Ontario to see increased penalties for impaired, dangerous driving in new year

Drivers in Ontario should prepare for tougher laws on the road in 2026 and beyond.

Starting Thursday, there will be increased fines and suspensions for impaired and dangerous driving.

The province’s new measures come as law enforcement continue to see concerning trends behind the wheel.

As everyone is set to ring in the new year, the consequences of getting behind the wheel while impaired will be even more severe once the clock strikes midnight.

“I never would have an issue with a further crackdown on drunk driving, on stepping up controls with regards to more traffic stops,” said one local driver.

As of Jan. 1, 2026, the Ontario government’s latest crackdown on dangerous driving takes effect under the Highway Traffic Act.

Larger fines and longer suspensions will be handed out to impaired drivers who consumed substances like alcohol or cannabis.

Those charged who are under the age of 21 with a G1 or G2, will see a licence suspension go from three days to seven days for first time offences. A second time? Seven days to 14.

First-time offenders will also be required to complete a remedial education program.

WATCH MORE: Police step up impaired driving enforcement during the holidays

“It’s gonna be the education piece. Hopefully everybody is going to be looking at this and understanding what these new consequences are and what’s changing,” said Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Const. Taylor Konkle.

The OPP say they’ve laid more impaired driving charges this year than recent previous years.

In 2025 between Nov. 20 and Dec. 14, their RIDE programs laid more than 700 charges.

The Ford government tabled more legislation in November — proposals that aim for harsher penalties for people charged and convicted for dangerous driving causing death.

If passed, the Ministry of Transportation says its extended crackdown also includes a lifetime licence ban if someone is convicted of dangerous driving causing death, larger fines and a longer vehicle impoundment if someone is driving with a suspended licence and more authority for police officers to impose an immediate 90-day licence suspension on drivers they believe are a risk.

“Sometimes the myth that’s created is there are not suitable consequences available to judges dealing with drinking and driving and bad drivers. People who drink and drive, who kill somebody, go to prison for years — people with no criminal records,” said Dean Paquette, criminal lawyer with Paquette Wilhelm LLP.

“I believe the province wants to be seen to be doing something at the front end, and that’s where their jurisdiction really kicks in. When a police officer pulls somebody over, what are the immediate consequences?”

The remaining legislation still needs to pass in the Ontario legislative assembly in 2026.

WATCH MORE: ‘Choices need consequences’: Ontario toughens penalties for dangerous driving causing death