dui convitions - limiting travel?
 

My brother in law plead guilty to a DUI (I know - it's awful, but that isn't the point) 2 years ago. This has kept him from going to Canada (they live close to the border). His family (my in-laws) are planning a family trip to Italy and Greece with all of us. Does anyone know if these countries have the same or similar restrictions?
We have been researching it and have not found anything. Much of Italy has very stringent DUI laws, so they may have something similar.
We want to be sure he will be able to visit these countries before further plans are made with him involved.

I guess I'm dense (no comments please) but why would this keep him from traveling?

Does he have a passport? That is all he needs. I don't remember filling out any form to check the box if I had a DUI when I went to Italy.

Why can't he get into Canada?

http://www.cowanlawfirm.com/canada.htm

Okay so I got my answer about Canada...Wow I never knew that.

I beleive some, but not all, countries may not permit convicted felons to enter, at least not easily. So unless it was a felony plea it shouldn't be a problem in the EU.

ok, will wait to see if anyone has else pipes in.

The way we read all info. was the felony rule (this was not a felony)

Frank and Beans - yep, you learn something new every day huh? Many people don't know that about Canada. (I didn't and most people I tell don't know)

rms, am I right to believe that it only "really matters" if you are stopped by the police...meaning would the border agents check your BIL's record before letting him in? I've been to Canada several times and have just told the agents where I'm headed and they say "have a good day, eh!"

I would like to help but I don't know what a DUI is (I'm spaniard). Sorry !

Frank and Beans - from what I understand he was asked on a somewhat routine trip up there about 1 year ago (prior to that he didn't know the rule and had went in and out a few times) It's hit or miss - I guess he is unlucky (I should get more dirt on what happened from my husband - it's his little brother)

as for DUI - It's driving under the influence (drunk driving)

DUI = "Driving Under the Influence" = drunk.

good luck with your search.

I still don't believe there is a problem for your BIL I'm just not 100% sure now after learing about the Canadian law.

I really don't think he will have any problem, I haven't heard of such kind of law here in Spain. I can read italian and I've been reading some websites (police, inmigration) and don't say anything about it. Hope someone can help a bit more.

thanks!

From everything he had read he had determined it would be fine. His parents asked us (the more responsible ones) to double check. I mostly just wanted to make sure there wasn't anyone that had an experience contrary to this...

In practical terms, there is no immigration card to fill in when landing in Greece or Italy from non-Schengen countries. All they check is your passport, and unless you are banned from entering Schengen (usually for a previous immigration offence), are wanted by the authorities or the passport is reported as lost or stolen, you will be allowed in.
Your BIL won't be able to drive, as rental companies usually ban those convicted of DUI.
The only time DUI conviction needs to be disclosed is when applying for any kind of visa (you don't need one for most of Europe for short visit). Most visa application forms nowadays make you declare any criminal convictions, including motoring. While there may not be an outright ban (like in Canada), all such facts will be taken into account when deciding whether to issue a visa or not.

There was a lengthy thread on this subject in the Canada forum last year. The genesis was an article in a newspaper (which was listed in the thread) about a couple from the US who were denied entry into Canada because he had been convicted of marijuana possession while in college in the '60s. Otherwise his/their record was spotless. The thread also contained numerous references to people being denied entry for DUI convictions.

The consensus seemed to be that a lot depended on the questions being asked by the border agents (some would ask if you've ever been arrested, then cross check the records in the computer system; others weren't asked anything, so no problems).

I've also read some articles since about whether these types of issues will come up with travel to other parts of the world when/if governments start sharing such records with each other in the not too distant future (if they're not already).

So, rms, I don't have a specific answer to your question, and others seem to have a pretty good handle on the issue. But it is something to be aware of.

This post is from over a year ago... I think he figured it out by now
:-)

Dangit. I usually catch that, but not this time!

it was topped by a newbie advertising his website . . . . .