Repeat Drunk Drivers in Quebec Face Lifetime Ignition Interlock Penalty
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Drivers in Quebec will soon be subject to one of the strictest drunk-driving penalties in North America.
Under a law taking effect later this year, second-time DUI offenders will face a lifetime requirement to equip their vehicles with alcohol ignition interlock devices — technology that shuts down the engine if it detects a too-high blood alcohol concentration. Quebec already required lifetime interlock usage after a third offense within 10 years, and this new punishment raises the stakes considerably for drunk drivers.
The province’s Highway Safety Code will permit pardons that release offenders from the interlock mandate — but only after 10 years, and only after demonstrating in court that they can be trusted not to drive drunk again.
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In Canada, drivers pulled over with a BAC of 0.08 percent or more are subject to criminal charges. Some provinces, not including Quebec, also levy administrative penalties for drivers caught with a BAC of 0.05 percent or more.
An interlock device is an expensive consequence for drunk driving. Quebec recently made this technology more affordable, but installation fees and monthly rental and service charges quickly add up. Driving.ca cites University of Montreal professor Jacques Bergeron, who calculates that interlock devices could cost lifetime offenders an average of $30,000.
Regardless of their expense, interlock devices have proven to be quite effective at reducing drunk-driving recidivism. After adopting them as a punishment, Quebec was able to halve repeat offenses between 2003 and 2017. The province also found that recidivism went back up after the devices were removed, leading it to adopt the new, stricter lifetime requirements.
According to provincial officials, the new interlock law should be finalized and go into effect later this fall, just in time for major anti-DUI initiatives by law enforcement.
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News Source: Driving.ca
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