Naming and shaming drunk drivers serves no purpose: Vancouver lawyer

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Drivers charged with impaired driving offences are now being publicly named by York, Ont., police, but one lawyer calls the move unconstitutional and ineffective.

Vancouver lawyer Paul Doroshenko is opposed to the naming and shaming of the charged drivers and says it’s a move that doesn’t reflect on the true issue or provide any effective solution. In fact, he says he’s surprised to see officers embracing the practice.

“I’ve never seen any study that shows that that has a deterrent effect to keep people from drinking and driving,” Doroshenko says. “In the public, generally, what we know does work is visible enforcement, regular enforcement, and regular advertising campaigns.”

Doroshenko compared the plan to bullying and adds in the age of social media, publication of driver’s names could end up in lost jobs, and low self esteem.

“We have the concept of innocent until proven guilty in this country,” he says, adding that he’d have expected the police to “enthusiastically” reject naming and shaming.

“The police are supposedly sworn to uphold the law and that is one of our constitutional principles under the Charter of Rights.”

Doroshenko also does not see the police getting the effect they want, quite the opposite. He says impaired driving is one of those transgressions of which people are regularly acquitted.

“It’s quite regular that people who are caught in circumstances where they’re charged with impaired driving are going through some other life crisis,” he says.

“It’s one of those charges that a lot of innocent people are charged with and we have a very high acquittal rate. The police collect the evidence and the police are enthusiastic about laying charges and lots of time the evidence does not make it out.”