If convicted of DUI Impaired Driving Charges in Ontario
Post-Conviction Consequences for Alcohol and/or Drug Impaired Driving If you are convicted criminally of DUI impaired driving in Ontario: *
First Offence:
- First offence, with blood alcohol content of 80-129 mg: mandatory minimum $1,000 fine
- First offence, with blood alcohol content of 130-159 mg: mandatory minimum $1,500 fine
- First offence, with blood alcohol content of 160 mg or more: mandatory minimum $2,000 fine
- First offence, but refuse to be tested: mandatory minimum $2,000 fine
- Mandatory education or treatment program
- Mandatory Ignition Interlock period of at least 9 months
- Prohibited from Operating a motor vehicle of any kind within Canada for a minimum of 1 year, subject to the ignition interlock program
Second Offence:
- Mandatory education or treatment program
- 3 year minimum requirement to drive a car equipped with an ignition interlock device; subject to the Stream D program
- mandatory minimum 30 days imprisonment
- Fine amount at the discretion of the judge
- Licence suspended for minimum 3 years by the Ministry of Transport; subject to the Stream D program
- Minimum 2 year prohibition on operating a motor vehicle anywhere in Canada, even if they don’t require a driver’s license
Third and subsequent Offences:
- Mandatory education or treatment program
- Variable interlock periods (depending on sequence of prior convictions)
- mandatory minimum 120 days imprisonment
- Lifetime licence suspension (can be reduced to 10 years if certain conditions are met on the third conviction; on fourth or subsequent conviction lifetime suspension with no possibility of reduction)
Average cost of an impaired driving conviction
- insurance rates
- back on track
- interlock devices
- criminal record
- loss of job
- inability to volunteer
- inability to obtain new employment
- potential problems with the US Border
- inability to rent a car in some circumstances
- contrary to popular belief, you often cannot just drive on your spouse's insurance or company insurance without disclosure to the company of the conviction - if a situation involving a claim happens, you may be uninsured
- admission of liability in situation of any kind of accident
- inability to obtain secondary insurance beyond basic liability, preventing you from leasing or financing new vehicles
- besmirches character - important in situations of politics and public life
- reputation in the community
- if any judgment occurs as a result of the admission of liability it destroys your credit rating
Given the heavy penalties involved you owe it to yourself to seek the best possible representation from an experienced lawyer with a record of defending these types of cases. If you are uncertain about your rights and need to win the case to keep your licence and avoid a criminal record then why not call the Impaired Driving Defence Centre? Our initial consultation is always free and IDDC colleagues can speak with you, promptly.
