If you are a motorist in Canada who has a habit of drinking and getting behind the wheel, learning about the penalties given to people that are caught because of impaired driving can be a good way to reduce or even eliminate your risky behavior. These forms of punishment have been developed by national, territorial, and provincial governments to address the issues concerning this criminal offense in the country. To help you get started, here are a few general information about Canadian impaired driving penalties:

First of all, if a policeman pulls you over because of a certain traffic violation and observes indications of intoxication in your physical state, he will require you to take a roadside sobriety test. If you fail the examination, which means that you are indeed drunk, the first penalty that will be given to you is the suspension of your license. The police officer who has obliged you to take the field test can immediately confiscate your driver's license. Usually, the suspension can be effective for 90 days, but this may vary depending mainly on the number of drunk driving offenses you have previously made. In addition, if you refuse to take the standard sobriety test, your license can also be suspended.

Aside from license suspension, vehicle confiscation is another penalty given to individuals who are charged with an impaired driving offense. This punishment can last for a minimum of three months, however, the confiscation of an automobile can be permanent in some extreme cases.

Lastly, certain Canadian provinces have recently used ignition interlock devices to penalize offenders. This instrument prevents a driver from starting his car once it has found traces of alcohol in his breath.

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