Upon being arrested for impaired driving the driver receives immediate penalties of:
- 7 day vehicle seizure
- $800 to $1000 towing fee
- 90 driver licence suspension
- no collision coverage in accidents
- $281 dollar licence reinstatement fee
Impaired Driving Penalties
The penalties for impaired driving affect not only you, but your family, your ability to drive and your livelihood…
Impaired Driving Penalties
The penalties for impaired driving affect your family, your ability to drive and your livelihood…
Penalties Upon Arrest
Penalties Upon Conviction
The following penalties apply on conviction:
- criminal Record for life
- affects citizenship status
- affects immigration status
- travel can be blocked to USA
- possible jail up to two years
- 2nd conviction 30 days jail
- testing for alcohol addiction
- one (1) year licence suspension
- fine of $1000 to $2000 dollars
- Back on Track driver program,
- cost $634.00
- driver licence reinstatement fees,
- cost $281.00
- mandatory interlock device
- approx. cost $1500
- tested monthly at drivers cost
- high risk insurance rates
- for 5 to 10 years
Effect on Insurance Rates
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 fifty thousand (50,000) over five years.
This effect on the insurance rates is in itself a reason to fight the charges.
The effects on the insurance rates is in itself a reason to fight the charges…
Licence Suspensions
Once arrested, impaired driving has mandatory drivers licence suspensions including;
- ninety (90) day licence suspension
- seven (7) day seizure of vehicle
- 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.
Upon being convicted additional penalties include:
- one year licence suspension
- ignition interlock device in vehicle
- mandatory “Back on Track” course
Upon each suspension of the drivers licence the driver must pay a reinstatement fee to the Ministry of Transportation.
More on driving suspensions >
Impaired Driving
When charged with impaired driving or DUI many people realize that they cannot afford just to plead guilty. The penalties are debilitating have long term implications and usually affect your ability to work.
As a lawyer my law firm has years of experience with impaired driving and motor vehicle law. Having appeared on over four thousand (4000) cases we’re confident that we can help you.
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Second convictions
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
Third Conviction
- mandatory three (3) month jail sentence.
- lifetime drivers license suspension.
- fine to be determined by the judge.
- judge may impose a period of probation
Criminal Records
If you are found guilty of any of the charges related to drinking and driving offences the driver will receive a criminal record.
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.
The record is kept against you for life. You can under certain circumstances apply for a pardon after a 3-5 year period has past.
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 record >
Lawyer Standing by to Speak with You
Getting your Drivers Licence Back
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 >
Insurance Penalties
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.
Experienced Criminal Defence
As a defence lawyer I’ve helped thousands of people, successfully defending them in court and in bail hearings.
I know being arrested can be devastating, but there is a solution and we can help. As an experienced trial advocate, my association of lawyers, former crown attorneys, and retired police officers ensures that No Stone is Left Unturned™ in defending and representing our clients.
We stake our reputation on doing everything possible to win your case. Our approach ensures a high quality defence and we have the reviews and winning cases to back it up.
Call us 416-731-7113 to discuss your legal defence today.
This site is for information only and is not meant to replace qualified legal advice by a defence lawyer. The application and interpretation of law, impaired driving, DUI and drinking and driving, is constantly changing, the writers shall not be held responsible for any information that may be incorrect or out of date. The owners of this website recommend that anyone wishing to fight a charge obtain qualified legal advice before doing so.
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