Backgrounder for former Bill C-46, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (offences relating to conveyances) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, as enacted

• Previous Page

Table of Contents

• Purpose
• Background
• Part 1 – Strengthening Drug-Impaired Driving in the Criminal Code
  • 1. Preamble
  • 2. Offences
    • 2.1. Having a Prohibited BDC within Two Hours of Driving (paragraph 253(3)(a))
    • 2.2. Having a Prohibited BDC that is Lower than the BDC set under paragraph 253(3)(a) (paragraph 253(3)(b))
    • 2.3. Having a Prohibited BAC and BDC in Combination Within Two Hours of Driving (paragraph 253(3)(c))
    • 2.4. Limiting the Intervening Drug Defence and the “Innocent” Intervening Exception (subsection 253(4))
    • 2.5. Scientific Foundation (Offences)
      • 2.5.1. Blood Drug Concentration Offences
  • 3. Investigative Matters
    • 3.1. Approved Drug Screening Equipment / Oral Fluid Drug Screeners (subsection 254(2))
      • 3.1.1. International Experience
      • 3.1.2. Scientific Foundation (Drug Screeners)
    • 3.2. Demands for a Drug Recognition Evaluation (DRE) (paragraph 254(3.1)(a))
    • 3.3. Demands for Blood by Investigating Officer (paragraph 254(3.1)(b))
    • 3.4. Persons Qualified to take Blood Samples (paragraph 254(3.1)(b))
  • 4. Evidentiary Matters
    • 4.1. Admissibility of Evaluating Officer’s Opinion (subsection 254(3.5))
    • 4.2. Presumption in DRE Cases (subsection 254(3.6))
• Part 2 – Part VIII.1 of the Criminal Code
  • 1. Preamble and Principles
  • 2. Definitions
  • 3. Offences
    • 3.1. Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance (section 320.13)
    • 3.2. Operating a Conveyance while Impaired (paragraph 320.14(1)(a))
    • 3.3. Having a BAC of 80 mg of alcohol/100 mL of blood or more Within Two Hours of Driving (paragraph 320.14(1)(b))
      • 3.3.1. Eliminating the Bolus Drinking Defence
      • 3.3.2. Limiting the Intervening Drink Defence and the “Innocent” Intervening Drink (subsection 320.14(5))
    • 3.4. New Blood Drug Concentration (BDC) Offences
      • 3.4.1. Having a Prohibited BDC within Two Hours of Driving (paragraph 320.14(1)(c))
      • 3.4.2. Having a Prohibited BDC that is Lower than the BDC set under paragraph 320.14(1)(c) (subsection 320.14(4))
      • 3.4.3. Having a Prohibited BAC and BDC in Combination Within Two Hours of Driving (paragraph 320.14(1)(d))
      • 3.4.4. Limiting the Intervening Drug Defence and the “Innocent” Intervening Exception (subsection 320.14(6))
      • 3.4.5. Scientific Foundation (Offences)
    • 3.5. Fail or Refuse to Comply with a Demand (subsection 320.15(1))
    • 3.6. Failure to Stop After an Accident (subsection 320.16(1))
    • 3.7. Flight from a Peace Officer (section 320.17)
    • 3.8. Operating a Conveyance While Prohibited (section 320.18)
    • 3.9. Offences No Longer in Force
  • 4. Penalties and Prohibitions
    • 4.1. Mandatory Minimum Penalties (MMP) (sections 320.19, 320.2, and 320.21)
    • 4.2. Maximum Penalties (sections 320.19, 320.2 and 320.21)
    • 4.3. Obligation of Crown to Consider a Dangerous Offender Application (section 752)
    • 4.4. Aggravating Factors for the Purpose of Sentencing (section 320.22)
    • 4.5. Exemption from an MMP and Postponement of Sentencing (section 320.23)
    • 4.6. Prohibitions and Provincial Ignition Interlock Programs (section 320.24)
  • 5. Investigative Matters
    • 5.1. Mandatory Alcohol Screening (subsection 320.27(2))
      • 5.1.1. Operational Requirements for Mandatory Alcohol Screening
    • 5.2. Testing based on reasonable suspicion (drugs and alcohol) (subsection 320.27(1))
      • 5.2.1. Alcohol
      • 5.2.2. Drugs
        • 5.2.2.1. International Experience
        • 5.2.2.2. Scientific Foundation (Drug Screeners)
    • 5.3. Demands for Breath Samples (subparagraph 320.28(1)(a)(i))
    • 5.4. Demands for a DRE (paragraph 320.28(2)(a))
    • 5.5. Demands for Blood by Investigating Officer (paragraph 320.28(2)(b))
      • 5.5.1. Persons Qualified to take Blood Samples (subsection 320.28(6))
    • 5.6. Warrants to Obtain Blood Samples (subsection 320.29(1))
  • 6. Evidentiary Matters
    • 6.1. Proof of BAC – Breath Samples (subsection 320.31(1))
    • 6.2. Proof of BAC and BDC - Blood Samples (subsection 320.31(2))
    • 6.3. Presumption of BAC – Sample Taken More than Two Hours After Operating (subsection 320.31(4))
      • 6.3.1. Examples of the Presumption as Applied to Hypothetical Scenarios
    • 6.4. Admissibility of Evaluating Officer’s Opinion (subsection 320.31(5))
    • 6.5. Presumption in DRE cases (subsection 320.31(6))
    • 6.6. Admissibility of Roadside Statements (subsection 320.31(9))
    • 6.7. Certificates
      • 6.7.1. Content of Certificates (subsection 320.32(1))
      • 6.7.2. Procedure with Respect to Cross-Examination on a Certificate (section 320.32)
    • 6.8. Disclosure with Respect to Subject Breath Tests (section 320.34)
    • 6.9. Presumption of Operation (section 320.35)
  • 7. General Provisions
    • 7.1. Unauthorized Use of Bodily Samples (section 320.36)
    • 7.2. Refusal to Take a Sample (section 320.37)
    • 7.3. Regulation-Making Power (section 320.38)
    • 7.4. Power to Approve Devices (section 320.39)
    • 7.5. Power to Designate (section 320.4)
  • 8. Transitional Provisions
• Annex 1 – Chart of Offences
• Annex 2 – Penalties
• Frequently Referenced Documents
• List of Commonly Used Acronyms