Rid Roads of Impaired Drivers

In 1997 the B.C. Government introduced the Indefinite License Suspension Program taking a "three strikes and you're out!!" approach to those who continue to be convicted of Criminal Code driving offences. Approximately 80% of drivers who lose their licenses under the ILS program lose them because of impaired driving convictions.

A first conviction in this program results in a mandatory one-year driving prohibition. A second conviction within 10 years of the first will result in a three year prohibition. A third conviction means an indefinite suspension, which may not be ended for a minimum of 10 years.

Following a third conviction the driver must successfully complete a remediation program to address the problem that led to the suspension to be considered for reinstatement after 10 years. The content of the Remediation Program is still in development, but it is anticipated that an announcement of the final version will be made in the very near future.

Within the first three years of the program, just over 11,000 ILS program suspensions have already been issued, more than 9,000 of them for one year. 1,700 of them for three years and close to 500 for an indefinite period.