Inaccuracy issues raise concerns about immediate penalties for drunk driving. The Alberta government is going to mark Canada Day by rolling out its tough new drinking-and-driving law. In doing so, Alberta will become the first province to institute indefinite suspensions for drivers who blow a breathalyzer reading that exceeds .08. The new drunk driving law […]
Drunk driving law needs tweaking Continue Reading »
The Port Moody Police Department has launched a further investigation into potentially flawed approved screening devices, or roadside breathalyzers. In a press release from the Port Moody police last week, the department and the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner (OPCC) have received a final investigative report for the matter. “At this time the Port
Breathalyzers under scrutiny Continue Reading »
Bottoms up Alberta, you could be in for one heck of a courtroom clash. That’s the warning from B.C. lawyers who say new impaired driving legislation due to begin implementation here in one month may actually inhibit civil rights more than widely challenged laws in their own province. “This whole thing is deeply disturbing,” said
B.C. lawyers warn of Alberta’s ‘deeply disturbing’ impaired driving laws Continue Reading »
The B.C. Government’s attempt to rehabilitate the unconstitutional drunk-driving law looks like it will trigger further court challenges. “I’m sure it will be challenged again,” said Jeremy Carr one of the lead lawyers on the landmark case that overturned the controversial legislation late last year. Vancouver lawyer Paul Doroshenko called the situation appalling. “If you
Mulgrew: Altered drunk driving law likely to bring on new court challenges Continue Reading »
Despite the province’s pledge to keep the pressure on drunk drivers, the number of people caught over the limit has plummeted in the months since part of B.C.’s new drunk-driving law was struck down. In November, a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled that the immediate 90-day driving bans for people who blow a “fail” in
Fewer drunk drivers caught since B.C. law struck down – CTV News Continue Reading »
The B.C. government has rolled out its court-ordered adjustments to the province’s tough drunk-driving law, promising that drivers who blow over the legal limit will have more chances to challenge their readings. The proposed changes come in response to a November B.C. Supreme Court ruling that part of the law was unconstitutional because it was
Accused drunk drivers get new ways to challenge penalties – CTV News Continue Reading »
The B.C. government has introduced new driving laws that it says will enhance fairness for drivers accused of being impaired and increase public confidence. But critics are unsure the proposed changes will stand up in court and say the earlier bad laws could cost the government millions of dollars in refunds. Lawyer Paul Doroshenko, who
B.C. drunk driving roadside test laws change – CBC News Continue Reading »
There is a big kerfuffle in British Columbia about the accuracy of portable breathalyzers police forces are using to measure the blood alcohol level of suspected drunk drivers. Those accuracy questions should be of concern to every driver in Canada, not just in British Columbia. It’s bad enough that some innocent people may have been
Is it .08 or not? Continue Reading »
A controversy in B.C. about the reliability of breathalyzers used by police in roadside tests should raise red flags in this province, too. A Vancouver lawyer’s examination of the situation through access to information requests raises questions about the accuracy of such tests. Paul Doroshenko’s investigation showed that in one case, a sober Abbotsford, B.C.,
Breathalyzer tests need to be reliable Continue Reading »
Records from police detachments around the province show roadside screening devices are malfunctioning or being improperly maintained says a Vancouver criminal defence lawyer. Paul Doroshenko believes this is why portable breath analyzers should never have been used to provide blood-alcohol results that allow police officers to unilaterally suspend driver’s licences for 90 days. “I’ve been
Records show police alcohol monitoring equipment is malfunctioning Continue Reading »
News that a sober Abbotsford, B.C., police officer tried out the department’s breathalyzer and failed the test is enough to send chills down the spine of any designated driver in this holiday season. A Vancouver lawyer says the machines police rely on to take drunk drivers off the road and deliver hefty financial penalties are
Documents cast doubt on accuracy of breathalyzers Continue Reading »
Internal police documents are raising doubts about the precision of some roadside breathalyzers used by B.C. police to catch drunk drivers. Vancouver lawyer Paul Doroshenko filed Access to Information requests with police departments across the province and found that the screening devices aren’t always accurate. Inspection documents from the Vancouver Police Department show some erratic
Roadside breath tests not always accurate: documents Continue Reading »
