The consequences of a drinking and driving conviction will most likely be devastating to you and your family. You will have a criminal record, lose your driver’s licence, be fined, and you could go to jail. You will also experience a massive hike in your car insurance rates, assuming your insurance company is willing to insure you at all.

Individuals charged with Impaired Driving are often hard working, good people who have never been in trouble with the law before. Do not let this one incident burden you with a criminal record and loss of licence without putting up a fight. Impaired driving law is constantly evolving so to give yourself the best chance of beating this, you have to find yourself a lawyer with extensive knowledge in this area who is up on the latest developments in the law. Believe it or not, the section of the Criminal Code devoted to drinking and driving is significantly longer that the section on homicide.

For a first time drinking and driving conviction, the minimum penalties are as follows:

• A one year driving prohibition anywhere in Canada under the Criminal Code
• A concurrent one year suspension in Ontario of your driver’s licence imposed by the Ministry of Transportation
• A $1000 fine (plus a victim-fine surcharge/tax)
• A criminal record (you cannot get a discharge if you are found guilty of this offence)
• For a full year after your licence is reinstated you will only be permitted to drive in a vehicle that is equipped with an ignition interlock device (you must pay for installation and a monthly rental fee)
• You will be required to take a remedial measures program delivered by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in order to get your licence back

See also: What if I have Prior Convictions? and What will Happen to my Insurance?