Stricter drunk driving laws including more roadside suspensions and vehicle seizures for drivers as low as 0.05 per cent blood alcohol have helped B.C. cut drunk driving deaths by half, Attorney General Suzanne Anton said on Feb. 24.Government studies show average fatalities from drinking and driving and fallen to 54 a year from a previous five-year average of 112, since the law, known as “Alexa’s Law”, took effect in September 2010.The term “Alexa’s Law” was named after four-year-old Alexa Middelaer, who was feeding horses at the roadside in Delta when was killed by a drunk driver in 2008.“After decades of stagnant progress on reducing the number of preventable deaths caused by drinking and driving, as a community we’ve made significant and sustained changes,” said Laurel Middelaer, Alexa’s mother, who has been an advocate on the issue since the tragedy.Grand Forks/Boundary RCMP Staff Sgt. Jim Harrison said the numbers in the Boundary are a little small to make general conclusions, but he believes the new laws are helping curb drunk driving in the area.“That has definitely had an impact,” he said. “The fact that there are some pretty stiff penalties that go along with it like an immediate roadside prohibition (IRP). You’re vehicle is gone for a length of time. You have to pay to get that back. If you’ve had multiple cases you’ll have to pay for an interlock device. It’s darn expensive.”Harrison said the new laws have an immediate impact and can be devastating for people.“Because your licence is suspended and your vehicle is impounded,” he said. “So even if you want to drive, you have no vehicle.”SIDEBAR/CHARTBoundary Regional DetachmentImpaired Driving and Immediate Roadside Prohibitions 2010-2013Category2010201120122013IRP 90 Day Fail8301115IRP 90 Day Refuse2411IRP 30 Day Warn0000IRP 3 Day Warn3659IRP 7 Day Warn0000Impaired over .08 Charged Criminally320090 Day Fail is when Driver blows over .08 on Alcohol Screening Device3 Day Warn is when driver blows .05-.08 on Alcohol Screening Device7 Day Warn is when driver blows .05-.08 for second time30 Day warn is when driver blows .05-.08 third timeCriminal Charge is used when Driver has had previous 90 Day IRP

Grand Forks Gazette