How long does a DUI stay on your record?

• How long does a DUI stay on your record?
• Specifically, what is the duration and impact of a DUI conviction on your criminal record and driving record, and how do insurance companies price your premium payments?
• That’s what I’m going to cover in this blog.

DUI and Multiple Criminal Records

• Our first focus is on your criminal record, specifically regarding multiple DUI convictions. 
• Any DUI conviction, including Over 80, Impaired Driving, Care and Control, and Refusal to Take a Breath Test, is a lifetime entry on your criminal record.
• This is important to understand because future DUI convictions will lead to significantly harsher penalties under the Criminal Code of Canada. 
• For instance, a third conviction will result in a lifetime driving suspension. 
• There is, however, some discretion that the Crown does have regarding subsequent convictions and escalated penalties.
• After five years, the Crown might opt not to consider a prior conviction, potentially sparing you from a mandatory 30-day jail sentence. Understanding this can be key in your defence strategy.

DUI and Life Barriers

• Next, let’s look at how a DUI conviction creates barriers in your life.
• A DUI conviction is a lifetime entry on your criminal record. This may impede your employment, volunteering, citizenship prospects and potentially international travel.
• However, there is a pathway to remove these barriers, which would be to get a Pardon, now called a Record Suspension, from the Parole Board of Canada.
• Eligibility timing depends on your offence date. You may need to wait three, five or ten years after the completion of your sentence.
• Once granted, the Pardon will remove your criminal record from the criminal records database, removing the burdens associated with your criminal record.

DUI and Provincial Driving Record

• Now, let’s take you through the impact of DUI on your provincial driving record.  
• Each province will have its own rules.
• In Ontario, for example, a DUI stays on your driving record for ten years.
• If you’re convicted of a second DUI within this period, it escalates the penalties from the Ministry of Transportation. After this 10-year period, while the initial DUI conviction remains visible on your record, it won’t actively contribute to increased penalties for any new DUI convictions.  
• In other words, a second DUI conviction after this 10-year period would be considered a first DUI conviction.

DUI Impact on Driving Insurance

• Finally, let me cover the impact of a DUI conviction on driving insurance premiums.
• A DUI conviction will last for six years in the context of insurance company premiums.
• This will lead to significantly higher rates and cost you thousands of dollars.
• This impact is especially pronounced for younger drivers, and in some cases, it might even result in the inability to get driving insurance.