How
Ignition Interlock Will Work in Ontario
December 23rd, 2002
marks the one-year anniversary date of the proclamation of
the Ontario Ignition Interlock Program. Now any driver who
commits and is subsequently convicted of a drinking and
driving offence will, upon reinstatement have a mandatory
ignition interlock condition placed on his/her
licence. Persons who are charged and convicted of an
impaired driving offence, are subject to the program as it
is a mandatory in the province of Ontario.
How does an
ignition interlock device work?
Before starting the
vehicle, a driver must provide a breath sample. If
the driver's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above
the pre-set limit, the vehicle won't start. Once the
vehicle is started, the interlock device requires the
driver to provide breath samples at random pre-set times
while the engine is running. If a sample is not
provided, or if the BAC exceeds the limit, the device will
issue a warning, record the event and activate specific
alarms within the interlock until the vehicle ignition is
turned off.
What are the
details of the program?
After serving the
current provincial sanctions, licence suspension, remedial
programs, offenders will have an ignition interlock
restricted drivers licence issued to them. The
offender must register with the service provider and have
an ignition interlock installed in their vehicle.
The device will be inspected regularly by the service
provider. When the condition period is over, the
offender must apply to the ministry of transportation to
have the condition removed from their licence.
Who must
have the device installed?
Any person who
commits an impaired driving offence on or after December
23, 2001, and is convicted, must have the interlock
installed in their vehicle at their expense, after their
licence is reinstated. To have a licence reinstated
offenders must first complete the mandatory suspension
period including remedial measures (assessment, education
or treatment and follow-up) program. Program
violations will affect the amount of time the condition
remains on the licence of a first-time offender for an
additional year from the date of a tampering report.
The
length of time that convicted offenders must use an
ignition interlock device to drive is:
|
Impaired
Conviction
|
Mandatory provincial
licence suspension
|
Minimum
time with interlock condition on driver’s licence
|
|
First
|
1
year
|
1
year
|
|
Second
|
3
years
|
3
years
|
|
Third
|
Lifetime
(possible reduction to 10 years)
|
Lifetime
(if lifetime suspension is reduced)
|
|
Fourth
and
subsequent
|
Lifetime suspension
|
No option for reinstatement
|
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