1st DUI Offence in Canada

Driving under the influence (DUI), or impaired driving, offences are among one of the most common offences that the courts currently addresses.  Many of these cases are individuals charged with their first DUI offence.  DUI cases are unique for several reasons, one of which includes immediate roadside sanctions.  For this reason, facing a first DUI offence can be overwhelming.

To ease some of stress of your charges, here are some the basics about 1^st DUI offences and punishments to help you get your defence started.

What is a 1st DUI Offence?

A DUI offence can refer to a number of offences under section 320.14 of Criminal Code, including:

Impaired driving

Operation while impaired

320.14 (1) Everyone commits an offence who

(a) operates a conveyance while the person’s ability to operate it is impaired to any degree by alcohol or a drug or by a combination of alcohol and a drug;

(b) subject to subsection (5), has, within two hours after ceasing to operate a conveyance, a blood alcohol concentration that is equal to or exceeds 80 mg of alcohol in 100 mL of blood;

(c) subject to subsection (6), has, within two hours after ceasing to operate a conveyance, a blood drug concentration that is equal to or exceeds the blood drug concentration for the drug that is prescribed by regulation; or

(d) subject to subsection (7), has, within two hours after ceasing to operate a conveyance, a blood alcohol concentration and a blood drug concentration that is equal to or exceeds the blood alcohol concentration and the blood drug concentration for the drug that are prescribed by regulation for instances where alcohol and that drug are combined.

Impaired driving causing bodily harm

Operation causing bodily harm

(2) Everyone commits an offence who commits an offence under subsection (1) and who, while operating the conveyance, causes bodily harm to another person.

Impaired driving causing death

Operation causing death

(3) Everyone commits an offence who commits an offence under subsection (1) and who, while operating the conveyance, causes the death of another person.

Failure to provide a breath sample

Failure or refusal to comply with demand

320.15 (1) Everyone commits an offence who, knowing that a demand has been made, fails or refuses to comply, without reasonable excuse, with a demand made under section 320.27 or 320.28.

These offences involve the consumption of alcohol, drugs or a combination of the two to the point that an indiviudal’s ability to drive is compromised or over the legal limit.  If an individual is convicted of one of the above offences, the conviction will be considered their 1^st DUI offence.

Penalties for 1st DUI Offence

The mandatory minimum penalties increase for DUI offences if you have previous DUI convictions.  For a first DUI offence, individuals will receive the following:

• Fine: Mandatory minimum fine of $1,000-$2,000 depending on the offence and your blood alcohol concentration (if applicable).
• Licence suspension: While the length of your suspension may vary across the country, every driver will receive a licence suspension for their first DUI offence.
• Vehicle seizure and associated costs: Much like the licence suspension, the length of vehicle seizure and associated costs vary from province to province. Nevertheless, your vehicle will be seized at your expense for a first DUI offence.
• Participation in remedial or educational courses: While some provinces, such as Ontario, do not require drivers to participate in a remedial impaired driving course upon a first DUI conviction, it is mandatory in other areas of the country. Drivers are responsible for all of the costs associated with their program.
• Participation in an Ignition Interlock Device program: Participation in an ignition interlock device program will be mandatory, although the length of your enrollment in the program will vary by province.
• Criminal Record: Conviction of an offence under the Criminal Code will result in a criminal record.

Defences to 1st DUI Offence

There are several defences that can be used to beat your first DUI offence.  While it will ultimately depend on the facts of your case, there are several defences available for impaired driving charges.

Some of the most common defences include:

• Disputing reasonable suspicion
• Demonstrating you were not behind the wheel or in care and control of the vehicle
• Submitting a Charter application

Disputing Reasonable Suspicion

Under section 320.27 of the Criminal Code, a police officer must have reasonable grounds to suspect that the individual is impaired and has been operating a vehicle within the preceding 3 hours. The officer may try to form reasonable suspicion by asking the driver some questions or observing the driver’s behaviour. If the officer has reasonable suspicion, they may demand further tests, such as a breath sample. If the officer did not have reasonable suspicion, there may be grounds to challenge the demand.

Lack of Evidence of You Behind the Wheel or in Care and Control of the Vehicle

The police may come upon a scene of an accident but not witness you behind the wheel of the vehicle. In this situation, the police may not be able to demonstrate that you were driving while impaired unless the police can collect some other evidence, such as statements from witnesses, that you were the driver of the crashed vehicle.

Even if the police cannot demonstrate that you drove while impaired, they might attempt to show that you were under the care and control of the vehicle while impaired. If this is the case, you might demonstrate that there was no realistic risk of danger to the public because the vehicle was inoperable.

Charter Application

Typically, your Charter rights kick in from the moment of your detention.  However, some of your Charter rights are suspended during impaired driving roadstops.  Nevertheless, one or more of the following Charter rights may have been violated:

• Section 8: Right to be secure against unreasonable search and seizure
• Section 9: Right not to be arbitrarily detained
• Section 10(b): Right to counsel
• Section 11(b): Right to be tried within a reasoanble time

Section 10(b): Right to Counsel

In impaired driving cases, immediately upon arrest, the police must inform the individual of their right to counsel and allow them to exercise that right. If the police did any of the following, then you may be able to exclude any evidence that they collected during the course of the transaction:

• Failure to Provide Rights: The police did not inform you of your right to counsel
• Delay in Providing Rights: The police waited too long to inform you of your right to counsel.
• Failure to Provide Opportunity to Exercise Rights: The police did not allow you to contact counsel.
• Delay in Providing Opportunity to Exercise Rights: The police waited too long to allow you to contact counsel.

The police cannot use any statements you make against you at trial before they inform you of your rights. However, they may use your statements to form the reasonable suspicion necessary to demand roadside tests.

Section 11(b): Right to be Tried Within a Reasonable Time

Under section 11(b) of the Charter, any person charged with an offence has a right to be tried within a reasonable time. As a result, a stopwatch starts the moment charges are laid to the actual or anticipated end of the trial. If the entire process exceeds 18 months in provincial courts or 30 months in superior courts, you may be able to assert that your right to trial within a reasonable time has been compromised. If the Crown cannot account for the delays, the Crown will need to stay the charges (not prosecute the matter any further).

FAQs

Can you go to jail for a 1st DUI Offence?

While the likelihood of jail time will depend on a number of factors, jail time is always a possibility, even for a first DUI offence.  Luckily, there is no mandatory minimum jail sentence for a first DUI offence.  There is, however, a maxium term of imprisonment of 10 years.

Can you beat a 1st DUI Offence charge?

In short, yes.  While it will depend on the facts of your case, the best way to beat a 1^st DUI offence is with the help of an experienced lawyer.  A DUI lawyer can devise the best strategy for approaching your case and see it through from beginning to end.

An experienced DUI lawyer has knowledge of the local police service and Crown prosecutors.  As a result, a DUI lawyer can assist in negotiating your case with the Crown and possibly secure a plea bargain to a lesser charge or get the charges dropped altogether.

To learn more about how we can beat your 1^st DUI offence, Book A Free Consultation today.

What is the most common sentence for a first DUI?

Every DUI case is unique and your sentence will depend on a variety of factors.  Under section 320.22 of the Criminal Code there are several aggravating factors to be considered in sentencing.  The presence of any of the following factors may make harsher punishment more likely:

Aggravating circumstances for sentencing purposes

320.22 A court imposing a sentence for an offence under any of sections 320.13 to 320.18 shall consider, in addition to any other aggravating circumstances, the following:

(a) the commission of the offence resulted in bodily harm to, or the death of, more than one person;

(b) the offender was operating a motor vehicle in a race with at least one other motor vehicle or in a contest of speed, on a street, road or highway or in another public place;

(c) a person under the age of 16 years was a passenger in the conveyance operated by the offender;

(d) the offender was being remunerated for operating the conveyance;

(e) the offender’s blood alcohol concentration at the time of committing the offence was equal to or exceeded 120 mg of alcohol in 100 mL of blood;

(f) the offender was operating a large motor vehicle; and

(g) the offender was not permitted, under a federal or provincial Act, to operate the conveyance.

How likely is jail time for a first DUI?

While your sentence will ultimately depend on the facts of your case, first-time DUI offenders do not tend to serve jail time. Jail time will be particularly less likely in the following circumstances:

• If no one else was injured;
• You show remorse;
• You are a pro-social member of the community;
• You voluntarily attend counselling; and/or
• You plead guilty