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Anyone charged with impaired driving in Richmond Hill is facing a stressful ordeal with life-changing implications. No matter what it’s called—driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated, driving while impaired, driving while high, drunk driving, DUI, DWI, and other terms—impaired driving in Ontario is a serious criminal offence that results in significant penalties and related negative consequences if convicted. Not only can a guilty finding lead to stiff financial fines, loss of driving privileges, increased insurance premiums, and possible jail time, but it can also affect your job, future employment opportunities, and ability to enter other countries, such as the U.S.

You can be charged and convicted of impaired driving if you are caught operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, if you provide a breath or blood alcohol concentration (BAC) sample over 0.08 mgs, or if you refuse to take a BAC test ordered by a police officer. On this latter point, refusal to provide a BAC screening sample is legally considered the same as receiving a 0.08 mgs or above result on a breathalyzer or other approved BAC screening device. You can even be charged and convicted of impaired driving if you were not actually driving, under what is known as the “care and control” provision of DUI law.

Impaired driving-related laws cover a number of different legal situations and are highly complex and technical. Charging officers can base their cases on a variety of evidentiary factors and apply different elements of Ontario’s criminal code in their efforts to bring about an impaired driving conviction. Skilled drunk driving lawyers are intimately familiar with the vagaries of the law, which allows them to mount a more effective defence than lawyers who do not specialize in DUIs.

Mass Tsang LLP has a team of Richmond Hill DUI and criminal defence lawyers who are highly skilled at fighting impaired driving charges in Richmond Hill. Our team of DUI lawyers will apply all of our resources to build a strong defence against the charges brought against you, and work diligently to make sure that one mistake will not affect your entire life.

At Mass Tsang LLP, we have a dedicated team of lawyers, paralegals and superior staff whom are highly experienced, results driven, and are committed to delivering the work in a professional and ethical manner.

Drinking and Driving – DUI Charges

  • Impaired driving charge – This charge can be made when a police officer believes that you are unable to operate a motor vehicle because you are impaired by alcohol or drugs. An officer can lay this charge if a driver is driving erratically, has slurred speech, lacks motor skills, and/or displays unsteadiness while on their feet. With these charges the onus is on the charging officer and prosecutor to prove that your ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired to some extent by alcohol or drug use.
  • Over 80 mg – This charge is laid when the driver has an alcohol level of over 80 milligrams of alcohol for every 100 milliliters of blood. A breathalyzer reading or blood sample is used to obtain the evidence required to lay this charge.
  • Refuse to blow or provide a breath sample – This charge is generally used when a person suspected of impaired driving refuses to provide a breath or blood sample to a police officer. The charge can also be made when the provided sample is not deemed sufficient for the officer’s investigation.

How can an Impaired Driving charge impact you?

Under Ontario’s criminal code, an impaired driving conviction in Richmond Hill results in mandatory penalties even if the accused has no prior criminal record. The minimum sentence for a first-time conviction is a $1000 fine, enrollment in an alcohol education course, one-year driver’s license suspension, and one-year after-suspension enrollment in the ignition interlock program. Second conviction can result in 30 days in jail, three-year license suspension, and fines at the judge’s discretion. Third and subsequent convictions are marked by ever-increasing similar penalties. Along with these court-ordered penalties, are related fees, such as $475 plus tax for the alcohol course and fees for the interlock device installation. Other factors such as an accident, high breath sample readings or reckless driving can lead to penalties well above those prescribed by the minimum sentencing guidelines.

How we can help you defend DUI charges?

There are countless defences to impaired driving charges. The impaired driving lawyers at Mass Tsang LLP can challenge DUI allegations through a variety of methods which include:

  • Exclusion of evidence as a result of the police officer violating your Charter protected rights.
  • Challenging technical aspects of the breathalyzer and/or breath or blood testing procedure.
  • Challenging the police officer’s reasons for obtaining a breath sample.
  • Challenging the police officer’s subjective judgement regarding impairment.

We highly recommend that you consult with one of our firm’s Richmond Hill Impaired Lawyers regarding the best steps to take in dealing with your impaired driving charge. You have every right to seek consultation upon your arrest and our impaired driving lawyers stand ready to help with any DUI situation.

Call our expert Richmond Hill impaired driving lawyers

To book a free consultation with an experienced Richmond Hill impaired driving lawyer, call Mass Tsang LLP at 416-907-4097 or visit our website here . With over 20 years of experience, our team of impaired driving lawyers services Richmond Hill, Richmond Hill, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Milton and the GTA.



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