Impaired Driving:  Is it Worth It?

“Cabs are so expensive!”
“I don’t like being the designated driver”
“I can’t call my friend to pick me up, it’s so late!”

THINK AGAIN.

Here’s what happens when you are convicted of impaired driving (either alcohol or drugs) for the first time…

1. You will be convicted of the crime of impaired driving

• this means you will have a criminal record.  Good luck crossing the border or visiting any other country.  You may have trouble getting a job that requires a clean record.

2. You will lose your licence for one year—this includes not just your car but your boat, snowmobile or ATV!

• this means you will have to find a different way to get to work, to run errands, to get to appointments, etc.  It means relying on friends and family to drive you to different places or taking a cab, riding a bike, or taking public transit.  Any way you look at it, it will cost you time and money.  And if you choose to drive with a suspended licence, and you get caught, your car will be impounded and you could face fines of $5,000 to $50,000.

3. You will have to pay a Criminal Code Fine, take the Back on Track program and retain the services of a lawyer.

• this means you will be parting with a significant amount of your hard earned money because you didn’t want to pay for a cab!

4. You will have to tell your insurance company.

• this means you will be parting with even more of your hard earned money!

5. You will have to pay to get your licence reinstated after your one year suspension and then get an Ignition Interlock system installed in your car in year 2.

• this means more money spent for licence reinstatement and the installation and maintenance of an interlock device.

 

Here’s a summary of the financial costs:

• Criminal Code Fine                               $1,000
• Remedial Measures Program                      607
• Licence reinstatement fee                         150
• Increase in insurance costs                     15,000
• Ignition Interlock                                    1,500
• Court costs                               2,000 – 10,000

                                  TOTAL   20,257 – 28,257*

*This total does not include the costs of alternate transportation (e.g., cab, transit) for the year.

If the $20,000-30,000 doesn’t scare you, then think about the embarrassment and huge inconvenience that you will experience.  And if you have a family, they will suffer too.

 

 “Being convicted of impaired driving is so expensive!”
“I don’t like having to rely on others to get around”
“I have to call my friend to drive me to work…again!”

 

Please don’t drive impaired!

If you’d like to know what the penalties are for second and third offences, please visit OCCID