Whenever a person is arrested for drunk driving and charged with a drinking and driving offence for the first time, he/she may be overwhelmed by all the numerous court proceeding involved. The whole process is quite frightening and may create confusion.
Ontario and Newmarket have some of the toughest DUI laws in the whole country, and the penalties can be very stiff. Even if you are in the “warn range”, you can still face penalties although not as harsh as those handed out for Over 80mg offences.
DUI or driving under the influence means operating a vehicle which may include cars, trucks, snowmobiles, boats and off the road vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. DUI is a serious offence and a crime in Newmarket, Ontario and has some very severe consequences as well as the imposition of penalties.
Penalties for drunk driving depend on the number of times a DUI arrest has been given to the accused and they keep on getting stiffer and tougher as the number of offences increases. The penalties are as follows:
First Instance:
- Mandatory education or treatment program
- License suspension for one year
- Monetary fine
- One year minimum requirement to drive a car with ignition interlock device
Second instance:
- Mandatory education or treatment program
- License suspension for three years
- Fine amount at the judge’s discretion
- 30-day minimum jail sentence
- 3-year minimum requirement to drive a car with an ignition interlock device
Third instance:
- Mandatory education or treatment program
- Permanent license suspension
- Fine amount at the judge’s discretion
- 120-days minimum jail sentence
- Variable interlock periods depending upon sequence of previous convictions
Although your chances may seem bleak the first time you face a DUI arrest in Newmarket, Ontario you must always remember that unless and until you are proven guilty you are presumed to be innocent.
The main bases on which a person is arrested for DUI is mainly due to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08. If you were caught drunk driving and arrested for DUI for a level of blood alcohol concentration that is above 0.08 then you will require the toughest defence since this is considered a criminal offence. You will also be subjected to stringent penalties. However, if you were tested close to the limit but not over, then you will face some lesser penalties for being in the “warn range”.
Drivers who are caught drunk driving are usually charged with two offences: impaired driving and driving over 80. If convicted the punishment remains the same in both the cases. Penalties being substantial include; loss of driver’s license, a fine, a possible jail time and a criminal record.
Being charged with a criminal offence is a serious issue and may put your future at risk. Getting convicted with a criminal offence is the last thing you want and that’s the reason why it is advisable to hire a reliable and experienced lawyer. If you find yourself asking the question “I got a DUI what’s next?” then hiring the services of a Newmarket DUI lawyer is the answer. Our team of educted DUI attorneys will assure you the following results:
- Reliable and professional opinion and advice from highly skilled lawyers who have many years of experience
- Appointment flexibility and convenient working hours
- Reasonable fees with no hidden costs
Feel free to contact our team of Newmarket DUI Lawyers; we have the necessary expertise to deal with matters related to a DUI arrest and we have proven to be successful at preventing our clients from facing any unjustified convictions.
