Licence suspensions can have serious repercussions for you and can become costly in nature. Regaining your license after such a suspension requires understanding and adhering to specific requirements for recovery.
Step one in dealing with suspension is addressing its cause; this may involve providing documentation, completing certain programs or passing required tests.
Confused about the process оf getting your license back after a DUI? This guide can help.
- Understand Your Charges
Driving is a privilege, not a right. To drive safely it’s essential that drivers understand that breaking the law has serious repercussions; particularly for DUI convictions which could impact their license, auto insurance rates, and even their job prospects.
Highway Traffic Act mandates an immediate license suspension upon arrest for DUI, with those awaiting trial having 90 days after suspension to reinstate it by paying a $281 fee at any ServiceOntario center.
Renewing a driver’s license may vary depending on your circumstances, but will often involve fulfilling legal requirements and attending mandatory programs. Requirements might include paying any outstanding fines or enrolling in alcohol treatment and education programs like Ontario’s Back on Track program as well as providing any required documents and complying with mandated waiting periods. All these obligations and costs can quickly accumulate; with proper guidance it should be possible to manage reinstatement successfully.
- Get Legal Representation
As with any criminal matter, it is always advisable to secure experienced legal advice when facing DUI charges. This advice especially holds true in regard to DUI accusations.
Are You Charged of Impaird Driving? The Ministry of Transportation (“MTO”) immediately issues an administrative driver’s licence suspension period of ninety days; depending on whether or not you plead guilty this suspension could end much earlier.
Renewing your license requires fulfilling various criteria outlined by the MTO and court systems, including fulfilling legal obligations, paying fines, completing mandatory programs such as Back on Track and demonstrating responsible driving behaviour. Navigating this complex path alone can be daunting; Bayne Sellar Ertel Macrae provides comprehensive support and advice throughout this entire process to our clients.
- Pay Your Fines
If your license has been suspended, it is essential that you understand the criteria necessary to regain it. These requirements vary depending on what caused its suspension; unpaid fines require payment or approval for payment plans while health issues limiting driving will require medical clearance.
Court-ordered requirements may include attending a program such as “Back on Track” for alcohol-related offenses, passing a vision test and obtaining an SR-22 insurance certificate, as well as complying with any additional ministry processes or clearances. Fulfilling these requirements can take time; for best results it is advisable to begin as soon as possible. To reinstate your license you can either visit Service Ontario center directly or apply online (although online reinstatement only works with certain types of suspensions).
- Apply for Reinstatement
After an alcohol-related driving offense, recovering your license can be more complex than many people realize. You must understand and adhere to specific procedures set by both the Ministry of Transportation and judicial systems in order to be reinstated as an eligible driver.
Step one in successfully managing a suspension involves paying any outstanding fines and fulfilling conditions associated with it, such as mandatory programs or showing a commitment to safer driving practices. Furthermore, be mindful of your suspension’s length – longer periods will require more of your time and energy in order to navigate them successfully.
Highway Traffic Act mandates a 90-day administrative license suspension for anyone arrested on DUI charges in Ontario. After the 91st day, this suspension can be lifted by visiting your local Service Ontario center and paying a $281 reinstatement fee; this will re-instate driving privileges until your trial takes place.
By Chris Bates
