A conviction for driving while intoxicated (DUI) is a massive hassle for anyone. For instance, finding employment or renting an apartment will be difficult.
Given that, even though driving while intoxicated is a serious offence, should it affect you for the rest of your life? Good news is—you can put the trouble behind with the help of a DUI lawyer.
This article answered how long it takes to get a DUI pardon in Canada, along with other details. Before that, let’s first know about the DUI process and its impacts.
DUI process
In Canada, it is illegal to drive while intoxicated. A DUI conviction is always the result in charges. So it’s generally a waste of time to try to get a guilty verdict overturned.
Moreover, the accused party’s testimony is frequently rejected by courts. Thus, the person’s credibility is pretty low, considering that they were deemed impaired at the time of their arrest.
Impacts of getting a DUI in file Canada
DUI can have far-reaching consequences that go beyond the immediate penalty of one year without a license or a $1,000 fine that could negatively impact your life.
For instance, background checks will reveal any criminal convictions in Canada, including DUIs. This will impede your ability to apply for jobs, housing, loans, and other things. Again, your DUI will be visible to anyone who wants to research your background.
What’s worse is that you don’t need to be convicted to be impacted because it is easy to view an arrest history.
Even though this situation doesn’t have the same negative consequences as getting convicted, it’s still concerning.
Remember that the majority of minor traffic violations do not appear on a criminal record. Also, common driving problems like speeding, parking fines, and so forth are not a problem.
How to get a DUI pardon?
Similar to the majority of charges, getting a pardon and having the charge dismissed from your record will require the assistance of a pardon and waiver service.
Three requirements must be satisfied before applying for a pardon and waiver service.
- You must have finished your sentence as the first prerequisite. This entails paying fines or surcharges and finishing any unfinished probationary or parole terms.
- The second requirement is to wait five years after you’ve finished your sentence and paid your fines, as was previously mentioned.
- The third requirement is that you have maintained a clean record and haven’t committed any new offences or convictions.
There will be a better chance for you to receive a pardon and have the DUI removed from your record if you fulfill all of these requirements.
How long to get a DUI pardon?
You must wait five years after paying the fines associated with a DUI before applying for a pardon. In Canada, DUIs are classified as summary offences (lesser offences).
For this reason, you should pay your fines as soon as possible. With that, you can shorten the time it takes to get a pardon.
Note that it will take between 12 and 20 months to prepare all the paperwork. That’s why you should begin collecting the required documents earlier than the end of the five-year period.
Also, know that—there is no set period of time after you properly complete paperwork and submit that indicates when you will actually receive a DUI pardon.
Regarding that, a DUI pardon can take anywhere from 9 to 18 months on average. However, some cases can be resolved in as little as 6 months.
How does a record suspension work?
Suppose you have served in jail for a criminal offence and shown that you are a law-abiding citizen. In that case, you will be granted a pardon or record suspension. And your criminal record will be kept separate from other criminal records.
What is the penalty for a DUI conviction in Canada?
The first offence will probably result in a one-year license suspension. Additionally, you’ll be charged a $1,000 fine.
The second offence carries harsher punishments. A two-year license suspension will be implemented. You’ll receive a sentence of up to 30 days in jail rather than a fine.
The third offence carries even harsher penalties. You could be detained here for up to 120 days. Additionally, your license will be cancelled for three years.
Final remarks
Even if you haven’t faced any difficulties due to your criminal history, there’s a good chance you will in the future. That’s why it is best to have your record cleared as soon as possible. Besides, you want to live your life without constraints.
