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Road safety priority for RCMP ahead of cannabis legalization

Last Updated Oct 15, 2018 at 10:55 am MDT

PHOTO. Supplied. Alberta RCMP.

As new cannabis legislation takes effect in just days, the RCMP has announced the impact on police service delivery.

RCMP has increased capacity in prevention and engagement, intelligence, security screening, and training.

On Oct. 12 the Alberta RCMP and Traffic Services provided an interactive drug-impaired driving Checkstop demonstration.

Inspector Steve Daley, “K” Division Traffic Services said that there have been various techniques used to determine if a person is sober since the 1920s.

“Keeping roads and highways safe for all Albertans has always been a vital part of the Provincial Policing mandate.”

With that in mind, police are reminding drivers that driving impaired by any substance is illegal.

Drivers under the Graduated Driver Licensing program found to have any amount of drugs or alcohol in their blood face an immediate 30-day suspension and a 7-day vehicle seizure.

All other drivers found to have a blood concentration level (BDC) between 2 nanograms (ng) per millilitre (ml) and 5 ng/ml face a maximum fine of $1000, while those higher face a minimum $1000 fine, 30 days imprisonment or 120 imprisonment, depending on the number of offences.

In a release, the RCMP said it’s on track to have one third of members trained in Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST) by 2020.

Currently, there are 22 police officers trained through the SFST in the region.