New federal drunk-driving law has hallmarks of police state, may convict innocent people

[CBC News] Canadians could now face criminal charges for driving with illegal amounts of alcohol in their system, even if they were stone cold sober while behind the wheel, under tough new impaired driving laws passed by Parliament, according to criminal defence lawyers.

Bill C-46, which came into effect last month, gives police wide-ranging new powers to demand sobriety tests from drivers, boaters and even canoeists.

Police no longer need to have any reasonable grounds to suspect you’re impaired, or driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of more than .08, which is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, before demanding you submit to testing.

Refusing the test can result in a criminal charge.

But while the government says that’s not the intent of the law, even drinking within two hours after you’ve stopped driving or boating could now get you arrested, if your BAC rises over .08

Law is unconstitutional, lawyer says

“I think anyone should have a problem with this legislation, because it’s unconstitutional,” Toronto lawyer Daniel Brown said.

This article continues at [CBC News] Canadians could now be charged with drunk driving – even if not drunk, lawyers warn – CBC