FM 101 Milton presents ‘Ask a Cop’.
Listeners submitted questions for Halton Police Constable Ryan Anderson.
A resident asked about novice drivers (someone with a G1/G2/M1/M2 license, and anyone under the age of 21) and impaired driving. They wanted to know if a young driver could actually be busted for impaired driving if they had just one drink.
Constable Anderson says that while novice drivers are prohibited from having any alcohol in their system, residents need to know that anyone could be considered impaired, even if their BAC is below .08.
He says there may be some confusion in the public regarding some of the criminal charges. An officer can assess a driver and determine that they are impaired. He says alcohol affects people differently, especially if other drugs are involved. A driver surpassing the .08 BAC level results in an automatic charge, but it is not solely required to charge a driver.
If a novice driver is found with alcohol, cannabis or other drugs in their system, they would be looking at something along the lines of an immediate three-day license suspension; a fine that is not less than $60, but not more than $500; and, a mandatory 30-day license suspension for young drivers (those under 21). Constable Anderson says that these do vary and escalate depending on the offence and the amount of violations.
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.
Constable Anderson says a large portion of the impaired driving cases in Halton are found through citizen-initiated complaints. He assures residents that even if the suspected driver isn’t impaired, the call should be made. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Another question asked this week involves break-ins. A resident asked if they should have an emergency plan in the event of a break-in, similar to an emergency plan for a fire or carbon monoxide detection.
Constable Anderson tells residents that break-ins are not common, and are even more rare when the resident is actually home. He says the majority of break-ins happen while the resident is not home, adding that in the event where the resident happens to be home the burglar usually flees when confronted. That said, it doesn’t hurt to have a plan.
He says that residents are legally allowed to defend themselves, their family, and their property; however, you should always contact the police as quickly as possible.
‘Ask a Cop’ will return next week with more of your questions being answered. Send your questions to news1013@localradio.ca, message your questions to FM 101 Milton on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
You can also read past ‘Ask a Cop’ segments:
- How fast is too fast? Speeding and snow covered on ‘Ask a Cop’
- Protests, spot checks, and skating on Mill Pond covered on ‘Ask a Cop’
- How safe is Halton? How do you become a Detective? Questions answered on ‘Ask a Cop’
- Hate crimes and rewards: Your questions answered on ‘Ask a Cop’
- ‘Ask a Cop’: How officers test drivers for marijuana use, and unreadable license plates
(Article previously published on March 31st, 2021 at 6:00 a.m.)
