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Low BAC? Nova Scotia Driver Loses License!
24 Sep
Summary
- Nova Scotia police issue license suspensions for BACs as low as 50mg.
- First offense BAC between 50-80mg results in a seven-day suspension.
- Provincial laws in Canada vary significantly for low-level BAC offenses.
Police in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, are reminding motorists that driving with even minimal blood alcohol content can result in license suspension. A recent incident involved a 39-year-old man from Lunenburg County, who received a seven-day license suspension after being stopped by police near the Bridgewater courthouse. His breath sample indicated a blood alcohol concentration of 50mg per 100ml of blood.
This suspension was issued under Nova Scotia's provincial law, which mandates license suspensions for drivers with a BAC between 50mg and 80mg per 100ml of blood, even though the criminal impaired driving limit is 80mg. This practice is not unique to Nova Scotia; Ontario and Saskatchewan also have laws allowing for suspensions at similar or lower BAC levels. Police noted that factors beyond BAC, such as medication or fatigue, could also warrant a suspension.
Repeat offenders face escalating suspension periods: 15 days for a second offense and 30 days for a third. Additionally, a license reinstatement fee of $91.42 applies after each suspension. This serves as a critical reminder for drivers to be aware of the specific laws and consequences related to impaired driving across different provinces.
