Law Office of Glen W. Neeley

Top Utah DUI Attorney, Board Certified in DUI Defense by the National College of DUI Defense

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Utah DUI Restricts Travel to Canada

There are many hidden consequences of a Utah DUI conviction.  One of those consequences is the inability to enter Canada.  I have had clients, where their case was totally dismissed, and yet they received a lot of grief trying to enter Canada.  According to this web site, you do not even have to be convicted of the crime.  If a charge is pending, you are deemed inadmissible into Canada.  If the charge was held in abeyance (pled guilty, but will be dismissed after good behavior for several months), you are deemed inadmissible into Canada.

It states:

 

1. What is criminal inadmissibility?

In general, it is a term used to describe a person who will not be allowed to visit or stay in Canada because they have committed or been convicted of a crime in, or outside of, Canada.

3. I have been charged with a crime but my trial is still under way. Will I be allowed to enter Canada?

No. You are considered criminally inadmissible if:

* you have a trial under way;
* there is a warrant out for your arrest; or
* you have charges pending against you or an officer has credible information that you committed an offence outside Canada.

There is still hope.  The site tells of ways to enter Canada, but it takes time and is tricky.

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2 responses to “Utah DUI Restricts Travel to Canada”

  1. Feisty Avatar
    Feisty

    It’s not just Utah, a conviction or pending prosecution for DUI/DWI/DWAI/DWAID/OWI/etc. generally bars admission to Canada for a minimum of 5 years, and up to 10 years after the end of the sentence imposed. If a conviction for an alcohol-related operating offense results in probation and / or incarceration, that 5-10 year period begins on the first day after the sentence has been completed, which could be years after the date of arrest (particularly in cases involving probation).

    The way that Canada handles cases which are dismissed is slightly less clear. If the dismissal is part of a plea agreement involving treatment or community service, it might still prevent someone from gaining entry to Canada. That said, an outright dismissal involving no admission of guilt (likely due to insufficient evidence), should not prevent someone arrested for an alcohol related operating offense from entering Canada.

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  2. Troy Sorensen Avatar
    Troy Sorensen

    I went to Canada, this week and got hammered at the border, I was allowed in at a charge of $200 with a temporary pass. they had information clear back to 1984. granted I am no angel is there away to clean up my file. I had A DUI in 1984 and a assault that I thought was dismissed about 5 years ago also another alchohol related charge that was reduced to driving with facalties impaired about 6 years ago.

    If this is somthing you can work with let me know I need to go back to Canada on business, going forward.

    Sincerly

    Troy L Sorensen

    801-636-9124

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