A car means less freedom
An old cliché says that a car gives freedom. But if freedom means the absence of state intrusion in our personal choices, then that cliché is plain wrong. Drivers are less free than pedestrians or…
drunk driving
Discretion, law, and Rahim Jaffer
When the Crown dropped drunk driving and cocaine charges against Rahim Jaffer, everyone seemed unhappy and suspicious. There was a lot more unity of opinion than when a Canadian woman was stuck in Africa because…
Proposed Drunk Driving Law Would Face Constitutional Challenge
Reported by Canwest News Service, the Canadian Department of Justice is proposing a new law that would allow police officers to randomly demand breath samples in an effort to curtail drunk driving, without respect to…
Don’t drink and drive, or else…
Is a repeat drunk driver a dangerous offender? Should the courts crack down on people with multiple drunk driving convictions? Toronto Star reporter Carmen Chai writes: A Quebec judge will decide this week if a…
New Alcohol Regulations Target Binge Drinking in Alberta
Amendments to the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission policies come into effect today. The new rules, which are explicitly aimed at curbing binge drinking, will create a number of changes to how alcohol is served…
Man Busted for Impaired Operation of a Riding Mower
Last month, I discussed the potential criminal liability for the impaired operation of a motorized wheelchair in Canada. On the topic of drunken care and control of non-traditional motor vehicles, the Grand Rapids Press reports…
Problems with New Impaired Driving Legislation
As part of my series on the Tackling Violent Crime Act, I’d like to discuss the new changes to the drunk driving provisions of the Criminal Code. The need for reform To begin, the extent…
Chronic Drunk Driver Gets 20 Years, but not Designated a Dangerous Offender
A few months ago while listening to CBC Radio, I heard about the controversial case of a man being tried in Alberta for habitually drunk driving. The man, Raymond Yellowknee, had already been convicted of…