Back in August we announced a change of policy. We decided that we would accept clients who wanted us to write to the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles to demand a review of the RDP (Responsible Driver Program) and IIP (Interlock) requirement. We agreed to take on cases for reconsideration of a referral to remedial programs under the new procedure.
You can find that post here: There’s been a change of policy
This policy change was ours. After forcing policy change after policy change on the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles, we decided that we won’t back down after having accomplished so much.
This is how we explained it:
We’re going to take this on. If you have a good driving record with no history of any alcohol related offences, aside from the IRP or ADP, then we’re willing to write in to the OSMV to contest the referral to the so-called remedial programs. We are selecting a few test cases, like we’ve done in the past, and if the OSMV tribunal rejects the request for reconsideration, we will file petitions in BC Supreme Court to challenge this new process.
And so we did.
We encouraged everyone to write in to challenge the RDP and IIP, and we made submissions that we knew would succeed if the case went for judicial review to BC Supreme Court. And then something strange: we stopped getting any decisions from the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles. It appeared that they simply didn’t know what to do.
The original plan appears to have been to create a pretend review process and to just continue to refer everyone to the RDP and IIP as they’d done for years. When we started to explain the legislation in our letters and make a compelling case for our clients, the OSMV just stopped rendering decisions. We didn’t receive decisions in any of the compelling cases for months.
Catastrophic government mismanagement:
We chalked this up to catastrophic government mismanagement. This division of our government that runs this adjudicative body had stopped rendering decisions in cases where logic says the government would lose.
What does this say about impartiality? Well, they’ve recently been under fire from the courts on that front.
In any event, the pile of requests for reconsideration of a referral to remedial programs only got larger. We expect that someone must have noticed the stack. And the people who wrote in to challenge the RDP and Interlock continued on; most of them driving safely as they had always done before.
Strategic management change:
We’ve heard rumors of people being moved from their job, office tension and general pandemonium. Regardless, at the beginning of the week, when the news outlets were all busy parroting the Government’s news releases and the Government’s spin on the Sivia decision, the OSMV sent out letter after letter revoking the RDP and Interlock for our clients and people all around BC.
It’s official: We can have the Responsible Driver Program requirement lifted
First we did this for 1137 BC drivers, then for all the other people who blew Fail under the first version of the IRP scheme, then for all the people during the time we brought the original challenge, and now for everyone else out there. It’s official: we can have the Responsible Driver Program requirement lifted and the Interlock in many, if not most, cases where the driving history does not justify it.
Reconsideration of a referral to remedial programs
It’s no longer just test cases and the courageous: we’re now taking on cases for reconsideration of a referral to remedial programs under the new OSMV procedure.
We would rather that you spend your money on a day at the spa instead of paying for the Responsible Driver Program and the Interlock. We think it would be better for you.
If you want us to help you challenge the RDP or IIP remedial programs, give us a call. If you want to know how we took us to the place we are with these programs, here are some links to earlier blog posts on the remedial programs and our challenge to the scheme.
The most important tidbit from the IRP news
Decisive action on the interlock and RDP
Success in lifting the Interlock and RDP for 90-day IRPs
Interlock and RDP are now a mess
We win (Updated)
Working hard and doing a good job
Your interlock worries are over
What’s happening with the interlock and RDP?
I got a letter saying I need to enroll in the RDP program!
I don’t agree with this process of RDP, this inhuman and illogical,
It’s costing me my life. I can’t work hence loose everything, this torture.
We hear you.
Agreed it is a “screwing people down” it is vengeance and I as Conservative Party Member will fight this locally and In Federal Parliament. There are people that have Medical conditions and have superscription drugs that will cause “False Positive” in Breath Analyzer. Second it is up to MLA or Federal MP to rise this injustice
Manjit did u attend rdp how it’s done let me know how much time is needed for rdp pls reply
I received an RDP a few years back and still haven’t gone for the program. I still have no license and would like to get it back without having to get ripped off from the 890$ fee
I think those who are imposing the responsible driver program should stop being hypocrites and the public safety as well, they don’t give a Sh%$&
About public safety al tgey care is about making money. That’s it.
They make a lot of money. It’s quite shocking.
I have completed my year probation after my first offence of a DUI.
Can you help me get my lisence back without the course and a blowbox?
If you were convicted of impaired driving in court then you need to go through the ICBC hoops to get back on the road.
Sorry to hear that. I hope you put up a defence! Never plead guilty without contacting a lawyer with lots and lots of impaired driving experience.
I haven’t had my license for about 6 yrs due to impaired driving and one way back in 2011 when there was no program.
No license, no driving record since losing my license.
I’ve also have 2 years sobriety under my belt
I need to pay for the course 930 which is hard enough and now they have switched to CAMH for 1200.00 as of June 15th 2024.
It has been more of a hassle to say the least.
Is CAMH going to be needing 1200 up front, or payments and what are the requirements as of now.
Length etc…
I’ve been reading alot about strohs involved and the way they went about the course, that it was very toxic to the individuals that are determined to take it and that it was a huge money grab.
My life has changed so dramatically over the past 8 years.
Ive always been hardworking, safe behind the wheel besides the mistake of having a beer and blowing slightly over .08.
I was going to enroll in the course a couple of months ago, but I did and still owe other debts to ICBC that I’ve been trying to pay off or deal with.
This adds alil more challenges in being able to drive once again, financially and the lengths I’ve had to go through in being able to do so.
Any advice, or information you can help me with is much appreciated.
Just keep on keeping on or fight the good fight?
Ty
Give us a call at 604 685 8889 and ask for Ana. She can give you further advice.
What about novice drivers who …in my case got suspended for two months psi over 2499 dollars to reinstate and a month later the reviewed my file and suspende me again for 5 months saying for the safety of my poor driving record… which is having one person too many in my vehicle! I am a 45 yr old mother of 4. Impossible to only have one extra passenger that isn’t directly related. As well have one fine a year in my driving record. The reason for this current 5 month suspension. ..is for a ticket that I assumed to have paid off already with this 2 month reinstatement. … I am also on disability but find myself being bumped back to beginning of my N, for third time and they manage to nail me for these ridiculous restrictions right be for I am able to test for class 5
I would like to know if the referal to the program can still be withdrawn and how to go about this. As ive never been convicted of any dui.