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Original poster

Help! DS in trouble in Canada. Any words of advice?

185 replies

DUTI · 11/05/2019 19:24

He's been an idiot. He knows it. He doesn't deny it.

He went out last night and got so drunk that he thought it would be a good idea to drive home. The Police spotted him and have done him for driving under the influence.

Is there anything he can do to mitigate things? He drives for a living so losing his licence is bad news.
Anybody got any wise words on the best way to approach this in Canada?

OP posts:
Sashkin · 12/05/2019 02:47

When, 40 year ago? I don't think you would be let off drunk driving in the UK these days

I know doctors who managed to plead special circs and keep their licences (I disagree with the decision, they are scumbags for doing it in the first place and a few years of getting the bus home would have been the best thing that could have happened to them).

It sounds like OPs son is on an under-30s working holiday visa, not a standard tourist visa. You can indeed work on those.

www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/eligibility.asp

oldishladyinashoebox · 12/05/2019 08:12

Op he is a big boy. Step back and let him handle it himself, you do the crime, you do the time and all that
Mummy and daddy cannot get him out of this one.

oldishladyinashoebox · 12/05/2019 08:13

@Backwoodsgirl trumps America isn't Perfect after all

Blueuggboots · 12/05/2019 08:18

We used to have a ridiculous practice here in the UK where you could plead that losing your licence would mean losing your job so they let you off. Anything similar over there?

It's done on alcohol blood levels now. You might be able to argue about your job in court, but I doubt anyone would take much notice these days.

Whilst I appreciate you're worried, he shouldn't be drinking and driving and if he gets found guilty then I'm afraid he needs to accept what he gets.

oldishladyinashoebox · 12/05/2019 08:18

@DUTI there is no tourist visa anywhere that allows you do so 'basic' work. It's called tourist visa for a reason. He should learn what visa he is on just in case immigration comes knocking on the door 🚪

JiltedJohnsJulie · 12/05/2019 08:19

When, 40 year ago? I don't think you would be let off drunk driving in the UK these days.

People could plead exceptional hardship and keep their licence. It's not as long ago as you'd think and I honestly thought that this still went on.

NannyRed · 12/05/2019 08:40

As someone who lost a family member when she was hit on a crossing, I’ve no sympathy with your son.
He needs to count himself lucky that he didn’t hit an old lady on a zebra crossing as she was making her way home!
If he losses his job that will be a severe lesson but one bought on by himself.
As a professional driver he should have enough common sense not to drive whilst drunk. By trying to lessen his punishment you’re not doing him any favours.
Let him deal with his problem.

pineapplepatty · 12/05/2019 09:14

@DUTI FWIW I wouldn't be going nuclear. He'll be cross enough with himself.

He's been lucky that no one is hurt and he's learnt a huge lesson.

I hope he's okay.

foreverhanging · 12/05/2019 09:28

Was he on a cycle op?

OhFFSMary · 12/05/2019 09:37

Over here you can plead special reasons but losing a licence would have to have a more severe impact than just losing your job. So for example if you were the sole earner and had a very young family, would be likely to lose your home if you didn’t work or if you were the sole carer for a disabled partner. Your son would not qualify if Canada has a similar law.

OhFFSMary · 12/05/2019 09:41

Scrap what I said, special reasons is the circumstance of driving like it was an emergency medical situation which clearly your DS can’t argue

The situations I described would apply if you were going for exceptional hardship and you can’t apply for that in the case of drink driving in the uk.

Knitclubchatter · 12/05/2019 18:06

i'm a canadian in bc. i would be nice to hear from the op how this plays out.
in my experience no one will be knocking on his door to kick him out, no such manpower. since he's only here for six months they will probably just "harass" him via mail or calls to make sure he leaves on time.
a friend's son was in a similar situation (caught at a road check point) and they were unable to see him in court before the 2 year limit.
so after two years all charges were dropped (even though he was over the limit).
meanwhile he may be able to find other employment that doesn't require a vehicle.
but it's pretty obvious his license will be revoked for the 90 days.

Original poster
DUTI · 12/05/2019 18:20

It would be nice to think that he could wait it out Knitclub but he is flying back to the UK for a few weeks for a family event in the summer. Do you think that Canada will let him back in? I suppose if there is a delay then he will be charged, but not actually convicted, at that stage.

OP posts:
Dyrne · 12/05/2019 18:29

DUTI you really need to get specialist legal help here; you seem to be under the impression that everything can just carry on as normal.

Some conditions of bail while waiting for a court date include not being allowed to leave the country; that might put a spanner in your plans...

PCohle · 12/05/2019 18:30

Don't you need to be thinking longer term, assuming he will be returning permanently to the UK eventually once his working tourist Visa runs out?

Will he have a criminal conviction and if so will he have to declare that to employers in the UK? Will he be able to hold a UK driver's licence?

Knitclubchatter · 12/05/2019 18:31

He will be able to leave, the return might be problematic but communication between depts unlikely to be quick

NerrSnerr · 12/05/2019 19:02

He needs to speak to a lawyer about the legalities of leaving/ coming back etc. Personally I'd be surprised if they'd let him back in.

ThanosSavedMe · 12/05/2019 19:07

He needs to face up to what he’s done. You say he’s feeling the worst he’s ever felt. He’s very lucky he’s not feeling a hell of lot worse.

MrsTerryPratchett · 12/05/2019 19:08

Well it all depends on the conditions doesn't it? If he's a tourist, he shouldn't be working and they have no obligation to let him in the country whatsoever. If he's on a working visa it depends on his job.

But it doesn't sound like you know (and I suspect he's lied to you about the tourist/working visa thing).

MrsTerryPratchett · 12/05/2019 19:12

It would be really interesting to see if replies would be different if the thread was. "My neighbour in the UK is here working illegally On a tourist visa and was just caught drunk driving. I think he should stay and it would be nice if he could still be here for a number of months".

Original poster
DUTI · 12/05/2019 19:31

You are determined to think the worst of him MrsTP.
He, and his gf, are both working legally. His work were so pleased with him that they were talking about sponsoring him after the end of his current visa.

OP posts:
dreichuplands · 12/05/2019 19:41

Your DS really needs specialised legal advice around his visa particularly if he is planning on trying to leave Canada and then re enter while he has a pending court case.

Passthecherrycoke · 12/05/2019 20:04

I agree re legal advice there I don’t see the point in most of the posts here: OPs DS is an adult and she will support him as an adult, not a child to tell off. Everyone makes mistakes and I’m sure this will be a pivotal moment in his life and huge lesson.

However OP I’m going to be honest and say that if anything, its better for him that this has happened in another country. He can return here with pretty much a fresh start rather than have to follow him around for 10 years as it does here.

smithyssister · 12/05/2019 20:08

Stop making excuses for him; he'll be on a plane home soon and good for Canada- one less drunk driver on the roads. He is likely to lose his UK license; the caveats for keeping your license in a normal ban situation is reserved for multiple speeding offences not offences that can kill people.

Passthecherrycoke · 12/05/2019 20:15

Why would he lose his U.K. license? A quick google doesn’t show that as a possibility

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