Impaired Driving / DUI
Defence for impaired driving, over-80, and refusal charges — from roadside screening issues to Charter and evidentiary challenges.
Call 24/7 · 519-977-5407Understanding impaired driving charges
Impaired driving offences under the Criminal Code include driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, driving with a blood-alcohol concentration at or over the legal limit, and refusing to comply with a breath or blood demand. A conviction can carry a criminal record, significant fines, a driving prohibition, and steep insurance consequences — even for a first offence.
These cases are more technical than most people expect. They often turn on how the traffic stop happened, how and when breath samples were demanded and taken, whether your right to counsel was respected, and whether the testing equipment and procedures met the required standards.
How We Defend
Scrutinize the reason for the stop and the grounds for the breath demand
Review Charter issues: arbitrary detention, search, and right to counsel
Examine breath-testing procedures, timing requirements, and instrument records
Challenge the reliability and admissibility of the Crown's evidence
Pursue licence-impact and resolution options appropriate to your circumstances
Every case turns on its own facts. Call 519-977-5407 for a confidential assessment of yours.
What To Expect
How your defence proceeds
Call — any hour
The phone is answered 24/7. If you or a family member has been arrested, the sooner we're involved, the more options you have.
Disclosure & review
We obtain the Crown's disclosure and go through it line by line — evidence, statements, procedure, and Charter issues.
Strategy
You get a straight assessment: the strengths, the risks, and the realistic paths — resolution, negotiation, or trial.
Resolution or trial
Whether it ends in a withdrawal, a negotiated outcome, or a verdict, your case is prepared as if it's going the distance.
Common Questions
Impaired Driving: what people ask us
Will I lose my licence?
An Ontario driver typically faces an immediate administrative suspension after a charge, and a conviction generally carries a driving prohibition. The length and options (such as ignition-interlock programs) depend on the circumstances and your record — we review what applies to you at the first meeting.
Is refusing the breath test better than blowing over?
No — refusal is its own criminal offence and is generally treated at least as seriously as failing the test. If you have already been charged with refusal, there are still defences we can review, including whether the demand was lawful.
Is a first-offence DUI really worth fighting?
Often, yes. The consequences of a conviction — a criminal record, prohibition, and years of higher insurance — are lasting, and these prosecutions frequently involve technical and Charter issues worth examining before any decision is made.
The answers above are general information about Ontario law, not legal advice about your situation. For advice on your case, call 519-977-5407.
Related Practice Areas
Charged with an offence?
Speak with our team today about your options. The phone is answered 24 hours a day: 519-977-5407.