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Impaired Driving Penalties in Canada
Every year, hundreds and even thousands of people are either injured or killed due to accidents caused by impaired driving in Canadian provinces such as Ontario and Alberta. This may sound like a statistical statement, but it may become a serious concern to you once you realize the fact that one of these mishaps can happen to you or to the ones you cared about.
So given the significance of this issue, you may wonder what the authorities are doing to lessen if not eliminate the risks caused by impaired driving. To answer your question, one of the major aspects of the laws regarding impaired driving has been centered on giving penalties to people who are caught committing the said act. The Canadian government believes that this is the best way of minimizing the accidents brought about by motorists who are driving while intoxicated as it gives them a concrete reason to avoid doing this criminal offense. Moreover, a number of studies have shown that the percentage of injuries and deaths related to impaired driving has decreased since the implementation of such penalties.
Moving on, here is a brief description of impaired driving penalties in Canada to give you a general idea of what alleged offenders may face if they have been proven guilty. The first punishment that can be given to a motorist is license suspension. This penalty is normally received by people who commit the offense for the first time. Another impaired driving penalty is vehicle confiscation. A repeat offender will not only lose his license but will have his car confiscated as well. Lastly, the most severe penalty for this criminal act is imprisonment. A convicted individual may go to jail for a minimum of one year and can even face life imprisonment in certain cases.
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