There are a couple of charges that qualify as a driving offence, commonly called DUI (driving under the influence) and a lawyer who works on such cases is often called DUI lawyer. These include Impaired Driving, Over 80, failure or refusal to perform physical sobriety tests or give breath or blood samples. This also includes Impaired Driving charges connected to driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.This is noteworthy because as Canada moves to legalize marijuana, it will implement new changes to existing DUI laws. Marijuana consumption trends are changing, and with it the way in which people interact with and interpret the law.

Drunk Driving vs High Driving

Drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs is a crime, but what defines a DUI (Driving under the influence) or DWI (Driving while intoxicated)? The infographic bellow explains what is considered illegal in both Canada and the USA, and what are the differences.

While major policies are being discussed, Canada can look at how states such as Alaska, Colorado, Washington, Washington DC, and Oregon are implementing their existing laws and regulations on impaired driving. Can Canadian and US driving laws serve as a Canada’s marijuana manual on creating laws for drug-impaired driving? If the information and trends in the above infographic are anything to go by, we can very well see Canada constructing a similar legal framework in the near future.

Measuring alcohol levels and drug usage

Both Canada and the US drivers first have to take a breathalyzer test, which can determine level of alcohol in a person’s system.

By passing the breathalyzer test in the US, the driver also has to place an absorbent swab in their mouth and chew on it or touch it on their tongue. In some states (Colorado, California etc.) if an officer pulls over a driver suspected of driving under the influence of marijuana, the driver must take a sobriety test (“horizontal gaze nystagmus test”, “walk and turn test”, “one-leg stand”). The officer orders the driver to provide a blood, breath, or urine test. Also, police officers are using saliva drug test which can detect THC, meth, methadone, cocaine, and several other prescription medications.

In Canada, Police are currently testing roadside oral fluid drug screening devices. If suspected, drivers has to undergo a Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST).

When can you be charged with DUI?

There are 1,000 out of 50,000 DUI charges in Canada laid for driving under the influence of drugs each year. 50,000 people are arrested for drunk driving every year. Currently, you can be charged with a DUI if you were in control of a vehicle, even if you weren’t driving it. You can get DUI charge by either having a blood alcohol concentration at or over 0.080%, or by showing signs of impairment. In the USA, about 1,000,000 people get charges for drunk driving. Similar to Canadian laws, you become a DUI offender and can get a DUI charge if your blood alcohol level is above 0.08%.

What are the penalties for impaired driving?

For drunk driving in Canada, penalties range from monetary fines to jail (A $1000 fine + 12-month driving prohibition to 120 days in jail + 36-month driving prohibition) depending on whether there are previous sentences, but your license is often suspended. However, you can reclaim it under certain conditions. If you harmed a person physically, maximum jail sentence is 10 years. If you killed a person, maximum sentence is life in prison.

Meanwhile in the USA, the penalties for a DUI, DWI and OWI (operating while intoxicated) vary by state and jurisdiction. For a first or second offence, the penalties include: fines up to $5,000, loss of (or serious restrictions on) one’s driver’s license for 3-6 months possible jail time. As for drug-impaired driving, in Colorado the first conviction penalties are 9 month license suspension, 5 days to 1 year in jail, 48-96 hours of public service and fine up to $1000.

How to defend against DUI charges?

You can defend against DUI charges or withdraw them with help of an experienced DUI lawyer, a criminal lawyer who is familiar with police procedures and providing evidence against allegations. Call us now at 416-735-9091 to find out where you stand on any and all possible driving offence charges you may be facing.

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