Early morning roadblocks tackle 'still drunk' drivers

Police in Metro Vancouver are making roadside checks at 5 a.m., catching people who don't realize they're still drunk the morning after the night before, the CBC has learned.

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A CBC Investigatescrew recently spent a morning with local RCMP at aCounterAttackRoadblock at an entrance to Highway 1 heading eastand watched them reel-in drunk driverswho thought they were safe.

It was during this filming that the driver of a minivan suddenly sped through road check, his actions caught on camera. The incident led to three arrests.

In addition, over the course of two hours that morning the roadblock caught three drivers, including one man ina pickup truckwithin the first 15 minutes.

Heblew over .05, but less than the limit of.08. He got an immediate roadside prohibition and since it was his second warning, his license was suspended for 7 days and fined $300.

Two others blew way over the limit, over .08, and got an immediate fail.Their licenses suspended for 90 days and they were fined $500.

Cpl. Robert McDonald with RCMP Traffic Services said the figures were pretty standard.

"We're happy we only got two full fails. [It's an] indication the system is working. People are not totally getting the word, but it's improving," said McDonald.

Among the few drivers who agreed to face a camera crew that early in the morning, there was surpriseand confusion overthe roadblocks.

Nijar Shajani, aforensic consultant and blood alcohol expert, says a 68 kgmanneeds twohours to eliminate the alcoholin just one beer.

"Sleeping does not reduce your blood alcohol level. It is the time factor that is important," said Shajani.

ICBC figures for 2012 show impaired driving caused by alcohol, drugs or medicationis a contributing factor in 22 per cent of fatal crashes.

McDonald advises hungover drinkers to think twice before driving, even after "sleeping it off".

"If you're gonna drink, give it time before you get behind the wheel. Just an hour or two is not enough to dissipate all the alcohol from your body."