Don't Let a OUI/DWI/DUI Ruin Your Life. An Aggressive OUI/DWI/DUI Lawyer is a Necessity.

Being arrested for OUI/DWI/DUI alcohol or drugs can seriously impact your life and the lives of those around you who you love and care about. Jail time, loss of drivers license or full driving privileges, unbearable insurance premiums can often come as the result of a O.U.I./D.W.I./D.U.I. handled in court improperly. The best way to handle a OUI/DWI/DUI charge is to retain a knowledgeable and aggressive OUI/DWI/DUI lawyer. Lawyers are a necessity in most drinking and driving cases. These are criminal cases, involving a criminal record, if convicted. Although in most cases pleading guilty may seem like the least expensive way of handling a OUI/DWI/DUI, the hidden costs (non-judicial costs) most often are far greater than the effective representation of counsel. A conviction lasts a lifetime.

Wayne Foote is an aggressive, experienced OUI/DWI/DUI lawyer who understands the particular nuances of the criminal laws surrounding this complex area of legal practice. An acquittal can save your freedom, your license and thousands in insurance premiums. If you are interested in retaining a criminal defense attorney who will handle your OUI/DWI/DUI in a fashion where no stone is left unturned, you have found the right web site. If you walk away from the charge without a drunk driving conviction, the benefits will last the remainder of your life. At least knowing that you had an experienced professional research all aspects of your case to make certain that everything possible was done to obtain the best possible outcome will let you sleep better at night. If you want a fighter, look no further; you’ve found your OUI attorney.

Get a FREE evaluation of your case by completing our CONFIDENTIAL online case evaluation. Upon receipt of your initial questionnaire, we will contact you personally within 24 hours (48 hours if over the weekend). Our attorneys and support staff stand ready to assist you in weathering the stressful days ahead as we investigate and challenge your pending charges. We understand the serious nature of your situation and want to help you deal with the stressful and complex issues of a drunk driving arrest.

WARNING! If you refused to take a breath, blood or urine test after being arrested for OUI/DWI/DUI, or if the results of your test were above the State's prohibited alcohol level, your license may be at risk of being suspended if you do not take appropriate action to demand an administrative hearing within 10 business days after arrest. To learn more about protecting your license if your arrest was not in Maine, visit our national map of OUI/DWI/DUI attorneys to locate a drunk driving defense lawyer in your state.

Traveling to Canada and a DUI

A DUI can cause serious problems if you intend to travel to Canada.  Under Canadian law a DUI can make you an “inadmissible person.”  An “inadmissible person” is a person who cannot visit or stay in Canada because they have “committed” or been “convicted” of certain crimes in, or outside of, Canada.  Generally, these crimes are ones that are indictable under Canadian federal law. 

Crimes that make a person inadmissible include any impaired diving offense, whether it is called OUI, DUI, DWI, DWAI, or something else.  Since refusing a blood, breath or urine test is an indictable offense in Canada, a person who refuses a test in the United States is inadmissible, even if it is not a crime in the state where the refusal occurred.  Since the rules regarding inadmissibility include offenses that a person has “committed,” an administrative suspension will trigger inadmissibility, in some cases even if there is never a DUI conviction. 

You are inadmissible for entry into Canada if any one of the following things has happened:

• A conviction for an impaired driving offense;
• An administrative license suspension from a state’s motor vehicle department for having and excessive blood alcohol level;
• A conviction or administrative license suspension for failing to take a blood, breath or urine test;
• An outstanding warrant for any of the above; or
• Pending charges, a trial or other proceedings for any of the above.

The United States government is sharing driver license and court record databases with Canadian immigration.  If you are traveling to Canada you must assume that the Canadian government will find out about a conviction, suspension or pending charge.

An inadmissible person can still legally gain entry into Canada by one of the following means:

• If ten years have passed since the last court-ordered event, including a suspension or imprisonment, and you have no other indictable offenses on your record, you are deemed to be rehabilitated.  If you have any question about whether you have been deemed rehabilitated you should contact your local Canadian consulate.
  
• If five years have passed since such an event, or you have committed or been convicted or more that one indictable offense and five years have passed,  you may apply for rehabilitation status.  This requires the submission of an application that includes various documents and payment of a fee.
• If less than five years have passed there are two options for entering Canada.  Both options require payment of a fee:

• You can apply for a temporary resident permit.  These permits are granted in some circumstances.
• A senior immigration officer or an adjudicator may grant entry by issuing a minister’s permit that is valid for up to thirty days.  The permit is subject to any terms and conditions as the officer deems appropriate.  The decision whether to grant a permit is left to the discretion of the immigration officer.  You may be turned back at the border if the officer chooses not to grant you a permit.

There are certain important things to keep in mind if you think you may be inadmissible:

• If you are inadmissible, you are not permitted to enter Canada, even if you do not plan to drive in Canada.
• Inadmissibility is a status created by Canadian law.  It is a crime to enter Canada without a permit if you are inadmissible.  If you violate this law you can be arrested, imprisoned and/or deported.

Note:  The author does not practice law in Canada.  This article is advisory, only.  If you have a question regarding Canadian law and inadmissibility you should contact an attorney who is licensed to practice law in Canada and/or the Canadian consulatein your area.