Apart from the relatively obvious consequences of a DUI conviction, there are several that are somewhat hidden that can lead to disastrous consequences if not known in advance. A DUI conviction in Washington not only leads to jail, license suspension, probation, etc., there are several travel restrictions that could occur as well. Specifically, these restrictions have to deal with permissible entry into Canada, a person’s ability to move from state to state, and even some hidden consequences of the license suspension. All of these are explained fully below. If you have any questions or believe these may apply to you, contact one of our Washington DUI attorneys for a consultation.
Denial of Entry Into Canada
A consequence of a DUI in Washington that tends to have a greater impact than one in most other parts of the country is denial of entry into Canada. Because of Washington’s proximity to the Canadian border, there is a disparate impact on someone suffering a DUI conviction here than in the rest of the United States. Canada will deny entry across its borders to those who have DUI convictions on their record. It is also possible that entry will be denied even if the original DUI charge was reduced to Reckless Driving or Negligent Driving in the First Degree. If you have been convicted of an inadmissible offense there are four ways to get into Canada; a temporary resident permit; a criminal rehabilitation; being deemed rehabilitated; or an expungement of the inadmissible conviction.
If you are facing a DUI charge in Washington and traveling into Canada is important, contact a Washington DUI lawyer before your case reaches disposition. If you have already been convicted of an inadmissible offense and need to enter Canada, contact a Washington DUI attorney or a Canadian immigration lawyer for assistance.