Tougher Impaired Driving Laws

(Victoria, British Columbia) In response to a tragic impaired-driving accident which resulted in the death of a 4-year-old girl, the British Columbia government has toughened its driving laws.

The introduction of Bill 14 makes B.C.'s impaired driving laws the toughest in Canada.

Drivers who blow over .08 or refuse to give a sample get an immediate 90-day driving ban, a $500 fine and possible criminal charges.

Drivers who blow in the "warn" zone--between .05 and .08--will now get an immediate three day suspension with a $200 fine.

The amount of the fine, and the suspension length will increase with each warning in a five year period.

A goal has been set to decrease the number of drunken-driving deaths by 35 percent by 2013. It's not clear what the course of action will be if the goal isn't achieved.

Watch for temperance activists to push for something similar in the U.S.