What counts as impaired driving
Impaired driving means operating a vehicle (including cars, trucks, boats, snowmobiles and off-road vehicles) while your ability to do so has been compromised to any degree by consuming alcohol, drugs or a combination of the two.
Fully Licensed Drivers
If police determine that you are driving while impaired by any drug, including illegal drugs, cannabis, prescription and over-the-counter medications, you will face severe consequences and criminal charges.
Penalties for impaired driving
If police determine that you are driving while impaired you will face penalties immediately. You will also face additional consequences later if you are convicted in court. The penalties you face can vary depending on your age, licence type, the amount of alcohol or drugs in your system, and how many times you have been convicted.
Immediate Penalties
Penalties for a BAC in the Warn Range, Failing a Standardized Field Sobriety Test or Violating Zero Tolerance
If your blood alcohol concentration is 0.05 or higher, you fail a roadside sobriety test or you violate the zero tolerance requirements for young, novice and commercial drivers that begin on July 1, you will face:
First offence
3-day licence suspension. This cannot be appealed.
$250 penalty
Penalties for a BAC Over the Legal Limit, Refuse Testing or Impairment
If you refuse to take a drug or alcohol test, you register a BAC over 0.08 or if a drug recognition evaluator determines that you are impaired, you will face:
90-day licence suspension
7-day vehicle impoundment
$550 penalty
$281 licence reinstatement fee
You must attend a mandatory education or treatment program (for second and subsequent occurrences within 10 years)
You will be required to use an ignition interlock device for at least 6 months (for third and subsequent occurrences within 10 years)
Additional Penalties if Convicted in Court
If you are a young or novice driver convicted in court for violating the zero tolerance requirements for drugs and/or alcohol, your driver's licence will be suspended again for at least 30 days and you will receive an additional $60-$500 fine.
No matter what age or licence you have, if you are convicted criminally of impaired driving in court, you can face additional fines and jail time, plus:
First offence
Licence suspension of at least 1 year
You must attend a mandatory education or treatment program
Requirement to use an ignition interlock device for at least 1 year
You will need to undergo a mandatory medical evaluation to determine whether you meet the requirements for driving in Ontario
Drug Recognition Evaluation
If an officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a driver is impaired, a drug recognition evaluation may be carried out by a qualified officer at a police station. The test helps determine if the impairment is caused by drugs. If a driver fails the test, they can be immediately suspended from driving and face criminal impaired driving charges.
Approved Drug Screening Devices
If a police officer suspects that a driver has drugs in the body, they may demand an oral fluid sample. If presence of a drug is detected, young, novice and commercial drivers can be immediately suspended from driving.