Did you know drinking and driving offences are crimes?

It is a criminal offence to operate, or be in care or control of, a motor vehicle while your ability is impaired by alcohol or drugs.

If the police determine your ability to operate a vehicle has been impaired by alcohol or drugs, even if your Blood Alcohol Reading is below 80 mg, you can be charged with impaired driving.

Refusing to provide a breath sample can result in a criminal code conviction.

How it works: The alcohol you have in your body is evaluated by testing breath samples, and sometimes by blood analysis.

The Law

Impaired driving is a tough problem. Tough problems require tough solutions. Alberta driver licence suspension periods are as follows:

• First time offenders automatically receive a one-year driver licence suspension.
• Second time offenders receive a three-year driver licence suspension.
• Third time offenders receive a five-year driver licence suspension.
• Drivers convicted of impaired driving causing injury or death receive a mandatory five year licence suspension.

The Consequences

1. An impaired driving conviction will give you a criminal record and suspend your driver's licence for a minimum of one year.
2. You will face significantly increased insurance costs, legal expenses, fines, fees, alternate transportation costs as well as other inconveniences.
3. It can also affect your employment and your reputation.
4. If you drive a motor vehicle while your licence is suspended you may be heavily fined or even go to jail. Your licence will be further suspended for another six months which will be served at the end of any existing suspension. The vehicle you were operating, regardless of who owns it, will be seized and impounded for 30 days.