Impaired driving/DUI penalties and consequences.

A conviction for an impaired driving charge will result in serious penalties and consequences. These include a criminal record, the loss of your driver's licence, a fine or jail sentence and increased insurance costs. For most drivers, fighting the charges is the only option. When you find out more about the consequences of conviction, you'll understand why.

The penalties for an impaired driving conviction are severe.

For a first offence: a minimum fine of $1,000 plus the victim fine surcharge and a minimum one-year driving prohibition. In some provinces (for example, Alberta), that period may be reduced to three months if you install an alcohol ignition interlock device

For a second offence: a minimum jail sentence of 30 days and a minimum three-year driving prohibition.

For third and subsequent offences: a minimum jail sentence of 120 days and a driving prohibition of at least three years-in some provinces, a lifetime suspension.

In cases where impaired driving is prosecuted by summary conviction: imprisonment for a term of not more than 18 months.

In cases where impaired driving is prosecuted by indictment: imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.

NOTE: Driving prohibitions apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout Canada. The court-imposed (federal) driving prohibition runs concurrently with the provincial licence suspension. The province may suspend your licence for an even longer period than the court-imposed prohibition. While prohibitions and suspensions normally commence upon conviction, it is possible that the province, prior to you going to trial, may suspend your licence.

The penalties for impaired driving convictions are getting harsher.

Fines continue to get higher and court-imposed driving prohibitions continue to get longer.

The amendments say courts should impose a harsher penalty on drivers who register a blood alcohol level in excess of 160 mgs. percent-that is, over twice the legal limit.

Recently, some states in the United States have charged drivers with murder in cases where death has been caused in a motor vehicle accident involving impaired driving.

Under a reciprocity accord, some U.S. driver's licences will be suspended following a conviction for drinking and driving in Canada; the Provincial Ministry of Transportation will notify the licensing authorities in other states of convictions registered against a resident.

NOTE: You may be permitted to drive after three months if an ignition interlock is installed (only where program is available).

Impaired driving convictions result in a permanent criminal record.

While a pardon is eventually possible, more and more politicians are saying that legislation will be changed so pardons no longer erase convictions for drinking and driving.

When you are charged the police take fingerprints and a photograph of you. If convicted, the RCMP retains them. If you are found not guilty, or plead guilty to a lesser (non-criminal) offence, you should request that your fingerprints and photograph be removed from RCMP records. A qualified criminal defence lawyer will know how to do this for you.

An impaired driving conviction can limit your opportunities.

Impaired driving is a crime, and a criminal conviction can prevent you from getting a job in your chosen field. You could be prevented from getting a job as a teacher, police officer, banker, lawyer or government employee. It may also prevent you from taking post-secondary education programs such as nursing.

Even if you are eligible to work in your profession with a criminal conviction, many employers will not hire you if there are other candidates who do not have a criminal record.

Prior impaired driving convictions.

If you do get charged a second time with impaired driving, you are now a repeat offender. The prosecution will rely on your prior criminal record to seek stiffer penalties, such as mandatory minimum jail terms.

Impaired driving convictions can affect your ability to travel abroad.

Many countries are tightening up their borders and refusing entry to people with criminal records. While a criminal conviction for some offences will bar you from traveling to the U.S., a conviction for impaired driving should not.

If you are planning a trip to the U.S., carry a certified true copy of the information (court document) relating to the impaired driving conviction and a copy of the Criminal Code section under which you were convicted. It would be wise to also have a letter from your doctor stating that you are not addicted to alcohol or drugs. If available, bring a certified true transcript of the evidence underlying your conviction as well.

Impaired driving convictions can affect your citizenship application.

If you are a landed immigrant, it could affect the time you have to wait for citizenship. If you are here on a student visa, temporary work permit or if you are a landed immigrant, you may be deported.

Impaired driving and insurance rates.

Motor vehicle insurance rates often skyrocket after an impaired driving conviction. Many times, only a high-risk insurance company, charging double the normal rates, will insure a convicted impaired driver, and they will add a 50 percent surcharge on top of that. For example:

The surcharge stays in effect for three years following the date of conviction, but you could pay the high-risk rate for three to six more years.

Under some provincial insurance plans, drivers are charged driver penalty points (DPP) when they are convicted of a driving offence (such as speeding or impaired driving). A DPP premium is assessed once a year, calculated according to driving offences committed during the 12-month period that ends 5 months before your birthday. The bill for the DPP premium you owe is sent to you approximately four weeks before your birthday. The bill may also include driving offences committed during an earlier period that have now been recorded on your driving record. The driver penalty point premium that you need to pay depends on your total number of points in the applicable 12-month period. This can add up to thousands of dollars.

NOTE: If you are involved in an accident and are convicted of impaired driving, your insurance company will not cover any damages you suffer as a result of the accident. Driving while impaired voids the insurance contract. They may also try to collect from you any money they pay out to other people involved in the accident.