More than 450 people were given driving prohibitions in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam last year for blowing a "warn" or "fail" when given a roadside breath test, according to Coquitlam RCMP.
The numbers, which cover the year between Oct. 1, 2010 and Sept. 30, 2011, are up from the same time period the year before, when 402 prohibitions were issued.
The increase, according to Coquitlam RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jamie Chung, is due in large part to new penalties in the province's drunk driving regulations, including changes that were suspended last week following a court ruling.
"From my own experience, the new rules are one of the contributing factors in removing more drunk drivers off the road," he said. "I used to spend typically eight to 10 hours to process one drunk driver criminally. I hear the new rules cut the paper time way down."
Before last week's announcement, police were imposing a 90-day driving ban, a $500 fine and impounding a vehicle for 30 days for breathalyzer readings over 0.08. That suspension can cost a driver $3,750, including $700 for towing and storage and $1,420 to take a mandatory "responsible driver" course.
But Public Safety Minister Shirley Bond announced last week that police will not impose the toughest roadside penalties for impaired driving until the accused drivers are given a chance to appeal the results of a failed breathalyzer test.
Until the province can amend its drunk driving regulations, police will revert to the previous rules, where police have the option of deciding whether to pursue criminal charges.
Regardless of the regulation changes, Chung said police will be out in full force in the coming weeks as part of the holiday CounterAttack efforts.
"In addition to road checks set up by our regular complement of general duty and traffic section members, there will be officers working overtime to conduct the Enhanced Road Safety Enforcement initiative," he said. "[It] has already started last weekend and will run through the holidays."
Port Moody Police Department did not respond to repeated requests for drunk driving statistics in the municipality.
gmckenna@tricitynews
- with files from Tom Fletcher
