and bar owners are relieved that the province will be considering changes to the new laws. If there are going to be any changes made, Mr. Coleman says they could happen as early as next spring.