If you are charged with California DUI and plead guilty to California “wet reckless” as a plea bargain, then you may find that you are unable to travel to Canada.
Travel to Canada with a DUI can be difficult or impossible, because Canadian immigration law prevents anyone with a serious criminal conviction from entering the country.
Many people think that, by accepting a “wet reckless” conviction as a plea bargain, they can avoid the stigma associated with a DUI. Unfortunately, however, for purposes of Canadian law, a “wet reckless” is treated exactly the same as a DUI.
Even a less-serious “California dry reckless” conviction can keep you from traveling to Canada – depending on the circumstances of the offense.
But there are ways to get into Canada even with a DUI or wet reckless. These include:
- Being “deemed rehabilitated” or applying for “individual rehabilitation” under Canadian law;
- Obtaining an expungement of your criminal record in California; and/or
- Obtaining a Canadian temporary resident permit.
Refer to our article, “Can a plea bargain help me if I’m arrested for DUI in California?“
