Newfoundland Driving Law Changes Eff Oct 1

[zeekat]

So why should we give a **** about what's happening in Nfld ... because it's part of the trend across the country (my opinion) where each province either catches up to the others or goes one further.

http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releas...gs/0930n01.htm

Legislative changes that will be proclaimed as of October 1, 2010 are:

• Authorizing police to use traffic safety stops as a means of determining whether drivers are impaired, driving while suspended or driving without insurance, among other serious offences;
• Increasing the current 24-hour suspension to a minimum of seven days (14 days for a repeat offence) for drivers with a blood alcohol level of greater than 50 mgs;
• Reducing the allowable blood alcohol level to 0.0 per cent from the current .05 per cent, for drivers accompanying a novice driver; and,
• Prohibiting the use of electronic devices such as cell phones, Blackberries and iPhones to send or read text messages, or programming GPS devices while the vehicle is in motion, which can distract drivers from driving safely.

NL now joins PEI in the 7-day .05 BAC penalty club ... so who's next ?? And I guess that parents in NL won't be able to let their novice kid driver drive with them in the car if they're not dry themselves.

[Ritchard]

What's your point? Do you disagree with any of this?

Ontario is 0.05 as well.

[zeekat]

What's your point? Do you disagree with any of this?

Ontario is 0.05 as well.

Ontario has 3-day suspension vs NL 7-day suspension.

Ontario limits 0.05 for the driver in the passenger seat of vehicle driven by novice driver where NL has now instituted zero tolerance for the same (if I read that right).

The first bullet relates to an almost equivalent to the random stops being considered by the feds which has been debated here before.

Point is other provinces and the feds will watch this and may consider to follow (with some MADD lobbying in the background of course) or go even further. Consider the changes that just went into effect in BC just a couple weeks ago. NL just one-upped BC.

So ... 14-day suspension and vehicle impoundment for 0.05 BAC, zero tolerance for all drivers in a vehicle that is driven by a novice driver or is 21 and under, and random stops sound good to you ??

[macrider]

Sounds good to me.
Don't drink and drive and you have nothing to worry about.

[jc100]

^^ +1.... having a beer is not a necessary component of operating a motor vehicle.

[A.K.]

Most of Europe has zero tolerance regarding alcohol regardless of age, race, gender or level of experience, North America is way more liberal in that sense...

[ross]

^^ +1.... having a beer is not a necessary component of operating a motor vehicle.

like having the brains to walk through the life...

[Z1K]

zero tolerance for all drivers in a vehicle that is driven by a novice driver

A novice driver in NF is the same as a G1 here. Should someone who is teaching someone else to drive really be drinking?