Saanich Police Prepared To Act In Response To Changes Announced By Min. Rich Coleman:

The Saanich Police Department welcomes any measure that would discourage suspended drivers from continuing to drive.   Our officers routinely come across suspended drivers who believe that it is still their right to drive.

Officers of the Saanich Police Department Uniform Division and the Traffic Safety Unit are ready to enforce the new changes to the Motor Vehicle Act that take effect on Friday, April 1, 2005.

What the changes mean to the average motorists?  Nothing.  Eighty to ninety percent of drivers will never have to worry about the amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act.

What the new changes mean to the first time or chronic impaired driver?  We will be impounding your car for a longer period the first time you are caught driving after you have been suspended.   We can now also issue a road side suspension at the request of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles and impound your car at the same time.  Previously our officers could use their discretion and provide some time for the driver to get home however that has now been changed.

It is important for our community to know that we continue to target impaired drivers and our officers are always encouraged to charge drivers criminally when the situation warrants criminal charges.   We rely a great deal on the eyes and ears of our residents to identify impaired drivers and we remain dedicated to following up on information provided by our residents.

Impaired driving legislation was passed in October 2004 in bill 66, the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, 2004, with implementation to be phased in over several months.  The following outlines the changes to be brought into force in April and May and their impacts on day to day policing operations:

Effective April 1, 2005

Vehicle Impound (VI) Program

An amendment to MVA section 105(1) and 105.1(1) will give police the ability to impound the vehicles of drivers who have been prohibited due to fitness or ability to drive(MVA s.92) as well as drivers who have been suspended under MVA sections 232 and 233.

In addition, impoundment periods under MVA s.105.2 will be extended from 30 to 60 days for the first offence and from 60 to 90 days for subsequent offences. There will be no changes to the impoundment term of 30 and 60 days under the unlicensed model (MVAs104.1)

All drivers convicted of criminal driving offences (other than driving while disqualified) are automatically suspended under the ILS (Indefinite Licence Suspension) program.  Their vehicles will now be impounded, even if the suspension has not been acknowledged .  Therefore, if CPIC displays a “HOLD” status telling an officer to serve a suspension notice under MVA s.232, the vehicle must also be impounded for a 60 day period.

Effective May 1, 2005

Bail Conditions

Drivers who are subject to bail conditions banning driving will have their driver’s licence and their right to apply for a licence deemed suspended for the period the bail order is in effect.

Vehicle Impoundment provisions will apply to drivers suspended under MVA section 89