B.C. Introduces New Drinking and Driving Penalties

[taylor192]

Originally Posted by RiceIntegraRS

I dont know how many drinks it really takes to blow over .05 im assuming its not that much i know a couple people that blew over and they told me they barely drank at all. I dont like this blood alchohol level bs, cause theres people that can handle 10 drinks and not feel a thing, where theres others will drink one and there already tipsy.

Please stop driving. You're not intelligent enough to be behind the wheel.

The rule of thumb (ROT) is 1 drink takes 1 hour to work its way through the body. Adjust accordingly if you're a small or large person.

Anyone that has 10 drinks is impaired, whether they feel it or not is just how used they are too being that drunk that often.

[taylor192]

Originally Posted by MR_BIGGS

They have a real opportunity to increase public safety here, but they have to give the public options.

Have the skytrains running later from Thursday-Sunday, more latenight bus service etc.

There are already options:
- designated driver
- cab
- do not drink

[taylor192]

Originally Posted by penner2k

I've gone out a couple times not really expecting to drink and ended up having friends buying shots and drinks for me. End of the night I'd think I was fine but once I actually started driving I would realize I wasnt. The problem is if I leave my car downtown it will get towed in the morning so not only am I having to pay towing fees but also a $70 cab ride home. If the skytrain had been running late I wouldnt have ever even drove downtown in the first place since once you factor in gas and parking the skytrain would be cheaper...
I'm not trying to say it wasnt my fault for being dumb and driving anyways since it was. But the system they have in place right now is really dumb.

The system is not dumb, you are.

It is not that hard to say 'no' to a few drinks and shots. Or to say "hold on" and go move your car to a lot with overnight parking allowed.

When I know there is even a remote possibility I will be drinking, I leave the car in a lot where it will not be towed.

[fatal]

the cab business is gonna be booming in vancouver

[threezero]

Originally Posted by taylor192

The system is not dumb, you are.

It is not that hard to say 'no' to a few drinks and shots. Or to say "hold on" and go move your car to a lot with overnight parking allowed.

When I know there is even a remote possibility I will be drinking, I leave the car in a lot where it will not be towed.

still doesn't solve the $$$$ charge for parking your car over night and than the 70$ cab ride home.

But i guess that is my fault because i'm poor?

to many is going to people risk it, because in their mind (drunk mind) more sensible than paying $100 to store their car + get home.

compare to say $15 to store your car and $3 transit to get home?????

now if the whole world is is sensible and socially responsible as taylor, we wouldn't have this law in the first place.

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by RiceIntegraRS

I dont know how many drinks it really takes to blow over .05 im assuming its not that much i know a couple people that blew over and they told me they barely drank at all. I dont like this blood alchohol level bs, cause theres people that can handle 10 drinks and not feel a thing, where theres others will drink one and there already tipsy.

You obviously don't have a clue how the limits work (but don't feel bad, most people here are equally clueless). Yes, it's true, one drink can affect some people more than ten can affect someone else... that's because people of different weights and different metabolisms process the alcohol differently, and why they can't make a law specifying the number of drinks. Blood Alcohol Content, however, is an absolute measurement of the percentage of alcohol to blood. Different types of alcohol, different consumption rates, different body types, different amounts of food eaten while drinking can all have an effect on how impaired you are, but however you get to that 0.05% or 0.08%, once you're there, you're roughly the same level of drunk.

So would you prefer if they did away with "this blood alcohol level bs" and just made one drink the legal limit? Would that be more fair?

I totally agree with Bloodmack that this is just a cash grab.

This is the most fucking ignorant statement ever.

A "cash grab" is the city raking up your property taxes, TransLink jacking up SkyTrain fares, a town built entirely around toll bridges with no free alternatives.

You don't want to pay out to this "cash grab"... DON'T DRIVE AFTER YOU'VE HAD ANY ALCOHOL. Pretty fucking simple math, even a first-grader could figure that one out.

Obviously the laws we've had so far haven't been working that well. Look at some of the posts here in the Police Forum - even taking away some people's licenses doesn't stop them from driving. Getting downright medieval with the hit to the wallet is the only way some people will learn.

[_Hotsauce_]

Originally Posted by bloodmack

I don't get why they introduced this warning system. Considering when I get warnings from cops when I get pulled over for speeding etc. I expect no fine or points. Their just doing this to cover up the HST. The reason they have a limit and not zero tolerance is because people have different tolerances based on weight and what not. I know that my driving isn't impaired until at least 3 - 5 beers. 0.05 is pretty much no alcholic drink at all mabye half a glass of wine but thats about it. And even though some of you are saying good for them your obviously blind to the fact that they're just doing it for extra money.

One drink is one to many.

[Qmx323]

I say skytrain runs for 24 hours on weekends, and bump up fares for weekends.

People are going to break the law, its human nature. You can't expect every single club goer in Vancouver, especially here because of the demographics (18-24) to obey the law of no driving after drinking, even knowing these stiff consequences.

Yes I can admit I have driven under the influence a few times (thank god I didn't hurt anybody), and I don't plan on driving under the influence ever anymore.

All I'm saying is the City of Vancouver should make it easier for people who do decide to drink outside the confines of their home, to get home easier by running the skytrain 24/7 with a looser schedule after 1am (such as one train every 20 mins instead of 10 or 5, whatever it is now), or just 24 hours on a weekend.

and btw Soundy, they did raise transit fees because of some transit tax raise. Month passes and FareSavers cost about 10% more. Although they say its to "maintain" higher standards of roads and transit systems.

[taylor192]

Originally Posted by threezero

still doesn't solve the $$$$ charge for parking your car over night and than the 70$ cab ride home.

But i guess that is my fault because i'm poor?

You gotta pay to play. If I'm out drinking I'll easily drop $100/night on food and drinks, I'm sure you're no better.

Originally Posted by threezero

to many is going to people risk it, because in their mind (drunk mind) more sensible than paying $100 to store their car + get home.

and they will possibly pay $1000s in fines when eventually caught. Plus if you had an accident while drunk, your insurance is null and void. You could even be on the hook for millions in liability.

Originally Posted by threezero

now if the whole world is is sensible and socially responsible as taylor, we wouldn't have this law in the first place.

Hopefully you'll become more responsible as you get older, as I have.

I was 16, driving with a case of beer inbetween the rear seats and joking about the DDD (designated drunk driver). I even grew up in a small country town where losing classmates to drunk driving was the norm and wasn't really a big deal.

I'm smarter now, and hopefully others will be smarter too.

[taylor192]

Originally Posted by _Hotsauce_

One drink is one to many.

In Russia the law is 0. This would be easier to enforce.

[bloodmack]

Originally Posted by _Hotsauce_

One drink is one to many.

Then why don't they have a zero tolerance for all drivers?

@soundy How is he being ignorant if he thinks the gov't is just doing for the extra money?.. Look at our gov't their still taxing us for the world war which was how many years ago? You keep saying that we should stop drinking and driving if we dont want them to make money from this. Guess what bud, I don't drink and drive, and I am only one person. If anything your the one whose ignorant about our gov't and their quick cash schemes.

[BlackV62K2]

I've been denied by cab drivers in DT to take me back to Surrey lol. No I wasn't piss drunk or anything. Guess they just didn't want to drive all the way to Surrey.

[Great68]

Originally Posted by BlackV62K2

I've been denied by cab drivers in DT to take me back to Surrey lol. No I wasn't piss drunk or anything. Guess they just didn't want to drive all the way to Surrey.

That's a good point. Even if you are responsible and plan ahead to take a cab, you can still be screwed.

I had a party and tried to get a cab to pick up my buddy and his girlfriend to take them home at around 1:00am. After calling a couple cab companies twice, and waiting almost an hour NO FUCKING CABS SHOWED UP. I felt bad, they ended up walking home.

It's easy to legislate these "Get Tough" laws, but somehow they never think about making it easier for the public to comply with the laws.

Running transit late would be a MASSIVE help.

[7seven]

Originally Posted by BlackV62K2

I've been denied by cab drivers in DT to take me back to Surrey lol. No I wasn't piss drunk or anything. Guess they just didn't want to drive all the way to Surrey.

That actually happens a lot. I've personally heard many stories of cabbies refusing to take fares from downtown Vancouver to Burnaby and Surrey from friends. I believe CTV news actually did an undercover story on this awhile back too.

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by taylor192

In Russia the law is 0. This would be easier to enforce.

And in some countries, the penalty for DWI is death by firing squad... so yeah, suddenly BC's laws don't see so bad (especially since a good coffin will run you $8k or more).

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by bloodmack

@soundy How is he being ignorant if he thinks the gov't is just doing for the extra money?.. Look at our gov't their still taxing us for the world war which was how many years ago? You keep saying that we should stop drinking and driving if we dont want them to make money from this. Guess what bud, I don't drink and drive, and I am only one person. If anything your the one whose ignorant about our gov't and their quick cash schemes.

Because "cash grab" is the first thing people cry when they find out they're going to have to pay for breaking the law. It's an ignorant, self-centered, self-righteous frame of mind. Don't break the law, and it won't matter how stiff the penalties, right?

If the previous penalties were "sufficient" there'd be no more drinking and driving now (aside from the few chronics). Obviously they weren't sufficient. And if the new penalties aren't enough of a deterrent, guess what? They'll get even stiffer. Here are some suggestions:

http://blogcritics.org/culture/artic...g-the-laws-in/

Other countries have different laws than the US. Some are more lenient and some are harsher. In Australia, the blood alcohol content is .05, and lower (.02) for new drivers and those with learner’s permits. The punishment for drinking and driving in Australia includes fines, suspension of license, imprisonment, and medical assessment before a driver’s license is reinstated.

In some countries, drinking and driving is punishable by death. A first time offense in El Salvador leads to execution by firing squad, while a second offense in Bulgaria also leads to execution.

In France, drinking and driving is punishable by the equivalent of a $1,000 fine, imprisonment for one year, and loss of license for three years. Finland and Sweden automatically sentence drunk drivers to one-year jail sentences including hard labor. In Norway, a drunk driver is jailed for three weeks with hard labor and loses their license for a year. If they do it again, they lose their license forever. In South Africa, drinking and driving results in a ten-year prison sentence or the equivalent of a $10,000 fine and, in some cases, both.

...

In England, a drunk driver pays the equivalent of a $250 fine, spends a year in jail, and then loses their license for one year. In Russia, drunk drivers simply lose their license for life. Yes, even Russia has laws against drinking and driving.

Some countries are more creative in their attempts to keep the inebriated off the road. Turkey, for example, punishes drunk drivers by taking them 20 miles from their town and making them walk back with a police escort. In Poland, drunk drivers are subject to jail, fine, and even worse, mandatory attendance at political lectures. In Malaya, if a man is caught driving drunk he is jailed. If he is married, his wife is jailed, too. In Costa Rica, the license plates are removed immediately from the cars of those who drink and drive.

[threezero]

Originally Posted by taylor192

You gotta pay to play. If I'm out drinking I'll easily drop $100/night on food and drinks, I'm sure you're no better.


and they will possibly pay $1000s in fines when eventually caught. Plus if you had an accident while drunk, your insurance is null and void. You could even be on the hook for millions in liability.


Hopefully you'll become more responsible as you get older, as I have.

I was 16, driving with a case of beer inbetween the rear seats and joking about the DDD (designated drunk driver). I even grew up in a small country town where losing classmates to drunk driving was the norm and wasn't really a big deal.

I'm smarter now, and hopefully others will be smarter too.

I understand where you are getting at. I admit in the pass I have driven drunk before, I'm alot more sensible now the result is I havn't gone out clubbin in vancouver for more than 2 yrs now. Spending $100 on drink and $100 to get home just to grind on sum slutty chicks is not my cup of tea anymore, I have a billion other places to spent the $200. The ones driving drunk are not the ones who is going to be drunk sitting on the sidewalk and having a mental debate of cause and consequence.

Originally Posted by Great68

It's easy to legislate these "Get Tough" laws, but somehow they never think about making it easier for the public to comply with the laws.

^^ sums it up.

People above have made suggestion on keeping the train running on certain days and/or adjusting the time between each train, even raising transit price pass 12am is a good way to go than not having this option at all.

If harsh punishment is all that is needed to slap sum senses into ppl, countries with death penalty like China wouldn't have any murderers. All it does it scare the sensible and honest ppl into not commiting the crime, but they wouldn't commit it in the first place even if the law isn't so harsh.

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by bloodmack

If anything your the one whose ignorant about our gov't and their quick cash schemes.

Oh, and by the way, here's where this theory falls on its face: if this actually works and EVERYONE stops drinking and driving... the revenue dries up completely. What sort of "quick cash scheme" is that?

If it was all about the quick cash, DWI offenses wouldn't involve any jail time, any license suspension, any vehicle impoundment... it would be only the fines...and small fines at that. You get stopped, you blow over .08, you pay maybe $250, and go on your way... price of an evening's fun, right? Then everyone would be getting loaded and driving home, and the gov't would just rake it in!

Now, try to engage your brain before participating again, mmkay?

[taylor192]

Originally Posted by bloodmack

@soundy How is he being ignorant if he thinks the gov't is just doing for the extra money?

Cause if he knew the policing, court, and legal costs for prosecuting a DUI he would know it is a money losing venture.

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by Great68

It's easy to legislate these "Get Tough" laws, but somehow they never think about making it easier for the public to comply with the laws.

Running transit late would be a MASSIVE help.

Originally Posted by threezero

^^ sums it up.

People above have made suggestion on keeping the train running on certain days and/or adjusting the time between each train, even raising transit price pass 12am is a good way to go than not having this option at all.

The problem is, things like running SkyTrain late and cabbies not running to the 'burbs aren't under the cops' control, and aren't legislated by government. So why blame the cops, or the gov't for making the tougher laws? Are they supposed to just sit back and leave things going the way they are and not enact tougher laws, waiting until TransLink and the cab companies shape up?

How would that sound? "Yeah, drinking and driving is a big problem and the penalties aren't working, so we want to make the laws tougher... but we're going to wait until the cab companies decide to actually take people to the burbs and TransLink decides to run the SkyTrain past 1am... so for now, people will have to keep dying."

And how does any of this have anything to do with areas outside the GVRD? BC is a lot bigger place than just the area between Aldergrove and UBC. How about, the new laws take effect in Chilliwack, but not in Kits, until SkyTrain is 24/7?

Fuck, you people have the most discombobulated logic ever.

If harsh punishment is all that is needed to slap sum senses into ppl, countries with death penalty like China wouldn't have any murderers. All it does it scare the sensible and honest ppl into not commiting the crime, but they wouldn't commit it in the first place even if the law isn't so harsh.

Wow... what?? So you're saying, if there were no laws against murdering people, then nobody would get murdered? WTF?

[bloodmack]

Originally Posted by Soundy

Oh, and by the way, here's where this theory falls on its face: if this actually works and EVERYONE stops drinking and driving... the revenue dries up completely. What sort of "quick cash scheme" is that?

If it was all about the quick cash, DWI offenses wouldn't involve any jail time, any license suspension, any vehicle impoundment... it would be only the fines.

Now, try to engage your brain before participating again, mmkay?

Thats a big if. Its just like that speed camera thing(I cant remember what exactly it was) they tried to enforce a long ways back, they spent millions to put them up and everyone stopped speeding. The difference here is speeding isn't an addiction like drinking, many people are alcoholics and don't even know it. If drinking wasn't an addiction then fine, I understand. But it is and they know it.

Instead of ticketing and throwing them in jail. How about they use that money they just took from them and invest it into some AA classes, and force them to take it. If you aren't deemed responsible enough to have a license after that (from a 3rd party source) then you cant drive until then.

FYI Soundy, most people who live on vancouver side of the bridge dont even know the rest of BC exists, at least thats what most of them show when I tell them I come from abbotsford. SkyTrain will never come out this far because Translink has no power up here. Unless the company that runs transit up here is a sub company of translink.

[threezero]

^^ there will never be any society with no laws against the most basic things like not stealing and no murders. I'm pretty sure ever since caveman times there are primitive laws for murders. Even without governmental laws against it there is still religious laws. What I'm saying is laws like this work on the principle of deterrence and general deterrence doesn't always work.

Would be an interesting social experiment to have a society with no laws against murder, but thats never going to happen lol

[Greenstoner]

my buddy total his car drunk driving with a semi and license suspsend for 6 or 9 months. He was lucky that he didnt even got any injury.

anywas, now he takes bus to everywhere, lesson learned.

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by bloodmack

FYI Soundy, most people who live on vancouver side of the bridge dont even know the rest of BC exists, at least thats what most of them show when I tell them I come from abbotsford. SkyTrain will never come out this far because Translink has no power up here. Unless the company that runs transit up here is a sub company of translink.

That's what I'm saying: what's the point of whining that "oooh, they shouldn't make such tough laws when the SkyTrain doesn't run late enough to be an option" when SkyTrain (and much of transit in general) only applies to such a small percentage of the problem?

[Soundy]

http://www.revscene.net/forums/drivesmartbc-impaired-before-t613388.html