Did you know that you cannot legally visit Canada if you have a prior DUI conviction?

[indie9197]

Actually, there is some kind of rehabilitation waiver you can get but it would cost $200-$1000 and take several months get it. I am sure a lot of people get through, but something to think about if you have a lot of money invested in a vacation. I was thinking about driving to Alaska next summer but I guess I will take a ferry now and avoid Canada. I have a DUI conviction from 1984.

[Chakab]

1. If you have anything on your record more serious than a speeding ticket, you are

criminally ineligible to enter the country.

[grasswire]

2. unless you are someone like Dick Cheney or Chuck Colson

Colson had to get special dispensation to visit Canada due to his Watergate crime.

Cheney was there in the last couple of years -- protesters kept him holed up for hours.

[MADem]

27. Cheney has had DWI convictions. Guess there's rules for "them" and rules for everyone else.

In November 1962, at the age of 21, Cheney was convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI). He was arrested for DWI again the following year.[19] Cheney said that the arrests made him "think about where I was and where I was headed. I was headed down a bad road if I continued on that course".[20]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Cheney

[NYC_SKP]

3. Edit. Amazing but apparently true.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5312ETOC.asp#5312E3

[riversedge]

5. It's true. But driving is not all that good--in the summer--the permafrost

is melting roads are horrible in spots.

[NYC_SKP]

6. I stand corrected.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5312ETOC.asp#5312E3

Wow!

[pnwmom]

25. You can't even go in as a tourist who's not driving. n/t

[Chakab]

7. Here you go.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/inadmissibility/index.asp

[DesertFlower]

4. interesting. i drove to canada from NYC in '81.

the drivers there were terrible. my sister NanceGreggs said people took out their frustrations on the road.

[NYC_SKP]

8. Ha!

Tell Nance that NYC_SKP says "Hey" to her and Jeff.

[DesertFlower]

18. will do.

[Art_from_Ark]

14. I've driven extensively in British Columbia, a small part of Alberta,

much of southern Ontario, and a bit of southern Quebec, and never had a problem with Canadian drivers. In fact, I was impressed with how well behaved they were even in Vancouver, where it seemed that no one even ran a red light or a stop sign.

[DesertFlower]

19. i only drove in toronto.

[Art_from_Ark]

22. I drove around Toronto a bit in 1978

I made the Bloor-Yonge area my base for a couple of days. I visited the Castle and the zoo by car and I didn't have a single problem. I then went up to Algonquin Provincial Park, then back down to Toronto for a couple more days, then up the Queen Elizabeth Way to Landsdowne and then south to Grass Point State Park in New York State.

[hfojvt]

23. I drove through Toronto in 2000

didn't notice any bad drivers at all. In fact, it was pretty smooth sailing. I just got on the expressway and sailed through. Paid no attention to the 90 kph sign either as the rest of the traffic did not seem to pay attention to it either. Bumped it up to about 65 and there was almost no traffic.

Normally I avoid metro areas that large like the plague. On the advice of my dad, went way south on that same trip to avoid Shytown. Then kinda got stuck in Cleveland when I took the wrong exit as I was trying to skirt around it.

Michigan, on the other hand, was a bit of a nightmare. Not so much bad drivers as wall to wall cars from Detroit about 2/3 of the way up to Mackinaw.

[MADem]

28. You see drivers from New Brunswick all over northern Maine.

They drive just fine. When I've hopped over the border, I haven't noticed any real difference.

[freshwest]

9. Is that a conviction or just a ticket or charge? I had tickets thrown out.

One for a speeding and another for a light not working. And never been charged with anything.

Looking at the bigger picture, Canada doesn't have to allow anyone in. They are pretty stringent about it, and have made notable people turn back and not enter Canada, too.

[Blue_In_AK]

10. Our experience driving through the Yukon and BC on our way to SE Alaska

was that they didn't check much of anything. It may have been because we were Alaska residents traveling from Alaska to Alaska. We drove from Anchorage to Haines (driving through Canada) and then took the ferries along the Inside Passage.

If you're only planning to go to Southeast, the ferries are a good option. You can also take the ferry from there over to Southcentral AK, but it's a long ride on open water.

[Shrike47]

11. Hmmm. We've driven up through WA into Canada 3x; nobody asked that I remember.

Mr. Shrike has 2 DUII convictions from the 70's. Nobody said boo to us.

[Shrike47]

12. Aha, I believe that old, old convictions may be deemed rehabilitated.

That's a relief. I tend to be pretty law-abiding.

[Skink]

13. Crack is fine though

[sharp_stick]

15. You would be fine

From:http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5312ETOC.asp#5312E3


"you may be deemed to have been rehabilitated if at least ten years have passed since you completed the sentence imposed upon you, or since you committed the offence, if the offence is one that would, in Canada, be an indictable offence punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of less than ten years."

[indie9197]

16. Yes, but legally I would still have to fill out the form and pay the fee of$200

which could actually be upgraded to $1000 after you pay the $200. And I can't figure out if this rehabilitation waiver is for a one-time visit or if it is good forever. I'm not going through that. If I ever go to Canada it will probably be Victoria or Vancouver via ferry and they can turn me around if they really want to

[indie9197]

24. After thinking about this I would be a hypocrite if I try to sneak into Canada

So unfortunately Canada is off my vacation list

[Ikonoklast]

21. "....may...."

Canada can and does refuse entry for older prior DUI convictions with no reason given.


I personally knew a driver that had a prior DUI in Germany, when he was stationed while in the service.

The DUI was from 1959, and Canada turned him around at the border.


No other legal or driving problems of any kind, just "You may not enter."

[white_wolf]

17. I'm actually toying with the idea of moving there one day.

I don't have any DUI convictions, but I have a couple traffic violations from accidents. No one was hurt and the tickets were dismissed. Hopefully that won't cause me trouble. I'll have to look into it.

[Warren DeMontague]

20. I didn't, until several years ago when they wouldn't let my mom in.

True story.

Nice little old lady, but with a checkered past.

[cui bono]

26. What do they do with their own citizens who get a DUI or speeding tickets?

[ConcernedCanuk]

29. DUI's are a criminal offence here, speeding is not.

.
.
.

DUI's get you a heavy fine, and a minimum one year driving licence suspension.

Heavier yet, is what the insurance companies charge you to insure you after your licence is reinstated.

Seeing as DUIs are a criminal offence, we can't get across the border (legally) to the USA because the DUI shows up on a criminal record check.

CC

[cui bono]

31. Which country stops you from entering the US? Canada or US? n/t

[indie9197]

35. A DUI will not keep you out of the USA if you are Canadian (or any other nationality)

Simple assault, breaking and entering, etc will also not prevent your entry into the USA based upon my limited research.

[ConcernedCanuk]

37. Bullshit - I got turned back for that very reason in the 70's

.
.
.

And it's much tighter at the border now.

If you get checked - ANY criminal code record will get you stopped, turned back, or possibly even arrested right on the spot.

Check out the links already posted in this thread,

and read the whole page.

My snips were from one of our own government sites, and Chimo's link is also from our government.

READ them - then your "research" won't be so limited.

CC

[Pretzel_Warrior]

30. what if you only have a DU conviction?

Can dfk or Taverner still get into Canada?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

32. I heard about this a couple years ago when my BIL was denied entry for a DUI.

I'm curious how these things are caught/noticed at the border. It's been years since I've been to Canada it I don't remember any interview or back ground check.

Is it automated? How much information do the Canucks have about local state offenses?

I assumed my BIL just answered the questionnaire wrong... Or was he tagged?

[CHIMO]

33. Some Information

Prior Criminal Offenses

http://www.ezbordercrossing.com/the-inspection-experience/prior-criminal-offenses/

[ConcernedCanuk]

34. Thanks - you just saved me a few thousand bucks!

.
.
.

Seriously.

I have an impaired(DWI) conviction from over 2 decades ago. I used to travel frequently to the USA up to the 90's, but was never checked - so the DWI/DUI didn't matter.

With the new requirements, I would not consider trying to cross the border without getting a pardon, and was ready to engage a lawyer to do just that - clean up my criminal offence record.

Fee just to APPLY for a pardon just went up to over $600 - and lawyers ain't cheap.

What I learned from your link:

"The two countries now share all criminal information from sources such as the FBI’s NCIC database and the Canadian Police Information Centre database. Your record will be right there on the border agent’s screen for either country."

/snip/

The U.S. does not recognize foreign pardons, so once a conviction is in the U.S. database, it may continue to prevent entry even after a pardon is issued.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Oh well, good thing I like my Canada.

CC

[Hassin Bin Sober]

39. The idea of fucking with people over 20 year old minor beefs is a joke.

Seriously, has there been a mass migration of criminals between our two countries (Bush administration visits notwithstanding)?

This a perfect example of a hammer seeing the whole world as a nail. The feds on both sides got themselves a neat new tool and have to put it to use. I mean what fun is having all that petty crime info at your fingertips if the feds can't wave it around and exercise their AUTHORATAH?

[former9thward]

36. Canada would not stop you with a DUI from 1984.

There is no national database for DUI convictions. Especially for those that occurred before computized records came into common existence.

[ConcernedCanuk]

40. Wrong.

.
.
.

DUI is a criminal offence in Canada.

And records were transcribed from paper to computers . . . .

didn't you know that?

Read the whole thread , AND the info at the links.

Then you show me some proof for your statements.

I, and CHIMO have provided government links.

STUDY THEM.

CC

[former9thward]

43. There is no national database for DUIs. None.

YOU are wrong. And no, Canada has not requested the paper copies of all DU convictions of all 50 states going back 40 years and put them into a computer. Get serious. Go to any travel site, like Lonelyplanet or similar and you will see no one has a problem unless they are asked and foolishly admit it.

[ConcernedCanuk]

46. Don't need National database - heck we got Bush's DUI record from 1976 . . .

.
.
.

As You indicated "no one has a problem unless they are asked and foolishly admit it.".

Well - I'm talking about entering LEGALLY.

And re database - no collection needed - just checking a person's ID will find it out,

Province by Province, and State by State.

I do not know if it is still the same all over the States,

but DUIs when Dubya got caught was only a misdemeanor - don't matter;

it's a Criminal (federal) offence in Canada, ergo not eligible for entry.

Never mind travel sites; read the government links in this thread.

regarding "no one has a problem unless they are asked and foolishly admit it."

NOT A GOOD IDEA!

If they check your licence/ID and find out you lied - you got a good chance of having your car/luggage tore apart and possibly some orifices checked.

Getting caught lying at the border brings more grief than most offences/records would - and one gets permanently flagged.

A recent check (2012) on my own record for a gun permit showed my impaired(DUI/DWI) from 1985.

And the US/Canada border patrols have access to each others Criminal records, we don't have to keep each other's records.

OH - hope the phrase " all DU convictions" is a typo -

I've got a few of them!



CC

[Matariki]

38. If I recall, it's because you can't have a felony and enter Canada

and DWIs are felonies there.

I was traveling by ferry to Vancouver with a friend who didn't have a licence, and that was enough to single her out for more questions. When they finally let her go (presumably after checking US records) they told her that people without licenses are flagged in case they lost them due to a DUI.

[RiffRandell]

41. Yep.

Pretty crazy.

[Laelth]

42. Highly informative thread.

But you have to read all of it to get the full picture.

Thanks for the post.

-Laelth

[treestar]

44. Sounds like they miss out on a lot of tourists

For a very silly reason.

[FatBuddy]

45. i shoulda never had those beers before driving that rental car into windsor.

D'OH!!!!

[Spider Jerusalem]

47. Within the last ten years.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g153339-c49436/Canada wi.Or.Dui.Driving.Convictions.html

Not "ever". After a period of time it becomes a "spent" conviction and doesn't need to be declared on entry forms.