Calculators
Impaired Driving Total Cost Calculator
Impaired driving is a Criminal Code matter, not a Highway Traffic Act ticket — a different and generally more serious process from everything else on this site. This tool gives a general sense of the categories of cost involved.
This site mainly covers Highway Traffic Act tickets, not criminal matters. Impaired driving is prosecuted under the Criminal Code of Canada, through a different court process than the provincial offences matters covered elsewhere on this site, as explained in our overview of how the ticket process works. If you’ve actually been charged, speak with a lawyer who handles criminal matters as soon as possible — the stakes and procedure are different from a standard traffic ticket.
This tool gives a general, educational sense of the categories of cost that can follow an impaired driving charge — it does not predict a specific dollar total, since actual fines, program fees, and other costs depend on current law, the specific circumstances of a charge, and figures this site has no way of verifying for every case.
Powered by Impaired Driving Total Cost Calculator by Lexscale.ai
How the estimate works
The calculator walks through the general categories of cost commonly associated with an impaired driving charge — things like a fine, a mandatory federal surcharge, possible legal fees, and program costs such as an ignition interlock condition — to give a general sense of scope. This site doesn’t publish specific dollar figures for any of these categories, since current amounts are set by federal and provincial law, can change, and depend heavily on the specific facts of a case (a first offence versus a subsequent one, for example).
What this tool can't tell you
It can’t tell you the exact fine, surcharge, or program fee that applies to a specific charge, whether a conviction is likely, or anything about defence strategy — those depend entirely on the facts of the case and current law, and need to be discussed with a lawyer who handles criminal matters. This tool is general background information, not legal advice about any specific charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is impaired driving handled by this site's usual ticket process?
No. It's a Criminal Code offence, prosecuted through the criminal court system rather than the Provincial Offences Act process this site mainly covers. See our ticket process overview for how the two systems differ.
Does this tool give me an exact total cost?
No. It's a general, educational estimate of the categories of cost involved, not a specific dollar prediction. Exact amounts depend on current law and the facts of a specific case.
What should I do if I've actually been charged?
Speak with a lawyer who handles criminal matters as soon as possible. Impaired driving carries different stakes and procedure than a standard Highway Traffic Act ticket, and general information like this isn't a substitute for advice about your specific situation.