Ontario

Identification of Offenders. Police in Ontario use R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) roadchecks to help enforce impaired driving laws. Approved screening devices are used to help detect those drivers who have been drinking. Drivers who register a "warn" on an approved screening device or have a BAC over 50 mg% can have their licence suspended for a period of 12 hours. No permanent record is made of such suspensions.

Under the provisions of the new Graduated Driver Licensing system, all new drivers regardless of age, will be required to maintain a zero BAC for their first two years of driving. Violations will result in a 30-day suspension and applicable fine.

Criminal Code Offences. Drivers convicted of impaired driving under the Criminal Code face a suspension of one, two, or three years for a first, second and third offence, respectively. Offenders may be required by the court to attend one of several programs for impaired drivers funded by the Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services. The program may consist of a series of educational sessions or an alcohol/drug dependency program within a correctional institution. The availability of programs tends to be limited, which restricts accessibility.

Licence Reinstatement. The only requirement for reinstatement for first and second offenders is to complete the period of licence suspension. Third offenders must not only complete the suspension but provide a favourable medical report on their use of alcohol and pass a three-part (knowledge, vision, road) licence test. It is not possible to have the period of suspension reduced.

Future Initiatives. Several initiatives are currently under consideration including administrative licence suspension, alcohol ignition interlocks, and mandatory treatment/rehabilitation.