NEWS - Ignition Interlocks for Convicted Impaired Drivers
Ignition interlocks have been in use in BC since 2005 when they were made mandatory for certain high risk drinking drivers. Effective February 1, 2009 the provincial government has announced the commencement of an significant expansion of their use.
Applied to convictions after that date, drivers who are charged with impaired driving or recipients of 2 Administrative Driving Prohibitions or three 24 hour prohibitions within a five year period will have to drive a vehicle with an interlock device that will prevent the vehicle from operating if the driver has alcohol on their breath.
Participants must use the interlock for a minimum period of one year that begins after any driving prohibition that they are subject to. The cost of the program is the responsibility of the driver and currently amounts to just over $1,500.
Participation in the program is at the discretion of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles.
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Comments
Ignition locks
I totally agree with sinsyr. I have also heard of new technology that can make steering wheels sensitive to the alcohol in the drivers fingers, meaning anyone who was impaired could not start the car. I hope that the day will come when that is standard on all vehicles. I wonder how many more people will have to die before that day comes.
Ignition Interlocks
It is good news that the ignition interlock is being applied more aggressively but think we could be even more aggressive by making it a standard device in all vehicles.
ignition interlock
What a welcome step. It will not solve the problem of impaired driving, it is possible to find ways around these devices but I am sure it will help. It will stop many people from driving while impaired in the first place and reduce the number of people who do this repeatedly. And that is what needs to be done, prevent them from driving in the first place. There are so many lives destroyed by the totally preventable crime of impaired driving. It is past time to find the solution.