• Drunk driving is a serious crime in Canada.martini and keys image by William Berry from Fotolia.com
  
  As in the United States, drunken driving in Canada carries with it certain penalties for violators. Some individuals, though, ignore these laws. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada, an estimated 1,278 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in Canada in 2006. Approximately 75,000 more individuals were injured in alcohol-related car crashes in Canada that same year, and another 216,480 vehicles were involved in alcohol-related crashes that resulted in property damage.
  
  

Drunk Driving Law

• In Canada, it is illegal to operate a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs. The law is enforceable even if the vehicle is not in motion. The law allows for drunk driving charges when the driver of the vehicle is clearly impaired or when the vehicle operator is determined to have more than 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. The determination of impairment is made via evidence of poor driving and observed conditions that include slurred speech, difficulty standing, walking and balancing, red glassy eyes, dilated pupils, presence of the odor of alcohol, a flushed complexion and poor performance on physical tests. A blood alcohol test is used to determine the amount of alcohol in a driver's bloodstream.
  
  

Drunk Driving Penalties

• The first offense for drunken driving in Canada carries with it only a fine. Additional offenses result in jail time. Along with these penalties, local provinces suspend the driver's license, making it illegal for that person to operate a vehicle until the suspension is lifted. On July 2, 2008, new Canadian laws took effect. The Tackling Violent Crime Act allows for roadside sobriety tests administered by peace officers, who are allowed to take samples of body fluids from motorists who appear to be impaired by drugs or alcohol. The new laws also made it a criminal offense to refuse to take field sobriety tests or provide body fluid samples. The new law also increased the fine for first-time offenders form $600 to $1,000 and increased the minimum penalty for a second offense from 14 days to 30 days in jail. The third offense was increased from 90 days in jail to 120 days.
  
  

Exclusion Law

• According to the U.S. consulate in Canada, anyone with a criminal record can be denied entrance into Canada under the Immigration Act. This law includes those individuals whose criminal records include only a conviction for drunken driving in the United States or elsewhere. In Canada, a DUI is a serious offense. It is deemed a felony. Ultimately, the decision regarding whether to allow someone with a DUI conviction into Canada is made by the Customs and Immigration officers. Under certain circumstances, though, Canada does let individuals with a DUI conviction into the country. To gain access, the person must file a request for a waiver of exclusion with the Canadian embassy in Washington, D.C. or with one of 20 Canadian consulate offices spread across the United States. Processing requires several weeks, and the individual must pay a processing fee.