Police take a breathalyzer sample from a driver.

(CBC)

Under the new laws, drivers caught with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher, or those who refuse to give a breath sample, will:

• Get a three-month driving ban.
• Get a $500 administrative penalty, and a $250 driver's licence reinstatement fee.
• Have their vehicle impounded for 30 days.
• Have to pay for the towing and impoundment costs
• Have to pay for the mandatory use of an ignition interlock device for one year.
• Face possible criminal charges.

The total cost adds up to almost $4,000, and it can all be triggered during a roadside stop by a police, without any immediate criminal charges or time in court.

There's also a new warning range, which drops the legal blood alcohol limit to 0.05. Those caught over that level for the first time will face an immediate three-day driving ban, $450 in penalties and fees, and three-days of vehicle impoundment.

Excessive speeders and reckless drivers also face a seven-day vehicle impoundment for the first offence and at least $368 in penalties, plus a hike in their insurance of $320 for three years.