Tougher penalties for impaired driving were approved by the Alberta legislature earlier this month, but the new rules won’t be enforced until early in the new year.

Bill 26 passed third reading on Dec. 6, amending the province’s Traffic Safety Act to include, among other things, stricter consequences for those caught drinking and driving.

Alberta Transportation has said those consequences won’t come into effect until 2012, however, to provide time for the public to become aware of the changes and for police officers to receive training with respect to the new law.

Under the new rules, drivers caught with blood alcohol levels between .05 per cent and .08 per cent will face harsher penalties than they do now and those penalties will increase with each subsequent offence.

A first offence will yield a three-day licence suspension and three-day vehicle seizure. Get caught a second time and you will face a 15-day licence suspension and have your vehicle seized for seven days. You will also have to enroll in a “Planning Ahead” course.

Drivers who are caught a third time with blood alcohol levels between .05 and .08 will receive a 30-day licence suspension, a seven-day vehicle seizure and be mandated to take a more extensive “Impact” course.

All of these sanctions are under the provincial Traffic Safety Act and do not involve criminal prosecutions.

The Criminal Code of Canada only comes into play for drivers caught with blood alcohol contents above the .08 mark or those who refuse to provide a breath sample. Drivers facing criminal charges will have their licences suspended until the charges are resolved, under the new law in Alberta.

In addition to any other punishment, an ignition interlock will also be mandatory for a period of one year after a first conviction for impaired driving. A second criminal conviction will result in a three-year mandatory ignition interlock. A third conviction will mean five years of driving with the device.

For more information about the new impaired driving rules, visit transportation.alberta.ca.