The High Cost of Impaired Driving

I was recently introduced to the writings of Constable R. A. Aselton of the Central Okanagan Traffic Services. I found this officer's perspective of the high cost of impaired driving to be very thought provoking reading. I think you will too. With his permission I am sharing his article with you.

Joan Parsons
President
Rid Roads of Impaired Drivers

No matter how many times you've heard it; there are people who just don't get it.

Every year thousands of Canadians are killed or injured in alcohol-related crashes. An impaired driving offence is not like a traffic ticket. If you are charged, you will have to go to court. It should come as no surprise to anyone that impaired driving is a criminal offence in Canada. If you have the time go and watch an impaired court case, you might be surprised.

Impaired driving cases are the primary cause of our courts being so back logged as new charter arguments are presented to the courts in hopes of getting another impaired driver free to roam the streets and roadways one more time. Don't get me wrong, I definitely advocate that every person has the right to a trial. But what is it costing every one of us through legal costs?

Lost tax payer dollars in wages for a police officer not out patrolling the streets while tied up for hours on end doing the paperwork required to process an impaired driver: cost $90 to $300. If there is a crash involving injury or death, the police officer will be unavailable, or in police codes, 10-7 for the rest of that shift and probably for at least a couple more: cost $360 to $700. Preparing reports for police managers, Superintendent of Motor Vehicles Office, crown counsel and defense lawyers while doing stacks of paperwork processing another impaired driver that in all likelihood will be going to court: priceless.

Once the paperwork is submitted there are always follow-up requests from crown and defense counsel for documents that most police officers have to scramble to prepare. Lost police patrol hours: cost $150. Then there is the articulation of evidence in court. Coming in on a day off spending 4 hours at double time in the witness box reiterating my observations and interactions with the accused while defense counsel tries to look for any doubt in my evidence: cost $250. If the accused is convicted, he or she will lose their driving privileges; have a criminal record and a fine: cost $500 to $1,000. Wishing I could say in court, "Your honor, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, well it's a duck!" "The accused was intoxicated, inebriated, soused, drunk, polluted, pissed, but most of all, impaired:" priceless.

When asked what makes me think a person has consumed an alcoholic beverage, I would like to say "Lets see, based on my experience, was the accused ability to operate a vehicle impaired by an alcoholic beverage? Now keep in mind I am relying on years of experience as a police officer and having on a regular basis, dealt with individuals who obviously have been drinking or have an alcohol dependency problem. I have been breathed on, spit on, vomited on and sometimes when there is a communication breakdown and warnings fail, end up fighting with these poor souls who have little or no control over their ability to control their lives or surprisingly a motor vehicle.

Call me crazy, I believe the accused ability to operate a vehicle was impaired by not one or a couple of drinks, but many."

The legal system was established for the truth. From a police officers perspective, impaired driving cases are about putting a police officer's evidence on trial for his or her actions during the investigation. I say go ahead, I have nothing to hide and catching the accused was not personal. I did not go out of my way to intentionally stalk the accused to catch them driving impaired on our roadways. In fact when I spotted their vehicle, I swore under my breath knowing that this will be a paper chase one more time. If it was a crash with an impaired driver, well let's just say with my vocabulary at that point, you would not want to be in my police car.

If the accused is injured, he or she will be transported to the hospital. Thank you to those select and dedicated medical staff who help greatly and are now involved in the legal process. They include ambulance personnel (love you Dick), emergency doctors (love you Jeff) and the hard working nursing staff (love you Sue) who like most essential services are trying to follow rules and case law in order to afford that everything done to the patient/accused impaired driver is by the book. Talk about STRESSFUL.

And when the dust has settled, it has been a trying and costly experience if you are convicted or not. If convicted, you have a criminal record. You won't be driving for another 12 months. Other things to consider are the towing and storage fees: cost $150. You also know that when you do get your licence back, car insurance will cost two to three times what you used to pay: cost $3,000. The legal defense and your lawyer's fees: cost $5,000. And to think that all this could have been avoided with a cab ride home: priceless.

Constable R.A. ASELTON
Central Okanagan Traffic Services
Kelowna R.C.M.P. Detachment
"We are dedicated to improving public safety on our roadways."

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