New rules took effect at midnight across Canada Tuesday that increase penalties for drunk driving and expand police powers to examine a suspect motorist.

The legislation, which passed in June at the same time as new rules for drug-impaired driving, is intended to curb injuries and death by helping police catch drivers with more than the legal limit of alcohol in their bloodstreams.

It gives police the right to ask for a breath sample from any driver they lawfully stop and also bumps up the maximum penalties for many alcohol-impaired driving offences to 10 years from five.

Previous legislation required there be a reasonable suspicion a person had been drinking.

The new law has also been welcomed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada, which said mandatory alcohol screening has a proven track record of making roads safer.

The federal government and police forces alike hope will act as a deterrent for would-be drunk drivers.

According to federal statistics, an average of almost four people die in Canada daily due to impaired driving.

The new law also bumps up the maximum penalties for many alcohol-impaired driving offences.

Formerly, the mandatory minimum fines were: $1,000 for first offence, 30 days imprisonment for second offence, and 120 days in jail for a third offence.

These are the penalties now:

• First offence, with blood alcohol content of 80-119 mg: mandatory minimum $1,000 fine
• First offence, with blood alcohol content of 120-159 mg: mandatory minimum $1,500 fine
• First offence, with blood alcohol content of 160 mg or more: mandatory minimum $2,500 fine
• First offence, but refuse to be tested: mandatory minimum $2,000 fine
• Second offence: mandatory minimum 30 days imprisonment
• Third or more offence: mandatory minimum 120 days imprisonment
• Maximum penalties for impaired driving causing no bodily harm or death: summary conviction carries two years less a day imprisonment, indictment carries 10 years imprisonment
• Maximum penalties for impaired driving causing bodily harm: Summary conviction for less severe injuries carries two years less a day imprisonment, indictment carries 14 years imprisonment
• Maximum penalty impaired driving causing death: life imprisonment