Drug-impaired drivers to face tougher penalties in Ontario starting Oct. 2

The Ontario government announced Wednesday they are introducing tougher penalties fordrivers under the influence of drugs thatmatch thefines already in place for drunk drivers.

Starting Oct. 2,drivers under the influence of drugs will face the following penalties:

• A $180 fine.
• An immediate licence suspension of three days for the first occurrence, seven days for the secondoccurrence and 30 days for the third and subsequent occurrences upon failure of a roadside sobriety test.
• A possible 90-day licence suspension and a seven-day vehicle impoundment following further testing by a drug recognition expert at a police station.
• Mandatory education or treatment programsandinstallation of anignition interlockdevice in their vehiclesfordrivers with two or more licence suspensions involving alcohol or drugs within a 10-year period.

Toronto police announced last week that the number of drug-related impaired-driving offences this year has increasedmore than threefold compared to this time in 2015.

• Drug-related impaired driving up this year, Toronto police say

Police saymost of those charges are not marijuana-related; most casesare related to prescription drugs.