BC's Indefinite Licence Suspension Program

British Columbia drivers who receive motor vehicle related Criminal Code convictions face mandatory driver's licence suspensions under the province's Indefinite Licence Suspension (ILS) program.

The ILS program is based on a "three strikes and you're out" model. Drivers convicted of offences such as impaired driving or dangerous driving receive escalating suspensions. A first conviction results in an automatic one-year driver's licence suspension. A second conviction within ten years leads to an automatic three-year suspension. A driver who receives a third conviction within ten years of an earlier conviction receives an indefinite suspension. An indefinite licence suspension may not be terminated for at least 10 years, and then only if the person successfully completes a remediation program to address the alcohol or other problems that led to the convictions. The BC government is currently developing remediation programs.

With the ILS legislation nearing its third anniversary, just over 11,000 ILS program suspensions have already been issued, more than 9,000 of them for one year, 1,700 for three years and close to 500 for an indefinite period.

This summer, BC's driver licensing systems were updated to make ILS even more effective. With the improvements, police computer systems automatically provide up-to-date information on the status of drivers whose licences have been suspended. This will make it easier for police to enforce ILS program suspensions and to make sure suspended drivers stay off the road. Over time, this is expected to reduce the number of British Columbia families affected by the tragedy of needless death and injury.

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