Impaired driving in Canada face severe penalties and they are enforced to the maximum. Numbers from show that 1,278 alcohol related deaths occurred in 2006 and that 300,000 more alcohol related car wreaks were reported. The majority of these car crashes involved property damage to those other than the driver.

Drivers operating motorized vehicles are not just charged if the vehicle is moving; they can also be cited if the car is turned off and they are in it. Officers observe the driving patterns, speech and balance of motorists to determine if they have been drinking. If it is determined from the observations that they have been a blood test is performed to confirm these suspicions.

Canadian law has an increasing penalty scale for DUI offenders. First time arrests normally result in just a fine. Second and third time arrests include increased fines and jail time. In all cases the driver\’s license of the person charged is taken until the courts decided to reinstate it.

The Tackling Violent Crime Act of 2008 states that officers have the ability to take fluid samples if they believe a person to be under the influence. These samples are taken when an officer has performed the basic field tests and used to confirm the results. It is now a criminal offense to refuse the giving of fluid samples.

Initial fines when charged range from 600 to 1,000. Second and third time offenders face between 14 to 120 days in prison. All offenders loose their driver\’s licenses for up to three years. The courts determine the amount of the fines for second and third strikes and they vary depending on the situation.

Anyone with a criminal record is prevented from entering Canada in accordance with their immigration law. All criminal convictions fall into this category including DUI. The felony status of a DUI conviction will prevent offenders from entering that country in most cases, but there is specialized entrance allowed on rare occasions.

Applying for specialized entrance requires a few steps. There is a waiver of exclusion that is available through the main embassy in Washington, D. C. For those who cannot obtain the waiver from the embassy there are consulate offices across the United States that have them as well. After filing the paperwork there is a wait time of a couple of weeks, just like when applying for a passport.

The events of September 11, 2011 increased security at the border between the United States and Canada. The two countries have an agreement in regards to border security. Providing false information to border security will result in being banned from entering Canada for years.

With the ramifications being so high, drivers must really take into serious consideration if driving while under the influence is worth it or not. Driving under the influence will result in a criminal record and the loss of driving privileges. The right to travel between the two countries is forfeited as well.

The small amount of time that it takes in deciding to drive drunk can change your life forever. A conviction can change someones relationship with friends and family. It will also affect ones ability to find gainful employment. Being charged with impaired driving is a life altering situation and can change a person\’s life forever.

Author Bio: Getting traffic tickets in Ottawa on your driving record might lead to serious consequences. Contact the team of criminal lawyer Toronto to help fight these impaired driving in Ottawa legal cases. X-Copper Legal Services Professional Corporation 939 Eglinton Ave East, Toronto, ON M4G 4E8 (416) 696-6677

Category: Automotive
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