OHTA.ca

I had an drinking issue and went to a hospital for help. I spent 5 days in detox clinic and don't drink any more. Never drive and drink. Just got a letter with 6 months licence suspended. Looks like a doctor sent a report to MTO.

How can i appeal it? Should i get a legal advise?

In Ontario, there's a list of conditions where a doctor is legally required to report you to the Ministry of Transportation. Issues with alcohol are one of those. It's quite common for an individual to go to a clinic or hospital for alcohol related issues and find they've been reported to the ministry.

Can you appeal? Yes, you have to file an appeal with the License Appeal Tribunal.

A lot of people tend to get confused with the idea of an appeal. They are very strict about what is and isn't considered relevant. From the Tribunal:

In most cases, the best evidence will be reports from doctors or other medical professionals. When you appeal, it is actually the Ministry that is required to prove that your licence should remain suspended or downgraded. You should know that they have at least one report they can enter as evidence – this is the medical report which resulted in the suspension or downgrade of your licence. To argue against the report in the Ministry’s files you may wish to file a medical report that makes different findings.

In an appeal, the Ministry is required to prove two things:

1) that you have either a mental, emotional, nervous or physical condition or disability, or an addiction to the use of alcohol or a drug; and,

2) that this condition, disability or addiction is likely to significantly interfere with your ability to drive safely.

The legal test for your appeal is all about the reported condition, disability or addiction, and how that affects your ability to drive a motor vehicle safely. Your evidence must be relevant to that legal test. Other evidence, such as how much you need your licence for work, or other reasons, will not help you in your appeal because that evidence does not say anything about the reported condition or whether your condition is likely to affect your ability to drive safely.

A successful appeal would rely on evidence from a doctor or medical professional.

Thank you for your reply!

I'm planning to see a doctor to get a report. I don't drink and it could happen to anyone looking for help in the hospital.

I read appleal is the last step to do and I should send the report to MTO first. Some articles in internet say mto usually needs at least 1 year to be clear in order to reinstate the licence. It's unfair as i never drink and drive and ir happened with me once. Why i have to loose my job for a year just because mto thinks i need to wait a year. Even people got drunk by police get 90 days suspention.

I cannot find the phone number for administrative review of my case with mto. Don'tvthey do it anymore?

I got Ontario photo id when my drivers license was suspended, now the application was approved but service ontario says I have yo take all tests because it licence was cancelled. i didn't cancelled it, nobody told me about this issue. what to do?

It's a bit difficult to follow.

Did your medical suspension end?