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Tougher drunk driving laws coming in fall session

Premier Alison Redford says her plan is to have tougher drinking and driving laws introduced during the fall session which starts and wraps up in a couple of weeks.

CALGARY — Premier Alison Redford says her plan is to have tougher drinking and driving laws introduced during the fall session which starts and wraps up in a couple of weeks.

The premier says the new legislation will be part of caucus business over the next ten days.

Redford confirmed earlier statements by Transportation Minister Ray Danyluk that the Alberta law will be broader than the B.C. model with tougher penalties attached.

The new B.C. law targets not only drivers who register over the usual cutoff of .08 blood alcohol content, but also those in a so-called grey zone of between .05 and .08.

Danyluk has said Alberta would look not only at the .05 to .08 range, but also at repeat offenders at .08, and chronic abusers at higher levels.

Redford says it’s responsibility of the government to introduce legislation that helps police keep the community safe and curb behaviour.

Redford has said tougher drunk driving laws are something she is committed to and had wanted to push forward in her former job as justice minister.