- In this article, I will explain whether you can drive in another province if you’ve been given a driving suspension in Ontario because of a DUI conviction.
- We get this question all the time from clients.
- Here is the scenario.
- You’ve been convicted in a criminal court in Ontario of a drinking and driving offence.
- Those drinking and driving offences include a DUI, Over 80, Impaired Driving by Drug or Alcohol, or Refusal to Take a Breathalyser Test.
- On your conviction, the Judge gives you, at minimum, a one-year driving suspension.
- So, clients ask us if they can get around this driving suspension by moving.
- So, if you live in Ontario, can you drive if you move to another province?
- This is the logic our clients use when they ask this question.
- Your driver’s licence is in Ontario.
- Your driver’s licence was issued to you by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.
- And, your driver’s licence was suspended by a Judge in a court in Ontario.
- So, the logic goes that moving to another province would be outside of Ontario, where your driver’s licence was issued and suspended.
- But the answer is no. You cannot drive outside of Ontario. And here’s why.
- You were convicted of a DUI charge under the Criminal Code of Canada.
- The Criminal Code of Canada is federal law that applies to all provinces in Canada.
- And the driving prohibition sentence that results from your DUI charge is federal and is effective all across Canada.
- Bottom line. You can’t drive in Canada because of your driving suspension, even though it was handed down in an Ontario court.
What happens if I receive a DUI suspension in Ontario?
If you receive a DUI suspension in Ontario, your driver's license will be suspended for a certain period of time, as determined by the Ministry of Transportation. During the suspension, you will not be able to legally drive in Ontario or any other province or territory in Canada.
Can I drive in another province if my license is suspended for DUI in Ontario?
No, if your license is suspended for DUI in Ontario, you will not be able to legally drive in any province or territory in Canada. The suspension applies nationwide, and you may face additional penalties and fines if you are caught driving with a suspended license.
