At a time of year where impaired driving is often in the spotlight, the provincial government of Manitoba has announced new potential laws that would toughen up licensing penalties for those convicted of driving while impaired.
In a release, the province announced introduced legislation that would impose new, stronger licensing consequences on drivers convicted of impaired driving and refusal offences that cause bodily harm or death.
“Impaired driving poses a serious threat to public safety, as 10 per cent of fatal collisions in Manitoba in 2023 included impaired driving as a contributing factor,” said Justice Minister Matt Wiebe. “Our government is committed to taking concrete action to protect our communities and improve road safety by introducing changes which reinforce that there are real and serious consequences for choosing to drink and drive.”
According to the release, the new legislation would increase the automatic driver’s licence suspension for a second conviction when a driver is convicted of an impaired driving or refusal offence that causes bodily harm or death. Currently, a driver convicted for the first time receives a five-year automatic licence suspension and if a driver is convicted of a second offence within 10 years, they receive an automatic 10-year licence suspension. The amendments would increase that second 10-year suspension to a lifetime suspension.
The release also stated that these amendments would also prohibit a person convicted of these offences from driving with any alcohol in their blood (zero per cent blood alcohol concentration). For a first conviction, the prohibition would last for seven years. For a second conviction within 10 years, it would result in a lifetime prohibition.
