Tougher DUI laws coming into force in Saskatchewan, Canada to reduce number of impaired driving incidents
Saskatchewan is a prairie and boreal province in west-central Canada. The province has a problem with alcohol-impaired driving.
Statistics Canada says Saskatchewan had the highest rate of police-reported impaired driving among all the provinces in 2015. There were 575 incidents per 100,000 people in Saskatchewan — nearly twice as high as Alberta’s 314 per 100,000, the province with the second-highest rate. The national rate was 201 incidents per 100,000.
New DUI law to tackle problems
The new laws, taking effect on January 1, 2017, include a three-day vehicle seizure for drivers who are caught for the first time with a blood alcohol content between .04 and .08.
The new legislation also extends mandatory ignition interlock for repeat DUI and applies it to those who refuse to provide a breath sample.
The legislative changes in Saskatchewan were announced in October 2016. after another grim year on the roads.
