When you are convicted of impaired driving, your licence will be suspended. If you want to drive again, you must apply to have your licence reinstated. Here’s how.
Driving bans for DUI BC
When the police find you driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, your licence will be immediately seized. So long as the charge is upheld, you will receive a licence suspension and you must surrender your licence to ICBC.
Driving prohibitions can last anywhere between 24 hours and three years or more. If a case goes to court, a licence can be suspended indefinitely. The length of your licence suspension depends on –
- Whether the approved screening device showed a ‘warn’ or ‘fail’ reading
- Your driving record over the past five years
- Whether the attending police officer decides to issue an immediate roadside prohibition (IRP) or proceed under the Criminal Code of Canada
Getting your licence reinstated with ICBC
Once you have served the length of your suspension, you can have your driver’s licence back. To do this, you need to –
- Pay any outstanding fines or debts to the court, such as your penalty fine
- Complete any programs or tests that are required of you. For example, some people must attend the responsible driver program, the ignition interlock program and/or re-take their driving test. You will be told which of these apply to you
- Arrange your insurance with ICBC, paying any additional premiums that are due, such as the driver risk premium
- Visit a driver licensing office with two pieces of ID (one must be a photo ID)
- Pay the $250 reinstatement fee and $31 short-term driver’s licence fee
If you were banned indefinitely, you can request that your licence is reinstated after five years.
Can I drive after my 90 day ADP suspension?
Those issued with a 90 day administrative driving prohibition may wonder if they can drive again after the 90 days is up. The answer is yes, you can. However, you must complete the steps listed above to get your licence reinstated. If your case later goes to court, you may be handed a further licence suspension. If so, you must surrender your licence once again.
Application for review of driving prohibition BC
You can ask to have your driving prohibition reviewed. This could result in the prohibition being reduced or lifted entirely. Ideally, you should make this application within 21 days of receiving a Notice of Intent to Prohibit.
You can submit the application by yourself, or you can ask us to do it for you. Having an experienced Vancouver DUI lawyer on your side increases your prospects of success. Contact us at Mickelson & Whysall Law Corporation to find out more.