Police have power to impound if driver has suspended licence

Ontario residents may want to think twice before lending their car to a driver with a suspended licence.

Starting Dec. 1, any motor vehicle driven by someone with a suspended license or blood alcohol levels over .08 will be impounded for seven days regardless of who owns the car. Failure to provide a breath sample will also be included under the law, said OPP spokeswoman Shelley Garr.

"It doesn’t matter whose vehicle the driver is driving – it can be their employee, a family member it doesn’t matter – it will be impounded," Garr said. "We now have the power to immediately impound the vehicles of drivers who demonstrate a blatant disregard for drinking and driving and license suspension laws."

While the law covers most court ordered suspensions. Garr said it wouldn’t include drivers who have suspended licenses for medical reasons or outstanding fines.

Over 75 per cent of drivers with a suspended license in Ontario still drive Garr said and one-quarter of road fatalities involve drinking and driving.

"These new laws will help get dangerous drivers off the road," Garr said.