DWI Conviction Research Paper

With Minnesota being a border state, it is common for some residents to travel back and forth across the border that we share with our northern neighbor. What many of them did not think about is whether having a past criminal record can make it difficult to get into Canada. Most people believe that a passport is sufficient. However, the truth is that border officials have the authority to turn away anyone who has been convicted of any crime at any time in his or her life – and that includes DWIs. When traveling to Canada following a DWI conviction, there are some important facts to keep in mind. What a person wants to get into Canada, a Canada Border Services Agency Officer will probably inquire about whether the individual has ever appeared …show more content…
Travelers can even be denied if they are only passengers with no intentions of ever operating a motor vehicle. What about the cases where a license has been revoked because of an individual’s refusal to agree to a sobriety test? The outcome will not be much different. Refusal can be criminally charged in Minnesota and therefore may create difficulties for travelers. If the refusal charge was dismissed and the person instead pleaded guilty to reckless driving, it still maybe sufficient grounds for border officers to deny entry. Likewise, anybody with pending charges or an outstanding warrant can be refused simply because they are facing charges. So even without a DWI conviction specifically, many situations can create problems for travelers at the border. With all the ways of being denied entry into Canada, there may be a temptation to lie about any past charges. However, Travelers are strongly recommended to stay honest. Some people think they can get away with lying just because they are traveling to another country. They do not realize that Canada and the United States both allow each other to access licensed databases and court