If you are issued an Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP), you only have seven days in which to dispute it. Given the short window of opportunity, and the amount of work involved, you might wonder whether or not you should bother.
However, the consequences of an Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) are more onerous than most people realise. That is why it is often advisable to at least request a review. If the charge is revoked, it will save you from considerable difficulties in the long-run.
To dispute your Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP), please contact us at Mickelson & Whysall to speak to a Vancouver impaired driving lawyer.
Why dispute an Immediate Roadside Prohibition?
If you are not sure what the consequences of an Immediate Roadside Prohibition are, here are three repercussions you can expect to face:
1. You get a driving ban
It seems obvious to say that an Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) will result in a driving prohibition, whether for 90 days or less. But often we do not realise how much we rely on our ability to drive until the privilege is taken away from us. It can be a real inconvenience. More than that, it can be a real hardship. Everyday tasks such as getting to work or dropping the children off at school will become a nuisance, and if driving is required as part of your job, you may even lose your employment.
2. It will cost you a lot of money
Along with the possible loss of employment, there will be a number of costs to pay. For example, if you are handed a 90-day Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP), the vehicle you were operating at the time must be towed to an impoundment lot and stored there for 30 days. You will be responsible for the cost of towing and storage. Then you will have to pay a $500 fine and a $250 licence reinstatement fee. You will also be ordered to attend a Responsible Drivers Program, which you must pay for out of your own pocket. In addition, you may be told to fit your vehicle with an Ignition Interlock Device. Again, you must foot the bill for this. Together, these costs can amount to thousands of dollars.
3. The charge stays with you forever
If you are issued with an Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) and it is not revoked, the charge will remain on your driving abstract for five years. Worse still, it will remain on your driving record forever. RoadSafetyBC reviews your driving record each time a new infraction is added and impose driving suspensions of increasing severity to correct perceived poor driving behaviour. This means that if you have an IRP on your driving record, the police investigating a second incident are likely to recommend criminal charges.
Vancouver impaired driving lawyer
It may not be appropriate to dispute an Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) in every case. But if you have a reasonable chance of getting an IRP revoked, it is in your best interests to pursue the matter. If you do not, you may come to regret your decision later down the line.
If you have been issued an Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP), we recommend that you instruct a Vancouver criminal lawyer to act on your behalf. Given that you only have seven days in which to dispute the charge, it is best not to delay when seeking expert legal advice.
Call a Vancouver Criminal Lawyer at 604-688-8588 Now!