Ontario

Is drunk driving really the issue that needs to be tackled at the expense of other driving issues?

How about more enforcement of distracted driving?

How about just watching any major intersection (undercover) and seeing how many drivers run a red light while tailgating the person in front of them because they want to be the last one to get the advanced left turn?

Or doing the same and watching how many drivers are making rights on red unsafely by looking left while making a right turn in front of pedestrians?

If this catches people drunk driving or the campaign itself reduces accidents, that's great. But this is something that will "punish" all drivers (due to being held up longer), rather than something that will just punish the law-breakers.

This will eventually be challenged and halted under the Charter.

This can only end well ...

You down with OPP?

This is the best summary I could come up with:

All drivers in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area who are pulled over by Ontario Provincial Police highway safety officers will now be asked to provide a breath sample — no matter what they're stopped for.

Officers will be conducting "mandatory alcohol screening" at every routine traffic stop as part of a new enforcement policy taking aim at drinking and driving, even if there is no reason to suspect a driver is impaired, the OPP said this week.

The policy will be implemented by officers operating out of OPP detachments in Toronto, Mississauga, Burlington, Cambridge, Aurora, Whitby, Niagara and Highway 407.

The Department of Justice says research shows up to 50 per cent of drivers with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit may not be detected at roadside check stops.

Shakir Rahim, director of criminal justice for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, said his organization is "seriously concerned" the expansion violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which protects individuals from unreasonable search and seizure.

It concluded a definitive link between mandatory breath samples a decrease in drunk driving in those jurisdictions couldn't be established because other factors such as education campaigns and increased enforcement also played a role.

The original article contains 861 words, the summary contains 188 words. Saved 78%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

Yeah, this will go over as well as receipt checks. I'll be right there with the others with 0 BAC to tell the cop to blow me first.