Now I know that we are into having safe roads and cutting down on drinking and driving but .05 seems a bit harsh. There is now talk of having the same rules on the water. I don't know about you guys but I'm fine on 3-4 beers over a few hours. This new rule could ruin your life if you've had say 2 beers and were asked to blow. This is getting too harsh. We're starting to turn into a police state. Restaurants and bars are suffering as no one wants to risk getting caught. I like having a few beers while trolling around for the big one. It's just not the same drinking water.

What do the rest of you think.

This is going to sound preachy, but honestly, I don't see the need to get my drink on just to fish. I, and everyone I go fishing with, enjoy fishing for the fishing and don't really need booze or drugs. Although most (>50%) of the people I see fishing are getting drunk or stoned and half of those people aren't even there to fish anyway. (notes the guys passed out on the langford docks from time to time)

If you get drunk and wreck your boat, you don't have to pay for the rescue/cleanup, Everyone else does through taxes and insurrance. Plus, I'd hate to be the one in the paper "Guy on shore got run over by a boat due to drunk driving"

Yeah 0.05 is almost nothing and you can almost get to that level accidentally swallowing mouthwash. But it is slowing people down on the roads through fear. And in the end it is saving lives. Maybe even mine, so I'm cool with it.

I've been at elk lake near the skiers beach and seen sober people run kids over. I'd hate to be there when some guy comes in drunk and chums the water.

Again 0.05 isn't drunk... but it does make people think before they act and that's important.

There is something to what each of you guys have said.


I am just worried about it from a big brother side of things.
The officers are now Judge, jury and executioner

It's all about good judgement and moderation...
a lot of people have problems with that.
personally a couple beers on the boat with some good friends while fishing
is no problem.
i'm not talking drunk and disorderly.

Did you guys know it's already illegal to consume alchohol while operating a boat regardless? I'm pretty sure an open beer on a boat can fetch you a fine same as in a vehicle. I heard on the radio that an average weight guy [180 lbs?]can still drink 2 beers in an hour and be under the new limit so it's not as bad as some make it out. If you knock back 4 or 5 though, it's probably worth giving yourself 2 or 3 hours before you drive.

I hear what you're saying leapingling & purrnak but I think it's a bit harsh. No one wants to have people on the water or driving if they are over the limit and dangerous. Having a few beers with the boys while fishing, what's more Cdn than that. I can live with the old rules and I'll guess I have to live with the new but I don't like this edict.

Exactly!

Not to mention that these laws do not target drunks, you know the people that are really drunk and killing people on the roads. If some guy drinks 10 beers and drives, he's way over .05 and way over .08 it makes no difference.

What its targeting is the people having a couple of glasses of wine with dinner, which are not the problem.

If I'm .08 and have an accident, was it really the booze that caused the accident or would I have had the same accident sober?

Its a tough one because people are dying because of drunk drivers but I'm just not sure this is right angle of attack. oh and BTW I do NOT have a better idea, so take it with a grain of salt.

That would have been way passed the .08. And right...They should have known better.
At the .05% why don't they have a cop at every pub exit? Blow please
Make their quota much faster me thinks.....

I'm going to pipe in here if I may. I'm a cop as some of you already know.
It was necessary to take a half day course to get familiar with the new laws.

Let me remind you that this is only in BC and the provincial gov't is responsible for bringing in this legislation. This is not a police motivated law.

I personally feel it is a money grab. Moisture Missile hit in on the head when he said it is targetting the wrong people. It is targetting the mostly law abiding citizen who has a couple or 3 drinks at a friends or at dinner.

In my opinion, these are not the people that are the problem. The problem is with the people who are legally impaired according to the Criminal Code of Canada.
If we want to really put an end to impaired driving then the penalties have to be much harsher for those that are convicted.

We were advised that a first time offender under the new legislation will be hit in the pocket book somewhere between 1200 and 1400 dollars. There is a fine, as well as a reinstatement fee payable to ICBC when you pick up your license. You are also responsible for the tow and storage fee. Don't forget the 72 hr driving prohibition.

There must be a real deterrent to impaired driving. Targetting the people that are generally law abiding citizens by hitting them in the pocket book is not the answer.

These are only my opinions and I understand that some will not agree with me. There are certainly two sides to this debate. If the provincial governments goal was to remove drinking drivers from the road then it has been a success. I believe it has done nothing to stop impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel of a car.
Which is more important???

It comes down to good judgement. When you have alcohol in you, judgement goes out the window with some people.

What's happening now is enforced better judgment. You can't just target the drunks. If you could, you'd just go round them up. Se they target the lowest common denominator. So now you know the law is there and you know better than risk it. Go for a walk after your drinks or better yet, take a cab/bus home.

Reminds me of the guy I saw that had to blow to start his car... He couldn't start his car for 20 mins. Maybe a car full of kids lived that day because of it? (I set up my camera and recorded him trying to blow and even him begging people to blow for him.)