Would a Lower Criminal BAC Save Lives?
In Canada, any person with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 80 mg% (80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, or 0.08) or over who is operating a motor vehicle can be charged with a criminal offense. Yet, for most people impairment starts much below that level. That is why some believe that lowering the per se limit in the Criminal Code to 0.05 will reduce deaths and injuries from impaired driving. All provinces except Quebec already have short-term administrative roadside suspensions at 0.05 or lower. The procedure is simple and can be carried out by police officers at the side of the road. If necessary and deemed warranted by the officer, the vehicle is towed and stored at the driver’s expense. Some provinces have licence reinstatement fees and requirements for assessment and treatment in the case of repeat suspensions. These administrative measures are effective tools in the fight against impaired driving, in part because they provide swift and certain punishment.
