Impaired operation of a motorized vehicle and your insurance

boating under sunny skies in a blue lake

Vacation comes with a much more casual approach than life at home. The days are longer, you aren’t following the clock, and the goal is to have fun and relax as much as possible.

Surrounded by toys that go along with your vacation like boats, sea-doos, ATVs, snowmobiles, and other motorized vehicles, it’s a good reminder that the criminal consequence of driving under the influence is the same on any motorized vehicle as if you were driving a car.

Any tickets given while driving your motorized toys will impact your auto insurance.

Let’s go back to the basics

From Ontario.ca, Impaired driving means operating a vehicle while your ability to do so has been compromised to any degree by consuming:

  • alcohol
  • drugs including:
  • cannabis
  • over-the-counter drugs
  • prescription medication
  • illegal substances
  • a combination of the above

In addition to driving cars and trucks, impaired driving laws also apply to those operating boats, snowmobiles, and off-road vehicles. If police determine that you have drugs or alcohol in your system and/or that you are impaired by any substance, you can face severe consequences and potential criminal charges.

Penalties for impaired boating

The ramifications of impaired boating directly affect your car insurance. If you are convicted of driving under the influence while boating, your criminal record will reflect as though you were driving impaired, period.  

Your insurance rates can double or triple and some companies will even refuse to insure you if you have an impaired driving criminal record.

If you’re interested in seeing the specific criminal penalties, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/impaired-driving.

Roughley’s team of insurance professionals is standing by to answer your call. If you have questions about your insurance, we invite you to call us and speak to one of our team members.


Roughley’s team of insurance professionals is standing by to answer your call. If you have questions about your insurance, we invite you to call us and speak to one of our team members.

Please follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, and also continue to visit our website, where we share relevant insurance news and office updates.

We are available Monday to Friday, 9am until 4:30pm.

Oshawa Location
Phone: 905.576.7770 • Toll Free: 1.888.558.0883
Fax: 905.576.3610
insure@staging.roughleyinsurance.com

Bowmanville Location
Phone: 905.697.4257 • Toll Free: 1.888.558.0883
Fax: 289.316.3662
insurebowmanville@staging.roughleyinsurance.com

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