N.B. news: New penalties announced for impaired drivers [Video]

The New Brunswick government has announced new penalties for those caught drinking and driving in the province.

As of Jan. 1, 2025, impaired drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05% milligrams or more, or who perform “poorly” on a field sobriety test, will receive a mandatory short-term licence suspension of seven days.

Their vehicle will also be impounded and they will have to pay fees.

The province says peace officers will also have the ability to give drivers with a BAC of 0.08% milligrams or more, or who refuse a breath sample, an immediate three-month licence suspension. They can also be charged under the Criminal Code.

“The administrative licence suspension allows impaired drivers to be removed from the road more quickly. It minimizes the safety risk a person charged with impaired driving poses to others while awaiting a court date,” reads a Wednesday news release from the province.

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