The real cost of drunk driving
If you’ve had one drink too many, don’t drive. Period. Besides putting your life and the lives of others at risk, alcohol-impaired driving also hits your wallet hard and affects your daily life in many different ways.
What the law says about alcohol-impaired driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol (or drugs or medication) is punishable under the Criminal Code and the Highway Safety Code. Basically, you can be arrested and sentenced if you drive—or have care or control of—a vehicle and your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above 0.08 (80mg or higher per 100ml).
The financial consequences of drinking and driving
Getting caught with a BAC above the legal limit (0.08) can easily cost you $6.200. The table below gives a fairly precise breakdown.
Financial consequences followin an initial arrest, followed by a conviction for impaired driving (november 2019)
Consequences | At 24 years old1 | At 40 years old2 |
| Immediate 90-day suspension of driver’s licence (from time of arrest) | Incalculable | Incalculable |
| Vehicle towing3 | $125 | $125 |
| Vehicle storage | $25/day | $25/day |
| Driver’s licence revoked for one year; one-year prohibition from driving (after conviction) | Incalculable | Incalculable |
| Minimum fine (Article 255 of the Criminal Code) | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Summary evaluation of the Program to assess and reduce the risk of impaired driving | $344.93 (including taxes) | $344.93 (including taxes) |
| Alcofrein session | $150 | $150 |
| Possible requirement to install an alcohol interlock device, if the judge agrees, after a minimum three-month prohibition from driving Installation of device Monthly lease cost (9 months at $61/month- optional insurance, usually included in the private auto insurance policy, is not counted) | (including taxes) $57.99 $636.70 | (including taxes) $57.99 $636.70 |
| Criminal lawyer’s fees 2 to 3 hours could be required (get the facts, exchanges and explanations, next steps, possibilities to be considered, etc.) 250 to $300/hour | $1,034.78 (including taxes) | $1,034.78 (including taxes) |
| Extra insurance contribution payable to SAAQ to have new driver’s licence issued | $300 | $300 |
| Impact on private auto insurance premium - 24-year-old male: Premium increases from $855 to $2,566 - 40-year-old male: Premium increases from $582 to $1,764 | $1,711 (including taxes) | $1,164 (including taxes) |
| To cross the U.S. border following an initial conviction for impaired driving with no aggravating circumstances (injuries or death), the offender must present a copy of the court judgment along with a certified English translation by a professional referred by the Quebec Bar Association. In addition, the offender must apply for an exemption to cross the U.S. border if he/she has been convicted for impaired driving with aggravating circumstances (injuries or death). This also involves fees ($585 USD). | $537 (including taxes) ou $777.17 | $537 (including taxes) ou $777.17 |
| TOTAL | $6,162.57 | $5,615.57 |
© November 2019. All rights reserved, CAA-Quebec.
1 These figures apply for a 24-year-old male driver living the Montreal region, with a good insurance record, who owns a 2016 Honda Civic and committed the offence on the Island of Montreal.
2 These figures apply for a 40-year-old male driver living the Montreal region, with a good insurance record, who owns a 2019 Honda CR-V and committed the offence on the Island of Montreal.
3 A $45 vehicle recovery fee may also be added if specific operations must be performed.
Offenders have their licence revoked and vehicle confiscated
The consequences start as soon as you’re arrested. Your licence will be immediately suspended for 90 days and your vehicle will be confiscated for 30 days (in certain circumstances). That’s going to make it much harder for you, and possibly your family, to get around.
A sharp hike in your auto insurance
As you can see in the table above, your auto insurance premium will increase dramatically after an impaired driving offence and can remain high for the next four to six years. A number of factors affect how much you’ll pay, such as your age and driving record and the severity of the offence. It’s best to talk to your insurance advisor.
Also read our advice on how drunk driving affects your insurance.
Foreign travel after an impaired driving conviction
It’s important to remember that each country can decide who has the right of entry. If you have travel plans, check the entry requirements for the country you want to visit at https://travel.gc.ca/ or contact the country’s consulate directly.
A conviction means you have a criminal record. And if you have a criminal record, you probably don’t have the right to visit a foreign country or obtain a visa.
But the rule generally does not apply if your criminal record only contains a first conviction solely for impaired driving with no other aggravating factors (injuries or death). Such is the case for the United States, but if you’re planning to go there, we recommend having a copy of your conviction translated into English.
Drunk driving myths
When it comes to drinking and driving, it sometimes seems convenient to rely on certain myths. You’ll feel better about your drinking when you’re out celebrating. But there’s no denying that drinking and driving don’t mix, despite what you may have heard about getting alcohol out of your system faster.
Options for getting home safely
Whether it’s a special occasion or just a normal day, there’s never an excuse for impaired driving. Especially as there are other, risk-free ways you can get home:
- Designated driver, family member, or friend
- Operation Red Nose (in December) or other private safe ride services, such as Tolérance Zéro
- CAA-Quebec: Membership includes our Safe Ride Service, which counts as one of your four free roadside assistance calls each year
- Taxi (keep prepaid coupons in your wallet)
The CAA-Quebec Foundation also holds drunk driving awareness activities for young drivers. These training programs are available free of charge to high schools upon request.
Drunk driving causes accidents
Of course, the consequences listed above are much worse if you cause an accident. The effects are often more severe, sometimes irreversible, and always disconcerting, not only for the driver but also for the innocent victims. According to Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec, alcohol-related accidents cause on average, each year:
- 110 deaths
- 260 serious injuries
- 1800 minor injuries
That’s worth thinking about!
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