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Amendments to N.B. Motor Vehicle Act to be enacted Fall 2017

Proposed amendments to New Brunswick’s Motor Vehicle Act regulations related to stronger measures to curtail impaired driving have been posted for public review until mid-September.

August 28, 2017  By Staff



“Impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of preventable fatalities on New Brunswick highways,” said deputy premier Stephen Horsman. “We have listened to New Brunswickers and we are getting things done to make our highways safer. The proposed amendments to regulations, once in force, will position our province as one of the toughest jurisdictions regarding impaired driving.”

Amendments for consideration under Regulation 83-42 include an increase in the licence reinstatement fee from $62 to $230 for those convicted of impaired driving and for drivers who receive a third or subsequent short-term licence suspension in a five-year period. It also proposes a $64 fee to apply for early release of a vehicle from an impoundment facility.

“Research and experience in other jurisdictions has shown that these kinds of impaired driving laws and sanctions have a major impact on reducing impaired driving, saving lives and preventing injuries,” said MADD Canada chief executive officer Andrew Murie. “We thank the Government of New Brunswick for its commitment to preventing impaired driving and making the province’s roads safer.”

The regulations and new measures to prevent impaired driving are expected to be brought into force on Nov. 1, 2017. The new measures will include:

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• Extending the look-back period for a driver’s abstract from seven years to 10 years;
• Recording short-term licence suspensions on the driver’s abstract;
• Modifying the current short-term licence suspension to provide for escalating sanctions;
• Increasing the driver’s licence reinstatement fees;
• Creating a vehicle impoundment program for impaired drivers;
• Introducing a mandatory alcohol ignition interlock device program; and
• Creating a 24-hour roadside suspension for driver unfitness, providing law enforcement the authority to temporarily remove drivers from the road.

The draft regulations have been posted for review for 30 days. Anyone who wishes to review or comment on the proposed amendments to regulations under the Motor Vehicle Act can visit the Public Review of Draft Regulations webpage. Feedback can also be submitted by calling 506-453-6109.


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