People in the news

Strange twist on drunk driving penalties

The Alberta Court of Appeal decided a section of the Traffic Safety Act, which authorises the suspension of licenses of those charged with impaired driving until their cases are closed, violates Canada's  Charter right to fundamental justice. The court's reasoning was that 'drivers may be induced to surrender their constitutional right to the presumption of innocence and the right to a trial … in the hopes of being granted permission to drive much earlier than if they waited to be acquitted'. Apparently, genuinely guilty drunk drivers who confessed immediately would only be off the roads for 1 year, while those with a solid defence who chose to go to trial would be prevented from driving for about 22 months. The author of this report believes that 'Canadian jurisdictions have enjoyed all but free rein in curtailing citizens’ rights under the banner of fighting the scourge of impaired driving’. He gives as an example the provinces’ varying levels of blood alchohol concentrations that are considered the legal limit and decries the intent to allow police to randomly breathalyse.

New rules reduce rugby head injuries

Two new rules to protect rugby players in New Zealand (NZ) from head injury may be effective. Referees are now trained to recognise symptoms …