DUIs and the Olympics – Maybe Not…

Ready for the 2010 Winter Olympics in the beautiful Great White North?

Have a DUI conviction?

Might want to look into border crossings first.

“Could that old DUI on your record stop your Olympic experience right at the Peace Arch border crossing?

That’s the very question a number of Olympic fans asked recently, when a news piece about U.S. residents being turned around by immigration officials appeared in The Seattle Times.

The answer? Quite possibly, yes.

The bottom line is Canada does treat prior offenses, including DUIs, seriously, and does deny entry to many people with such offenses on their records. And, a spokesperson for Canada Border Services told me this week, there are no exceptions for fans, guests, officials or anyone else entering Canada next February just to go to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

“Yes, the rules apply to everyone,” Faith St. John, communications advisor for Canada Border Services,” states in an e-mail. “Every person seeking entry to Canada must demonstrate that they meet the requirements for entry into Canada. Canada’s admissibility requirements will not change during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Worried about your own situation? Act fast. There are ways to be “deemed rehabilitiated” for your past indiscretion, and regain Canadian entry rights. But by all accounts, it is not a swift or convenient process. Our advice: Start now, and hope for the best.”

If you have been charged with a DUI and want to get into Canada anytime soon, you need to start working with a talented DUI attorney now. Lynnwood DUI Attorney Jonathan Dichter’s caseload is over 80% DUI related, and he can help you work on minimizing the impact that your DUI will have on your life, your vacation plans, and your visits to Canada. Call him now for a free consultation at 425-424-9401.

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