Vehicle seizure, lifetime licence bans proposed for drunk drivers in Manitoba

WINNIPEG (Dec. 27, 2000) — Manitoba Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh vowed to table legislation in the spring that would make Manitoba’s drunk driving laws the harshest in the country, including lifetime drivers’ licence bans for repeat offenders as well as forced vehicle seizure.

The ideas are contained in a report generated during a one-day workshop on druck-driving countermeasures earlier this month. The event was attended by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), hotel and restaurant operators, police agencies, and government officials.

Among proposals:

* Vehicle forfeiture, which would require that a vehicle driven by a repeat impaired driver be sold with the proceeds forfeited to government. Currently, no jurisdiction in Canada has vehicle forfeiture legislation related to impaired driving.

* Alcohol ignition interlock devices, breathalyser units that prevent a vehicle from being started if the driver’s blood alcohol concentration is above a pre-set level.

* Lifetime driver’s licence suspensions which are imposed in Nova Scotia, Ontario, British Columbia and the Yukon for persons who accumulate three or more impaired driving offences within five years.

Mackintosh noted that tougher sanctions came into effect Dec. 1 for repeat impaired and suspended drivers and drivers fleeing from police as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance public safety. He said the province is dedicated to further efforts to cut down on drinking and driving.

The “Stop Impaired Driving: Partners in Prevention” discussion paper is located online — follow the link below.

Printed copies in English and French are available by calling 204/945-1569.