Caught Driving Impaired? It'll cost you $23,000 says report

By: Deutschmann Personal Injury & Disability Law (Lawyers) | Published 12/10/2018

Impaired driving is an expensive charge. It will cost you financially, emotionally, personally and can impact your career and travel plans.

Arrivealive.org recently released a study on the costs of impaired driving. The numbers are staggering. Consider that you are going to a party, and you don’t want to spend $20 or even $80 to take a cab or Uber home. Here are the numbers of what the charge will cost the first time convicted impaired driver (they are even higher for subsequently charged individuals).

Criminal Code Fine – $1000 Payable to the Government of Canada
Remedial Measures Program – $578 Payable to Back on Track + GST
Licence Reinstatement Fee – $150 Payable to the Ministry of Finance + GST
Increase in Insurance Costs – $18,000 Payable to your insurance company in $6,000 increments each of the next 3 years. This is the minimum increase based on a perfect 6-star driving record
Ignition Interlock – $1,350 +installation. Pay to interlock provider
Court Costs – $2,000 – $10,000 Payable to your legal counsel
TOTAL – $23,078 (minimum) to $31,078 (could be more)
Immediate consequences for drivers in Ontario caught with a BAC of over .08 or who refuse to provide a breath sample include an immediate administrative 90-day licence suspension and seven day vehicle impoundment.
Minimum consequences for drivers convicted of: impaired driving, operating a vehicle with a BAC of over .08, or refusing to provide a breath sample are:
One-year driver licence suspension (reducible to three months under certain circumstances)
One-year ignition interlock condition upon reinstatement (up to three years for repeat offenders)
Back on Track program (alcohol assessment and education)
Minimum fine paid as part of federal consequences
Licence reinstatement fee
Increased insurance premiums ($6,000 annually for minimum three years)
Legal costs (if retained; paid to your own legal counsel)
Criminal Record
Since 2009 consequences for drivers in the warn range (.05 to .08) have increased and now include: immediate suspensions of 3, 7 and 30 days; education and treatment for alcohol use; and six month ignition interlock licence restrictions. The increased sanctions are for “repeat offenders”.