Starting January 1, motorists in New Brunswick will face stricter penalties for impaired driving under new changes to the province’s Motor Vehicle Act. Police will now have the authority to issue immediate roadside licence suspensions to drivers who exceed the legal blood alcohol limit or refuse a breath test. Previously, impaired drivers could only be charged through a cumbersome court process.
Drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher will receive a three-month licence suspension, and their vehicles will be impounded for a minimum of 30 days. Additionally, these drivers must install an ignition interlock device in their vehicles for one year, which requires a breath sample before starting the engine.
For those with alcohol levels between 0.05 and 0.08, a seven-day licence suspension and a three-day vehicle impoundment will be imposed. These measures are part of legislative changes introduced by the former Progressive Conservative government, inspired by similar initiatives in Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia.
