Businesses Voice Law Concerns To MLA

Peter McIntyre Friday, 22 October 2010 09:36 107.5 KISSFM

North Okanagan pub and restaurant owners are concerned BC's new drunk driving rules, could drive them out of business.  About 30 of the owners from Greater Vernon, Lumby and Silver Star recently met with Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster, to discuss a drop in customers since the .05 to 0.8 warning level took effect a month ago.  "I think the meeting as much as anything was to let me know what has happened with their business, and I've certainly taken that to heart because I certainly don't want anybody to lose their business, or to lose any business, so we're going to try and help them."  Foster says the government plans an education campaign to give people more information about safe drinking limits.  "I think one of the big things is people need to find their level, find out if they can have a couple glasses of wine with dinner, or have a beer after work, and find out where that level is. People are concerned they're gong to have their car taken away for three days, and be fined."  Foster says the government could also encourage designated driver and other programs. Some Interior restaurants have started offering lower alcohol drinks, while some pubs have installed breathalyzer units, to help their customers.  While some of the business owners argued for changing the law, Foster says the government is not likely going to do that, given it's only a month old,  and is designed to make roads safer.  Drivers lose their cars for three days, and are fined hundreds of dollars if caught in the new warning level.  Solicitor General Mike de Jong announced this week police issued more than 14-hundred penalties for impaired driving, 435 fines for excessive speeding and impounded nearly 1,700-hundred vehicles since the new safe driving laws took effect September 20, to October 10.