The provincial government has changed how immediate roadside licence suspensions work.
This follows a recent court decision that clarified the new laws on impaired driving.
Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin said the changes will help ensure that drivers have a fair and clear process.
This also shows the government’s ongoing commitment to road safety.
“We thank the court for clarifying the law,” Gauvin said in a government release.
“Police and the Registrar of Motor Vehicles have already applied the lessons from the decision to strengthen fairness in the review process while continuing to protect the public.”
The Registrar of Motor Vehicles has lifted several suspensions that were being appealed.
Since September 22, they have been working to return licenses to the drivers affected. New cases will be processed under the revised procedures.
The amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act, which took effect in January, allow peace officers to immediately suspend the licence of a driver who fails a roadside screening test.
Gauvin said the measure was designed to reduce impaired driving and ease pressure on the courts.
He also added that the 596 roadside suspensions have been issued since January 1, and those cases are no longer moving through the court system.
The provincial government will continue to monitor the program and make improvements if needed to ensure it remains fair and effective.
