Drunk driving law stands
Posted Mar 1, 2015 8:55 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A group of motorists, charged with impaired driving, have failed to win a battle in the Court of Queen’s Bench.
They were seeking to overturn a controversial law that came into effect in 2012.
Under the law, a driver who’s been charged has their license suspended immediately and has no chance of reinstatement until their case is heard in court.
That can often be months.
The applicants argued that, among other things, the new law violates the Charter of Rights.
However, in Edmonton on Friday, Justice Thomas Wakeling ruled that people don’t have a constitutional right to drive. He also praised the law, saying it has probably saved lives and will continue to do so.
The Criminal Trial Lawyers’ Association indicates the ruling will likely be appealed.
