‘Ask a Cop’: What’s the difference between impaired driving and being over the limit?

myFM News presents ‘Ask a Cop’.

Listeners submitted questions for Halton Police Constable Ryan Anderson.

A listener wanted to know what he should do with a pair of license plates that he doesn’t use anymore. Constable Anderson recommends giving them back to Service Ontario.

He stresses that keeping old plates in a shed or garage could be a dangerous situation because they’re easier targets for theft. Also, depending on the age and condition of the plates, you could receive a refund from Service Ontario. You can learn more on that process here.

Another listener was curious as to whether impaired driving was separate to being over the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of 0.08. This was somewhat covered in another ‘Ask a Cop’ segment, which you can read here. Constable Anderson points out that yes, they are different charges.

Alcohol affects people differently. People can be under the limit and appear more affected than another person who is over the limit. Constable Anderson says that the HRPS would prefer if people either didn’t drink before they drive, or didn’t drive after they’ve had a drink. That would be the perfect situation because there would be no grey area. There are also other contributing factors to what could make someone impaired, such as diet, medication, and size.

While impaired driving is most associated with alcohol and cannabis, it can refer to any legal or illegal drug.

Remember, driving under the influence is considered a crime in progress. Call 9-1-1 if you suspect that someone on the road is driving impaired.

Here are some signs of an impaired driver provided by the Halton Police:

Driving unreasonably fast, slow or at an inconsistent speed;
Drifting in and out of lanes;
Tailgating and changing lanes frequently;
Making exceptionally wide turns;
Changing lanes or passing without sufficient clearance;
Overshooting or stopping well before stop signs or stop lights;
Disregarding signals and lights;
Approaching signals or leaving intersections too quickly or slowly;
Driving without headlights, failing to lower high beams or leaving turn signals on; and,
Driving with windows open in cold or inclement weather.

The HRPS says that its officers remain committed to road safety through prevention, education, and enforcement initiatives.

‘Ask a Cop’ will return next week with more of your questions being answered. Send your questions to news1013@mbcmedia.ca, message your questions to 101.3 myFM on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or comment on any ‘Ask a Cop’ social media post.

You can also read past ‘Ask a Cop’ segments:

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