How Long Does a DUI Stay on Your Driving Record in Canada?

Charged with DUI? Well, they are pretty serious in Canada and can get you a criminal history and affect your driving licence. However, the good news is you can still rectify your mistakes, even after committing one through a DUI pardon.

In the following discussion, we will talk about how long a DUI stays on your driving record and how to get a pardon and remove it from your record.

But, before jumping to the details, let’s begin with the basic understanding:

In simple terms, DUI refers to driving under the influence. So, if you hear anyone being accused of DUI charges, it will mean that s/he has been caught by the police in a state of intoxication while driving the vehicle.

It is a criminal offence in Canada and has several punishments associated with the violation. For instance, a criminal record will automatically be added to your driving licence whenever you get caught committing this offence. This, in turn, impacts your driving record.

Let’s find out how this DUI can have an impact on your driving and criminal record:

In the majority of states in Canada, DUI is considered a crime. A misdemeanour is the first DUI conviction in Canada, whereas the third DUI offence is a felony.

Therefore, with the third DUI, a criminal record will appear with your name anywhere you go. And for the outcomes, it is far more important than you think. It may restrict your civil liberties, and you may be charged with serious offences if the cops detain you.

On the contrary, you can potentially lose your legal rights to use a firearm and work; in the worst scenario, you can even lose child custody. So, think of the consequences before committing this act, even for once. Better if you discuss it with a DUI lawyer.

Based on the state’s law, DUI convictions can impact a driver’s record, resulting in the suspension of the driving licence. However, no need to stress out as the driver’s licence is returnable, and you can obtain it after a certain amount of time, following some rules.

However, the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) will still have the record. Therefore, it can make things pretty difficult, especially if you are looking for a job as a driver. Besides, the price of your auto insurance could drastically increase. At the very least, there is always the option of being questioned by police officers.

As mentioned above, DUI charges can ideally land you with a criminal record and affect your driving licence. Similarly, it can play quite an impact on your car insurance policy.

Many insurance companies will even remove your name from their client’s listings. Why should they serve you when you have no driving or license or have a criminal record under your name? So, they will try to get rid of you.

Well, that’s not all!

When you try to renew the insurance policy, you will be bombarded with several problems, skyrocketing your premium rates.

However, the amount will vary from person to person based on several factors. For instance, if it was your first DUI offence, you can settle for a lower price. The insurance provider will certainly evaluate the potential hazards associated with it. You can benefit from lowering the rates if you have a clear driving history.

As every state has a different protocol to maintain, some may require additional requirements you must adhere to while renewing the car insurance.

Currently, there is 3 liability coverage that you must follow:

• Bodily injury liability per person: You need to cover all the medical expenses for the injuries caused by your negligence.
• Bodily injury liability per incident: Includes coverage for accident-related medical costs.
• Property damage liability: Offers protection against the cost of repairing any damages to the property.

In the worst scenario, a DUI can stay on your driving record for as long as 80 years or until death, depending on the charges. That’s not all!!

A DUI can also take away several civil rights of yours, from losing your dream job to taking away child custody. However, you can apply for a pardon to avoid facing such severe punishments in the future.

A DUI pardon is an appeal sent to the parole board of Canada to clear your criminal record against your name. So, you can regain all your civil rights and privileges like before.

So, how does it work? There are two situations of a DUI pardon that you need to understand:

• In case you are not charged, you can apply for clearing DUI omission from any of your records.
• And if you are charged with DUI, you must apply for the removal from your record.

The entire procedure can cost you about $625, with an additional expense of $631 to pay the Receiver General. After the successful completion of the process, your pardon will be granted.

Typically, it takes about five years to get a pardon, counting from the date of application. However, the time can vary from case to case, depending on several factors. We recommend you consult a lawyer in this case.

Hopefully, you have no more queries regarding how a DUI stays on your driving record. The answer is pretty simple: it will stay with you forever unless you get it removed by getting a pardon.

In summary, driving under the influence is a severe criminal offence by Canadian law, with serious repercussions. The real problem starts when any higher authorities run background checks on your record. Upon finding evidence, it can ultimately affect your employment, legal rights, immigration, and the list goes on.

Therefore, if you face any similar issues, take legal support as soon as possible. From doing all the paperwork to ensuring the pardon process goes smoothly, a lawyer can be your saviour.

Does a DUI Show on a Background Check in Canada?

Yes, they do. If you are found guilty of DUI charges, a background check will reveal everything, with access to various employers, insurance companies, immigration officials, etc.

There are no such rules for not being able to apply for a Canadian passport owing to a DUI conviction. However, certain things are taken into account. Such as, if your charges are extremely serious, it may lower the chances of obtaining a Canadian passport.

Although DUI charges can affect several aspects of your life, it’s quite uncommon to affect your credit score anyway. However, you should apply for a pardon as soon as you are convicted of a DUI case.

DUI charges are quite severe that can ideally get you a criminal record along with a suspension of your driving licence. All of these get shown up if any authority runs a background check. So, to ensure these things don’t affect your life, apply for a DUI pardon with the support of your lawyer. Otherwise, it will keep haunting you for the rest of your lives.

The first DUI is deemed a misdemeanour that tends to bring minor alterations to your driving routine. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be afraid anymore to commit this offence. As with each DUI, it will create a bad reputation and list your name with a criminal record.