Should You Plead Guilty to Your Impaired Driving Charge?
Many Canadians charged with impaired driving are under the false belief that pleading guilty is their only option. Some believe that the law is stacked against them and that hiring a DUI defence lawyer is a lost cause. But if you plead guilty to impaired driving, you will not only lose your drivers licence but you will also receive a criminal record which could haunt you for the rest of your life.
Are you considering pleading guilty to a DUI charge? Read our article below and see what ramifications this might have on you and your life.
Cutting Career Options
If you are a young adult, having a DUI conviction on your criminal record could make you ineligible for your chosen career. Do you want to become a real estate agent, financial advisor, teacher, government employee or police officer? With a DUI conviction on your record, you might find that your dreams suddenly become unattainable. Certain industries and professions have a strict code of conduct which allow no room for an impaired driving charge. For example, you may see severe consequences for an impaired driving conviction under the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, the Ontario College of Teachers Act, the Veterinarians Act, the Surveyors Acts, the Engineers Act, the Health Professionals Act, and many more.
License Suspension
Along with a conviction will come the inevitable drivers license suspension. For a first conviction, your drivers licence will be suspended for one year under the Highway Traffic Act. For a second conviction, it will be suspended for three years and for a third conviction, it will be suspended for life. For many people, this can cause devastating results on their career and social lives. This is especially true for those who live in rural areas where public transit is minimal or nonexistent.
Moreover, if you are caught driving while prohibited, the consequences are very severe as it can result in you receiving a jail sentence and additional convictions on your criminal record
Increased Second Offense Charges
If you already have one or more DUI convictions on your criminal record and you and are charged again, you will find yourself in a very serious situation. This is because a second DUI conviction comes with in a mandatory jail sentence of at least 30 days plus a 3-year license suspension under the Highway Traffic Act and a third conviction comes with a mandatory jail sentence of at least 120 days plus a drivers licence suspension for life.
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