Motor Vehicle Offences for Drugs and Alcohol (13:IX)

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Current LSLAP policy is to refer all impaired driving offences to the professional bar.

A. Provincial Offences – Immediate Roadside Prohibition

1. Approved Screening Device (ASD) and Breathalyzer

A peace officer may demand a breath sample into an Approved Screening Device (ASD) from a driver if the officer reasonably suspects that there is alcohol in the driver’ s body and they have operated a motor vehicle within the proceeding 3 hours. This is permitted for both drivers who are operating a motor vehicle or have care or control of it. An ASD is different than a breathalyzer machine and it does not provide a numerical value for the readings of “warn” or “fail”. If the police do not administer the ASD right away, they may not be able to use the results readings at trial. Before requiring the driver to provide a breath sample into an ASD, the peace officer does not have to inform the driver of their Charter right, under s 10(b), to call a lawyer. At this time, the driver does not have the right to speak to a lawyer before deciding whether to blow or refuse: the driver must decide right away. If the driver refuses, they will likely be issued a refusal to provide a breath sample under s 215.41(4) of the MVA or under s 253(5) of the Criminal Code. The ASD tests for alcohol in the body and it will show a numerical value for a blood alcohol content (“BAC”) under 50 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood (.05), “warn,” or “fail.” It shows a warn for blood-alcohol levels between 50 and 79 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood (.05), and a fail for levels of not less than 80 milligrams. No numerical values are given for a “warn” or a “fail”and it is impossible to determine the actual BAC of the driver. In contrast, a breathalyzer machine measures alcohol in the breath to see if the driver’ s blood alcohol concentration is over the legal limit of .08. It is more accurate than the ASD and must be operated by a qualified technician. In practice, the breathalyzer is no longer used, and the police rely solely on the ASD to to form the basis of issuing the driving prohibition. In summary, if police demand a breath sample, the driver must comply with the breath demand into the ASD. The driver is legally compelled to provide a breath sample unless there is a reasonable excuse not to do so. Refusing without a reasonable excuse constitutes a separate offence. 2.Exceeding 80 Milligrams (.08) The MVA makes it an offence either to drive or to be in the care or control of a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol reading in excess of 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood (.08). Care or control of a vehicle means occupying the driver’ s seat with access to the ignition key, even if the vehicle is parked. a)Penalties If the driver’ s breath sample registers a “fail” on the ASD, the driver will: immediately lose their license for 90 days and have their vehicle impounded for 30 days;