Drinking after playing a round of golf? Think again. SGC recommends to its members to avoid drinking alcohol after a round of golf. These are the reasons why:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It may sound unbelievable, but Canada\u2019s revised laws on\nimpaired driving could see police demand breath samples from people in bars,\nrestaurants, or even at home. And if you say no, you could be arrested, face a\ncriminal record, ordered to pay a fine, and subjected to a driving suspension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You could be in violation of the impaired driving laws even\ntwo hours after you\u2019ve been driving. Now, the onus is on drivers to prove they\nweren\u2019t impaired when they were on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scenario 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you start to drink after you get home, the police show\nup at your door, they can arrest you, detain you, take you back to the (police\nstation) and you can be convicted because your blood alcohol concentration was\nover 80 milligrams (per 100 milliliters of blood) in the two hours after you\ndrove.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scenario 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Global News reported this week on the story of a Mississauga\nman who was returning some empty beer and wine bottles on a Saturday morning,\nonly to be stopped by a police officer who was demanding a breath sample.\nApparently, the three dozen empty beer bottles and 10 empty wine bottles was\nsuspicious, even though they had accumulated over the holiday season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HOW DRUGS\nAND ALCOHOL AFFECT YOUR DRIVING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n New laws effective\nJanuary 1, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Illegal drugs, cannabis, over-the-counter and prescription\nmedications can all affect your judgment, reaction time, coordination and motor\nskills. Even a small amount of drugs, no matter how they are taken, can impair\nyour ability to drive, and when you drive high, your risk of crashing more than\ndoubles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Canadian Society of Forensic Science recently released a\nreport stating that impairment from cannabis begins almost immediately and can\nlast up to 6 hours or more, depending on factors such as THC levels and how it\nis consumed. Frequent high-dose THC users may experience even longer periods of\nimpairment. However, since the effects of cannabis vary, there is no way to\nknow exactly how long to wait before it is safe for you to drive. The best way\nto avoid impaired driving is to not take a chance. If you\u2019re using cannabis,\nplan another way home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alcohol \u2014 even one drink \u2014 can reduce your ability to react\nto things that happen suddenly. The effects of alcohol also include blurred or\ndouble vision, impaired attention and slowed reflexes. Alcohol-impaired driving\nis one of the leading causes of death on Ontario\u2019s roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What counts as impaired driving<\/p>\n\n\n\n Impaired driving means operating a vehicle (including cars,\ntrucks, boats, snowmobiles and off-road vehicles) while your ability to do so\nhas been compromised to any degree by consuming alcohol, drugs or a combination\nof the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fully Licensed Drivers<\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout Canada, the maximum legal blood alcohol\nconcentration (BAC) for fully licensed drivers is 80 milligrams of alcohol in\n100 millilitres of blood, or 0.08. Driving with BAC over 0.08 is a criminal\noffence and the penalties are severe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Ontario, you will also face serious consequences if your\nBAC is between 0.05 and 0.08. This is commonly referred to as the \u201cwarn range.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If police determine that you are driving while impaired by\nany drug, including illegal drugs, cannabis, prescription and over-the-counter\nmedications, you will face severe consequences and criminal charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zero tolerance for young, novice and commercial drivers<\/p>\n\n\n\n Young and Novice Drivers<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drivers age 21 or under and novice drivers of any age (with\nG1, G2, M1, or M2 licenses) must not have any presence of alcohol in their\nblood when behind the wheel. This is commonly referred to as the \u201czero BAC\u201d or\n\u201czero tolerance\u201d rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As of July 1, 2018, young and novice drivers are prohibited\nfrom having any presence of cannabis in their system as well as other drugs\nthat can be detected by an oral fluid screening device. That means that Ontario\nhas a zero tolerance approach to both alcohol and drugs for all young and\nnovice drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If police determine that you have the presence of cannabis\nor alcohol in your system and\/or that you are impaired by any substance\nincluding illegal drugs, prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications,\nyou will face severe consequences and potential criminal charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Commercial Drivers<\/p>\n\n\n\n As of July 1, 2018 drivers of vehicles requiring an A-F\nclass licence, vehicles requiring a Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration\n(CVOR) and road building machines are prohibited from having any presence of\nalcohol in their blood when behind the wheel of these types of vehicles. These\ndrivers are also prohibited from having any presence of cannabis in their\nsystem as well as other drugs that can be detected by an oral fluid screening\ndevice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If police determine that you have the presence of cannabis\nor alcohol in your system and\/or that you are impaired by any substance\nincluding illegal drugs, prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications,\nyou will face severe consequences and potential criminal charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Medical Cannabis Users<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a police officer is satisfied that you are legally\nauthorized to use cannabis for medical purposes, you will not be subject to\nOntario\u2019s zero tolerance drug requirements for young, novice and commercial\ndrivers. However, you can still face penalties and criminal charges if a police\nofficer determines that your ability to drive has been impaired. Even if you\nhave been authorized to use cannabis or another drug by a health care\nprofessional, it is your responsibility to ensure you are not impaired while\ndriving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Penalties for impaired driving<\/p>\n\n\n\n If police determine that you are driving while impaired you\nwill face penalties immediately. You will also face additional consequences\nlater if you are convicted in court. The penalties you face can vary depending\non your age, licence type, the amount of alcohol or drugs in your system, and\nhow many times you have been convicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Immediate Penalties<\/p>\n\n\n\n Penalties for a BAC in the Warn Range, Failing a\nStandardized Field Sobriety Test or Violating Zero Tolerance<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your blood alcohol concentration is 0.05 or higher, you\nfail a roadside sobriety test or you violate the zero tolerance requirements\nfor young, novice and commercial drivers that begin on July 1, you will face:<\/p>\n\n\n\n First offence<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3-day licence suspension. This cannot be appealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $250 penalty (begins January 2019)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second offence within 5 years<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7-day licence suspension (3-day suspension for commercial\ndrivers). This cannot be appealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $350 penalty (begins January 2019)<\/p>\n\n\n\n You must attend a mandatory education program (for a second\noccurrence within 10 years)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third and subsequent offences within 5 years<\/p>\n\n\n\n 30-day licence suspension (3-day suspension for commercial\ndrivers). This cannot be appealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $450 penalty (begins January 2019)<\/p>\n\n\n\n You must attend a mandatory treatment program (for third and\nsubsequent offence within 10 years)<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will be required to use an ignition interlock device for\nat least six months (for third and subsequent offence within 10 years)<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will need to undergo a mandatory medical evaluation to\ndetermine whether you meet the requirements for driving in Ontario (for fourth\nand subsequent offence within 10 years).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the penalties above, you will also face a\n$275 licence reinstatement fee each time your licence is suspended. You may\nalso be charged under the Highway Traffic Act and if convicted, you will face\nan additional suspension and fine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Penalties for a BAC Over the Legal Limit, Refuse Testing or\nImpairment<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you refuse to take a drug or alcohol test, you register a\nBAC over 0.08 or if a drug recognition evaluator determines that you are\nimpaired, you will face:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 90-day licence suspension<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7-day vehicle impoundment<\/p>\n\n\n\n $550 penalty (begins January 2019)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $275 licence reinstatement fee<\/p>\n\n\n\n You must attend a mandatory education or treatment program\n(for second and subsequent occurrences within 10 years)<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will be required to use an ignition interlock device for\nat least 6 months (for third and subsequent occurrences within 10 years)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additional Penalties if Convicted in Court<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a young or novice driver convicted in court for\nviolating the zero tolerance requirements for drugs and\/or alcohol, your\ndriver’s licence will be suspended again for at least 30 days and you will\nreceive an additional $60-$500 fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No matter what age or licence you have, if you are convicted\ncriminally of impaired driving in court, you can face additional fines and jail\ntime, plus:<\/p>\n\n\n\n First offence<\/p>\n\n\n\n Licence suspension of at least 1 year<\/p>\n\n\n\n You must attend a mandatory education or treatment program<\/p>\n\n\n\n Requirement to use an ignition interlock device for at least\n1 year<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will need to undergo a mandatory medical evaluation to\ndetermine whether you meet the requirements for driving in Ontario<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second offence within 10 years<\/p>\n\n\n\n Licence suspension of at least 3 years<\/p>\n\n\n\n You must attend a mandatory education or treatment program<\/p>\n\n\n\n Requirement to use an ignition interlock device for at least\n3 years <\/p>\n\n\n\n You will need to undergo a mandatory medical evaluation to\ndetermine whether you meet the requirements for driving in Ontario<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third or more offence within 10 years<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lifetime licence suspension, which may be reduced after 10\nyears if you meet certain criteria<\/p>\n\n\n\n You must attend a mandatory education or treatment program<\/p>\n\n\n\n Requirement to use an ignition interlock device for at least\n6 years <\/p>\n\n\n\n You will need to undergo a mandatory medical evaluation to\ndetermine whether you meet the requirements for driving in Ontario<\/p>\n\n\n\n How police detect impaired drivers<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ontario has police officers who are trained to detect\nimpaired drivers and remove them from the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Standardized Field Sobriety Test<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a police officer suspects that a driver is impaired by\ndrugs or alcohol, the officer may carry out a roadside standardized field\nsobriety test. If a driver fails the test, they can be immediately suspended\nfrom driving and face criminal impaired driving charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Breath Testing<\/p>\n\n\n\n Roadside breath samples are used to determine an\nindividual\u2019s blood alcohol concentration. If a driver fails the test, they can\nbe immediately suspended from driving and face criminal impaired driving\ncharges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drug Recognition Evaluation <\/p>\n\n\n\n If an officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a\ndriver is impaired, a drug recognition evaluation may be carried out by a\nqualified officer at a police station. The test helps determine if the\nimpairment is caused by drugs. If a driver fails the test, they can be\nimmediately suspended from driving and face criminal impaired driving charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oral Fluid Screening Devices<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a police officer suspects that a driver has drugs in the\nbody, they may demand an oral fluid sample. \nIf presence of a drug is detected, young, novice and commercial drivers\ncan be immediately suspended from driving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tips to avoid impaired driving<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are simple steps you can take to avoid driving while\nyou’re impaired by drugs or alcohol:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have a plan to get home safely. Have a designated driver,\nuse public transit, call a friend or family member for a ride, call a taxi or\nride share, or stay overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask your doctor or pharmacist about side effects related to\ndriving when using prescription medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read the information on the package of any prescription\ndrugs or over-the-counter medicine, including allergy and cold remedies.\n\nAsk your doctor or pharmacist about how a\nprescription drug could affect you. Remember that combining drugs and alcohol\ntogether can impair your ability to drive more than using either one alone. \n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Drinking after playing a round of golf? Think again. SGC recommends to its members to avoid drinking alcohol after a round of golf. These are the reasons why: It may sound unbelievable, but Canada\u2019s revised laws on impaired driving could … Continue reading