- It’s common to see driving records with DUI convictions that are more than 20 years old.
- What’s going on here?
- That’s what I’m going to cover in this video.
- I’m Dan Joffe, DUI lawyer at NextLaw. On our YouTube channel, we discuss all things related to DUI charges. Please give this video a thumbs up and subscribe for more content like this.
- Let’s get started
DUI Basics
- Let’s start with the basics.
- A DUI is a criminal offence when you operate a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
- A DUI conviction carries serious consequences, including fines, a mandatory driving suspension, and in some cases, jail time.
- Your DUI conviction is recorded on your criminal record and stored in an RCMP database.
- But what about your driving record?
- How long does a DUI stay on there?
Criminal Record vs Driving Record
- Before we get into that, it’s important to understand the difference between your criminal record and your driving record.
- A criminal record is a record of your criminal history, while your driving record is a record of your driving history, including any traffic violations and accidents.
- A DUI conviction will appear on both your criminal and driving records.
DUI, How Long On Your Driving Record?
- But how long with your DUI stay on your driving record?
- Here’s where there is a lot of misinformation.
- Your DUI does NOT get removed from your driving record after a certain period of time.
- Practically your DUI on your driving record will stay there for the rest of your life unless you take action.
How remove DUI from your driving record?
- To remove your DUI from your driving record, you need to address your criminal record.
- Specifically, you need to get a Record Suspension in Canada, which was previously called a Pardon.
- A DUI Pardon is granted by the Parole Board of Canada.
- You are eligible to get a DUI Pardon after a waiting period of 3, 5 or 10 years, depending on the details of your DUI conviction.
- When you get a DUI Pardon, the Parole Board of Canada will direct the RCMP to remove your criminal record from the criminal records database managed by the RCMP.
- And here’s the key point.
- When someone queries your driving record from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario database, your DUI conviction will be hidden.
- In other words, your DUI conviction will be gone from your driving record because of your DUI Pardon.
How long does a DUI stay on your driving record in Canada?
A DUI conviction in Canada stays on your driving record for the rest of your life unless you take action. It's a common misconception that it gets removed after a certain period of time, but this is not the case. However, you can get a DUI Pardon from the Parole Board of Canada after a waiting period of 3, 5, or 10 years, depending on the details of your DUI conviction. With a DUI Pardon, your criminal record is removed from the criminal records database managed by the RCMP. As a result, your DUI conviction will be hidden when someone queries your driving record from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario database.
What's the difference between a criminal record and a driving record, and how are they related to a DUI conviction?
A criminal record is a record of your criminal history, while a driving record is a record of your driving history, including any traffic violations and accidents. A DUI conviction will appear on both your criminal and driving records. In Canada, a DUI conviction stays on your driving record for life, unless you take action to get a DUI Pardon from the Parole Board of Canada. With a DUI Pardon, your criminal record is removed from the criminal records database managed by the RCMP, and your DUI conviction will be hidden when someone queries your driving record from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario database.
