Impaired Driving Penalties

Upon being arrested for impaired driving the driver receives immediate penalties of:

• 7 day vehicle seizure
• $800 to $1000 towing fee
• 90 day licence suspension
• no collision coverage in accidents
• $281 dollar licence reinstatement fee

Insurance rates are dramatically affected for drivers convicted of impaired driving.

Insurance companies will either cancel the insurance policy or put the driver into high risk or facility insurance rates of over $10,000 for 5 to 10 years.

The cost of the insurance could be $50,000 over a five year period.

This effect on the insurance rates is in itself a reason to fight the charges.

Once arrested, impaired driving has mandatory drivers licence suspensions including;

• ninety (90) day licence suspension
• seven (7) day seizure of vehicle
• one year licence prohibition upon conviction
• cannot drive anything that is:
  • pushed, pulled or driven,
  • including boats and
  • machinery and
  • construction equipment

Once arrested the driver cannot operate anything that is pushed, pulled or driven by any type of engine, anywhere in Canada.

This includes using construction machinery or farm equipment.

Mandatory penalties include:

• Back on Track course
• testing for alcoholism
• ignition interlock device in vehicle

The reinstatement fee for a suspended licence $281.  Criminal licence suspensions stay on the Ontario Drivers Abstract/Record for 5 years.

More on driving suspensions >

When charged with impaired driving or DUI many people realize that they cannot afford just to plead guilty.

Drinking and driving penalties are debilitating and have long term implications, usually affecting the ability to work and travel.

Conviction for drinking and driving charges such as impaired driving will cost:

• ignition interlock device = $1,500
  • monthly testing @ $130/month
  • 12 months x $130 = $1,500
• Back on Track Program = $634
• licence suspension fees 2 x 281 = $562
• high risk insurance rates for 5 years
  • $10,000/year x 5 years = $50,000
• total = $54,256

Where an accused pleads guilty a DUI charge will cost over fifty-four thousand dollars not including any loss of employment of the effects of having a criminal record.

Where convicted of a second impaired driving charge the accused is subject to the following increased penalties:

• mandatory thirty (30) day jail sentence
• three year drivers license suspension
• fine to be determined by the judge
• judge may impose a period of probation

• mandatory three (3) month jail sentence.
• lifetime drivers license suspension.
• fine to be determined by the judge.
• judge may impose a period of probation

Convictions for drinking and driving offences results in the driver receiving a criminal record for life.

If you are applying for a job, your employer may ask that you provide to them a criminal record check prior to deciding to hire you.

You can be refused entry into the United States or other countries due to your record. You also may be considered un-bondable and considered unsuitable for some types of jobs.

When arrested the police will photograph you and take your fingerprints. These records are kept by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with the Canadian Police Information Centre and are available for review for all police agencies.

More on effects of a criminal record >

Once convicted of impaired driving the Ministry of Transportation adds further penalties on the driver to get their drivers license back.

To get your drivers licence back after an impaired driving conviction the driver must:

• reinstatement fees of 281 dollars
• complete a Ministry approve “Back on Track program”,
  • cost five hundred and seventy five (575.00) dollars.
• be tested by doctors and psychologists for alcoholism.
• install in any vehicle they wish to drive an ignition interlock device,
  • cost of approx. $1,500.00 per year
• have the machine inspected monthly
  • approx. cost $150.00 dollars/month

More information on driver licence suspensions >

If you are convicted of impaired driving your insurance will increase dramatically.

• The insurance company will only insure the driver as a “High Risk Driver”.
• The insurance for the driver will increase thousands of dollars per year.
• The high risk period will be for five (5) years.
• Insurance cost will be in the range of $12,000 to 20,000 per year

Most drivers after being convicted of a drink and driving or impaired driving charge will find that most insurance companies will not offer normal insurance rates and that the driver will be considered a “high risk” driver for five years.

Want legal advice or like to speak to a lawyer? The first step is to give us a call at 416-731-7113.

There is no fee or obligation to call and speak to us.  The discussion is held with complete privacy and confidence with the lawyer.

The lawyer will be able to give you an opinion about your case, and tell you:

• possible defences to the charge
• legal arguments in your case
• what you can do to help your case
• what the cost to defend the accusation would be

Where you decide to retain our services we will invite you to meet in our Toronto office or have a face to face Zoom online meeting.

In that meeting we’ll discuss the case in detail, plan your defence and arrange for the first court date.

We ask for a reasonable deposit upon retaining our services of 10 to 25 percent.