First Offense For Impaired Driving in Alberta

Fighting a first offense for impaired driving charge

At the Ryan Claxton law group, we believe the best offense is a good legal defense.

Being charged with a first offense for drunk driving is an trail you don’t want to face alone, particularly after Alberta’s new drunk driving legislation, Bill 26, came into effect in January 2012.

Bill 26 increased penalties for all offenses. These penalties vary by your blood alcohol content (BAC) as measured in milligrams. While the legal limit in Alberta is .08 (80 milligrams) blood alcohol content, impaired driving sanctions may be imposed at .05 blood alcohol content.

Penalties for a first offense for drunk driving over .05

Under Alberta Bill 26, impaired driving sanctions for drivers who are between .05 BAC and .08 BAC have increased:

• 3-day vehicle seizure
• 3–day license suspension

Penalties for a first offense for drunk driving over .08

If you are found to have a blood alcohol content that exceeds the legal limit of 80 milligrams (.08 BAC), you will be subject to criminal charges:

• 1-year license suspension, sustained until criminal charges are resolved (may be reduced to three months if you enroll in the ignition interlock program)
• minimum $1,000 fine
• If at the time of the incident you are working, a victim fine surcharge is normally imposed amounting to 15 per cent of the fine.

Hire a skilled DUI lawyer

Ryan Claxton’s experienced impaired driving defense lawyers will help you strategize the best defense to prevent an impaired driving charge from having a lasting negative impact on your life.