Drinking and driving is a fatal combination not for the impaired driver, but also innocent bystanders. In Ontario, every year innocent pedestrians and vehicle passengers are injured or killed by impaired drivers. Impaired driving means driving a vehicle when your ability is impaired by alcohol or drugs. In Ontario, drinking and driving is a serious crime with serious consequences.
Even just one alcoholic beverage can affect your ability to concentrate when driving, anticipate potentially hazardous conditions when driving, and react properly to a dangerous situation. The more alcohol you consume, the less judgment you have when you drive. Alcohol can also affect your vision as your sight can become blurry and make you sensitive to brightness. As well, the higher your blood alcohol level, the more severe the consequences.
In Ontario, police have the power to stop drivers at random to determine whether to perform an alcohol test, and suspend your driver's license at roadside for measuring 0.05 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or more on a breath test. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in a person's body, measured by the amount of alcohol in blood. BAC is used to measure the level of impairment. 0.05 means there are 50 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood.
The financial costs of being found guilty of impaired driving are severe. For instance, drivers who have their licenses suspended at roadside for registering a BAC from 0.05 to 0.08 or registering a BAC sample over 0.08 are subject to a $150 Administrative Monetary Other serious financial costs include:
Legal and Court Costs - $2,000 - $10,000
Criminal Code Fine - $1000
Alcohol Education and Treatment Program - $578
Administrative Monetary Penalty - $150
Increased Insurance (estimate: $4,500 extra per year for 3 years) - $13,500
Ignition Interlock - $1,300
TOTAL MINIMUM COST - $18,128
Other potential costs include property damage, loss of employment income and uninsured medical costs as well as potential lawsuits by victims or their family members. Individuals who are convicted of driving while their license is suspended for a Criminal Code conviction face high fines under the Highway Traffic Act that include: $5,000 - $25,000 for a first conviction and $10,000 - $50,000 for subsequent convictions. To avoid such high financial penalties, all that you have to do is refrain from drinking and driving. However, if you do drive while impaired at are caught and charged, it would be wise to consult with an attorney that specializes in impaired driving cases to discuss your options and if there are any issues that may make it wise to fight the criminal charge. An attorney who specializes in impaired driving cases has the expertise and knowledge about this area of the law which includes various aspects of charges that may not be reliable such as breathalyzer equipment. Before you plead guilty, it is essential to seek the advice of an attorney in case there were errors that may reduce the charges or even result in a dismissal.
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Getting traffic tickets in Ottawa and traffic tickets Hamilton on your driving record might lead to serious consequences. Contact the team to help fight these impaired driving in Ottawa cases. X-Copper Legal Services Professional Corporation 939 Eglinton Ave East, Toronto, ON M4G 4E8 (416) 696-6677
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