WEST Vancouver police say they're continuing to crack down on drunk drivers despite a court decision striking down some of B.C.'s drunk driving laws.
Over the weekend following the decision, West Vancouver police arrested two motorists and are investigating a third for three separate incidents.
In the most dramatic event, a driver who was arrested going the wrong way on Highway 1 blew .22 - almost three times the legal limit of .08 - after police stopped the vehicle at about 11: 30 p.m. on Dec. 4.
In the early hours of that same day, a 22-year-old woman kicked a police officer several times after he stopped her car in a road check at the north end of the Lions Gate Bridge around 4: 30 a.m. She was taken into custody and eventually provided a breath sample of .13. She now faces criminal charges of impaired driving and assaulting a police officer.
In a third incident, West Vancouver police responded after a car crashed in the 1400 block of the Highway 1. The driver - who was alone in the vehicle - was taken to hospital with undetermined injuries. Alcohol is believed to be a factor.
All three episodes come just days after B.C.'s year old drunk driving laws took a legal hit when a B.C. Supreme Court justice ruled part of the legislation unconstitutional.
The B.C. regulations, which came into effect in September 2010, gave officers authority to issue immediate 90-day driving suspensions to motorists who registered a blood-alcohol content greater than .08 on a breathalyzer.
But those laws - which imposed significant penalties without any practical right of appeal - infringe on individual rights and violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, according to Justice Jon Sigurdson's ruling.
Following the ruling, which came just as B.C.'s annual Christmas CounterAttack program was gearing up, West Vancouver police chief Peter Lepine stood by the new laws saying the immediate roadside suspension program saved lives.
Lepine, who is also president of the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police, said this week West Vancouver police aren't backing down on enforcing laws against drunk drivers. Extra CounterAttack events and regular road checks will the "particularly prevalent over the holiday season," he said.
Despite the ruling that struck down parts of the drunk driving law, legislation remains unchanged for drivers who register a blood alcohol content between .05 and .08. Those motorists can still face a 30-day driving ban, and as much as $3,960 in fines.
On the North Shore, those out celebrating with seasonal cheer are encouraged to call a volunteer at Operation Red Nose to drive them home safely over the holiday weekends. Call 604-619-0942 between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. or visit www. rotarywestvancouversunrise.org for more information.
