Travelling abroad with a criminal record

Jippy

Has anyone had any problems trying to get into countries and if so, for what offences?
Been looking on google and it seems like it is really hard, ie nigh on impossible, to get into Canada with a drink driving conviction on your record

Saliph

You a drunk driver? Silly sod.

Jippy

Yeah thanks. I've been through the abuse/shame of telling my missus/loss of licence/driver rehab course phase and am now just genuinely interested in anyone on the Caf's help on difficulties you can experience applying for visas etc...
Am figuring Canada, Australia and the US are the most stringent, although I got into the US in November OK, cos it is not a crime of 'moral turpitude'. Hear that Canada in particular has a zero tolerance stance though.

I have one of those new passports. Is your criminal history stored on there?

snootyjim

Yeah, it's got criminal record, DNA and sexual preferences in there. I'd go somewhere that doesn't have electricity, because they won't have any scanners.

Have you considered Antarctica?

evra

The limit is so low, I drive home after a couple of pints and I'm sure I'm not alone in doing that.

Jippy

Two pints of Stella will have you over the limit and you would be amazed how over the limit you can be until lunchtime after a big session the night before.

Randall Flagg

Years ago perhaps, but I dont know anyone who drives after 2 pints nowadays.

Ole's_toe_poke

Are you a criminal mastermind?

Thick Numpty

I know plenty, and they are fucking stupid. For the sake of two pints, why bother?

Randall Flagg

I would agree.

Wibble

The UK limit is .08, which is hardly low with the majority of countries adopting .05. Your chances of crashing increase significantly if you go a pint over 0.08.

711

If you want to go abroad just go to Northern Ireland, I know it's not technically abroad, being the same country and everything, but it's across the sea, and you don't need a passport.

Saliph

The limit in Norway is 0,2%.

evra

I've never even had a prang, not even close. Personally I think it's absurd that I could be classed as a common criminal if I have a couple of pints with my lunch and drive home. The problem is that a few idiots didn't know their limits and they ruined it for the rest of us.

711

Railway workers limit is 0.3, random and 'for cause' tested. Rightly so.

Health workers? Doctors, nurses, dentists? Police? Teachers?
No limit at all as far as far as I'm aware, fills you with confidence, don't it?

Flying Fox

Not heard of customs official denying entry on the back of DUI's here in Oz.

I do know for a fact that if you get stung here or in New Zealand, they won't let you go until you pay your dues. The old man got done for speeding in NZ about 6 years ago. Had to pay a NZ$200 fine (which is like 5c Australian) before they'd let us get out of Christchurch.

Jippy

Not really. I got caught and my dastardly plans to drop a mate off at Shepherd's Bush tube station were thwarted.

Jippy

Sounds fair enough I guess, making you pay before you leave. Criminal records (barring murder, rape etc...) eventually become 'spent' or whatever afer 5-10 years in the UK. So you don't have to mention them on job apps and so forth.
Does anyone know if that is the same with passports?

Wibble

Australia doesn't do checks when you leave, or at least they didn't used to, although if fines remain unpaid you won't get back in again.

Ans DUI convictions won't stop you getting a tourist or working holiday visa as it is only a substantial criminal record that will result in refusal.

Shane B

I've been done for drink driving and never been refused entry to any country...

It isn't a problem.

mjs020294

DUi wouldn't be a problem in the US, its a very common offense.

Sir Matt

Don't worry about DUI's in Canada. The sled dogs and mooses can tell when you're drunk and won't take you anywhere.

cinc

in Hungary the limit is 0.0%, and rightly so. DUI is one of the stupidest things you can do.

Pogue Mahone

Something tells me the "common" bothers you more than "criminal".

If you have a couple of pints for lunch and drive home you're an idiot. Of course there's no guarantee you'll crash, even if you do it every week for a lifetime. It increases the risk of crashing, though, which is reason enough not to be a selfish twat.

Randall Flagg

Not to mention there are far more people including kids about in the afternoon, not that doing it at night is excusable either.

Agent Red

But that's exactly the same kind of arrogant assumption that all those 'idiots' would have adopted. 'I'm a great driver, I can handle my drink, never even come close to crashing so it's not a problem'.

I very much doubt the majority of them got in their car thinking they were too drunk to drive and that a crash was on the cards, they all would likely have taken the same stance as you that they could handle it.

If it's just your own life and car in the balance then it's a different thing but if I hit someone and knew I had been speeding or had had a drink I would find it very hard to reconcile myself with that.

There are many people that will continue to have a couple and then get behind the wheel, and whilst I don't agree with it that will most likely always be the case, but label it 'absurd' is a step too far I think. It's a law clearly based on evidence and with a clear benefit.

Walrus

I'm 24 and passed my test last June. Along with smoking, drink driving is one of those things which I just never really feel the need to do. I'm not that big an alcoholic that I can't go without beer on a night out.

niMic

evra is a drunk driver. Colour me surprised.

Randall Flagg

I am surprised that anyone would admit it, let alone try to justify it. I do consider drink drivers as bad as a "common criminal" perhaps worse

cinc

I knew a man (well I've met him a few times) who was hit by his own drunk brother who just wanted go get to the end of the street with his car (his was the landlord of a pub and lived just down the road). 300 meters at most.

(The man killed was walking home from the same pub)

golden_blunder

why take a chance at all?

I'd say that anyone who drinks and drives is an idiot

Tibs

Iraq is a nice safe, liberated place to go

Tibs

This

pauldyson1uk

I agree , the drink drive limit should be 0 , if you want a drink take a cab or walk

B20

I think you are not fully aware of how it actually affects you.

No shortage of people who think like you do and agree to put it to a test, then are shocked to discover how badly they fail the test on a driving course.

golden_blunder

I've reread Evra's post and im convinced he's taking the piss. No-one could be that stupid

niMic

Have you read any of his other posts? If he's taking the piss, he's a genius.

Jippy

It would cut out a lot of confusion and save the courts a lot of time too.

Hal9000

Best contact the Canadian embassy or where ever you wish to go, and check before hand.

Jippy

That's the obvious thing to do, but reading stuff online, what the embassy tells you is only indicative. They can give you a visa but you can still me turned away at the border, which would suck.