SGI’s traffic Safety Spotlight for March is reminding residents that penalties can be issued for blood alcohol content (BAC) even under the criminal level of .08.

When most people think of a punishable BAC while driving they think .08 but tickets can still be issued for BAC level that read 0.04 and above.

“Since 2018, a change in federal legislation means that a police officer who legally stops you can demand a roadside breath test that can determine whether or not you have alcohol on your breath. So, if you’re not confident that you could get through that and not be over .04, you need to find a different way to get home,” says SGI Spokesperson, Tyler McMurchy.

Under Saskatchewan law, experienced drivers aren’t legally permitted to drive with a BAC of .04 or higher and new drivers aren’t allowed any alcohol in their system whatsoever. For all drivers, there is zero-tolerance for drugs.

“Saskatchewan has some of the toughest administrative penalties for impaired driving in the country,” said SGI President and CEO Penny McCune.

“We want people to be aware of the provincial limits – and the consequences for exceeding them – so drivers will make good choices.”

In 2022, police issued 1,968 short-term licence suspensions to drivers who exceeded provincial limits for alcohol or drugs.

While a BAC reading of .08 results in criminal charges, penalties are still issued for readings of .04 and over.

Those penalties can vary depending on the severity of the case but the penalties include:

• Immediate roadside licence suspension (starting at three days for an experienced driver and 60 days for a new driver).
• Immediate vehicle impoundment, minimum of three days.
• Mandatory impaired driving education program (a weekend-long “Driving Without Impairment” [DWI] course for a first offence).
• Four Safe Driver Recognition demerit points.
• Mandatory Ignition Interlock for a third or subsequent offence.

There are also financial costs to go along with the penalties.

Drivers must pay for the cost of the DWI program and registered owners are liable for the towing and storage fees for their impounded vehicle.

There are also lost insurance discounts or additional financial penalties that result from lost demerit points, depending on the driving record.