5 Do's And Don'ts If You Are Pulled Over For Impaired Driving

It can happen to anyone. It doesn't take much to turn a routine traffic stop into a criminal investigation because police are always on the lookout for signs of consumption and impairment. Even though many of these charges are handled administratively, you could still face liability depending on what you say or do during a roadside interaction. If police smell alcohol (even from another passenger), if you fumble with your licence, if your eyes are bloodshot – you could find yourself in the middle of an impaired driving investigation.

Impaired driving (or DUI as it is otherwise called) is one of the most commonly reported crimes in Canada. It is litigated in adult courts more than any other crime. But unlike most other criminal offences, impaired driving affects nearly every cross-section of society. It is not at all uncommon for people charged with impaired driving to be otherwise law-abiding community members with no previous exposure to the justice system.