2 THE VOICE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011 EDITOR JESSE WINTER ews & features Drunk drivers get no quarter BY the CounterAttack program not weakened by ruling: Cops By MATT HYNDMAN espite Wednesday’s B.C. Su- preme court ruling declaring parts of the program unconstitu- tional, the annual CounterAt- tack campaign to crack down on im- paired driving over the holidays will be as strong as ever, ICBC, police and the B.C. government announced Wednes- day. “Regardless of the decision, police will be out in full force this month to catch drunk drivers,” said the Minister of Public Safety Shirley Bond. “It’s clear that the current efforts are work- ing,” she said, touting a statistic that 45 fewer people have died since the legis- lation was enacted last year. “We don’t expect to see a de-empha- sization of the fact that you shouldn’t get in your car and drink and drive,” Bond said. “From my _ perspective, CounterAttack will continue, the ques- tion will be under what regime of im- MATT HYNDMAN photo Public safety minister Shirley Bond paired driving regulations.” The December campaign will see more roadblocks around Vancouver, and this year helicopters will be uti- lized to enforce the law and raise awareness about the increase of police presence. “If you drink or use drugs do not drive. You will get caught. You’ve been warned,” said Const. Jamie Graham of the Victoria police. Jon Schubert, president and CEO of ICBC, said a message needs to be sent to men in particular. “We account for 74 per cent of all drunk drivers. It’s not at all clear to me why we simply don’t get the message.” Schubert said the holidays are the worst time of year for deaths caused by impaired driving. “If this December is the same as other Decembers, on aver- age nine people are going to be killed.” A spokeswoman for M.A.D.D. said she was pleased with the holiday cam- paign. She said the money spent on the campaign is saved through health care costs in the long run. “Too often people are quick to say it violates my rights. Well it violates my rights when a drunk driver hits me with their car.” Langara student Jonathan Dang thinks the current laws are reasonable. “It’s fair in the sense that they pay the price for doing something so stupid.” numbers 118: people killed in B.C in drunk driving crashes last year 3,000: B.C. crashes involving drunk drivers in an average year 30 to 35: per cent of crashes due to drug or alcohol impairment One in 10: number of impaired drivers after 10 p.m. onan average night Nine: average of people killed by drunk drivers over the holidays Source: B.C. Ministry of Public Safety 58's singing sirens lur ma GO|FALCONS|GO f= py og y = ae C\:: ‘ B. CARLY WIGNES photo The Studio 58 choir performs Bob Dylan’s ‘T Shall Be Released’ (a “classic”) and ‘Run Mary Run’ (a “spiritual”) in the foyer of Langara’s A building on Wednesday morning. The performance, which attracted a crowd of listeners, is an annual rite of the holiday season. B.C.s top court rules some drunk driving laws are ‘unconstitutional’ 66 Drunk driving is something we shouldn’t be taking lightly CARSON CLOSE, Environmental Studies student Supreme court says parts of B.C.’s Automatic Roadside Prohibition law too severe and needs ‘fixes’ By ALANNA HARDINGE-ROONEY that part of the province’s new drunk driving law is unconstitu- tional. In his judgment released Wednes- day, Justice John Sigurdson said that the year-old Automatic Roadside Pro- hibition legislation violates Charter rights because it gives police too much power without an acceptable process of appeal. While Sigurdson upheld current leg- islation that imposes penalties on mo- torists found to have a blood alcohol level between .05 and .08, he deter- mined that roadside prohibitions for Te: B.C. Supreme Court has ruled drivers who “fail” Breathalyzer tests do not “appropriately balance the rights of individuals and society at large.” According to Sigurdson, it is the pen- alties for drivers who blow the criminal level (above .08) that are too severe. He said the province needs to pro- vide an appeal process for drivers to dispute their charges. At a press conference following the judgment, Solicitor General Shirley Bond said the ruling “does not mean that if you decide to drink and drive and blow .08 or above, that you will not face consequences.” Tougher penalties for impaired driv- ing were implemented under B.C.’s Mo- tor Vehicle Act on Sept. 20, 2010, allow- ing police to levy roadside fines, issue suspensions and impound cars. According to a government report released last week, the new clause re- duced alcohol-related driving deaths by 40 per cent last year. Despite the “minor fixes” recom- mended by Sigurdson, Bond said she was pleased he “substantially upheld the impaired driving regime.” “What matters most is the regime has saved lives in British Columbia. We have seen 45 people go home to their families that wouldn’t have under the previous set of circumstances,” she said. “T think it’s justified,” said environ- mental studies student Carson Close. “Drunk driving is something we shouldn’t take lightly.” But Peter Horwood, CEO of Bridges Restaurant on Granville Island, said he doesn’t believe stricter laws have any real impact. “The real serious drinker-drivers are not going to be changed by legisla- tion,” he said. “People who are a danger to the pub- lic, who get behind the wheel incapable of driving, they’re not going to change,” Horwood reiterated. Get to know your new Vancouver councillors With four new city councillors about to be sworn in, The Voice puts some faces to the names. By MARTIN WISSMATH ncouver’s new city councilors are V: varying power positions, but each is eager to see their issues dealt with in the next three years. George Affleck grew up in the Lower Mainland and has lived in Vancouver for 25 years. He graduat- ed from the Langa- ra journalism pro- gram and worked at the CBC. Affleck SEORGE AFFLECK : NPA lives downtown and has three chil- dren. “As the opposition party our job will be paying attention to decisions being made and holding the Vision-dominat- ed council’s feet to the fire,” he said. Elizabeth Ball is a long-time resi- dent of the Cam- bie/Main area of Vancouver and a mother of two. She founded the Car- ousel Theatre Company on Gran- ville Island in 1974. roves BALL Ball previously served on Vancou- ver city council under NPA Mayor Sam Sullivan from 2005 to 2008. During that time she initiated a $60 million upgrade of Vancouver theatres. “T personally always look for the bet- terment of the arts,” Ball said. Adriane Carr was born in Van- couver and grew up in the Lower Mainland and B.C. Kootenays. She earned a master’s degree in Urban Geography from UBC in 1980 and taught at Langara College in the early 1980s. Carr was the first leader of the Green Party of British Columbia. “T really am devoted to getting our society on to a sustainable track,” she said. ADRIANE CARR Green Party Tony Tang is a “long-time -Van- couver resident,” according to his campaign web- page (votevision. ca/candidate/tony- tang-0). He holds a master’s degree in engineering from UBC. He has lived with his wife in the Quilchena neighbourhood for 18 years. “We want to make Vancouver more affordable,” wrote Tang. “Not just housing, but the costs that families face on a regular basis like property taxes and community programs.” TONY TANG Vision Vancouver Details about the swearing-in cere- mony are still expected from the city, but Affleck has already made headlines by criticizing the $85,000 price tag of the 2008 ceremony.