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Impaired Driving (DUI) Lawyer Toronto

Care and control of a motor vehicle mean you might not have been operating the vehicle or even behind the wheel at all, but the vehicle was under your direct responsibility. A good example of this is “sleeping it off” in a car while under the influence. The Crown prosecutor has to prove intention such as that you had the intention of starting the vehicle or there was a risk that you would accidentally set the vehicle in motion.

During our defense, we will bring in such factors as the location of the keys, your position in the vehicle, and your plans for alternative transportation. As an example, if you were sleeping in the back seat and you are being charged with intending to start the motor vehicle, no judge will buy this. Another example is if you are accused of intending to start the vehicle while you had already called an Uber.

Understanding Impaired Driving & DUI Lawyer Toronto – Impaired Driving Lawyer

In Canada, ‘impaired driving’ refers to a criminal offence of operating or having care or control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

DUI (driving under the influence) is the most common criminal charge in Canada and it happens if you drive with a blood alcohol level in excess of 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood (.08). Impaired driving and driving with blood alcohol level in excess of .08 attract similar penalties.

The 3 criminal DUI offences in Canada

Impaired Driving or Care & Control of a Motor Vehicle

The Canadian Criminal Code prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, the Crown prosecutor has to prove that your ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by drugs or alcohol during the driving or care and control of the motor vehicle.

Note that the Crown prosecutor only needs to prove there was even the slightest hint of impairment, but he/she still has to prove this beyond any reasonable doubt.

Our impaired driving lawyer at Costa Law Firm, we have been defending clients against impaired driving charges for several years now. We also partner up with medical experts and personal injury lawyer to ensure the court looks at such factors as comprehension, evidence of balance, motor skills, judgment, reaction time, physical movement, and coordination during the time of the arrest.

Care and control of a motor vehicle mean you might not have been operating the vehicle or even behind the wheel at all, but the vehicle was under your direct responsibility. A good example of this is “sleeping it off” in a car while under the influence. The Crown prosecutor has to prove intention such as that you had the intention of starting the vehicle or there was a risk that you would accidentally set the vehicle in motion.

During our defense, we will bring in such factors as the location of the keys, your position in the vehicle, and your plans for alternative transportation. As an example, if you were sleeping in the back seat and you are being charged with intending to start the motor vehicle, no judge will buy this. Another example is if you are accused of intending to start the vehicle while you had already called an Uber.

Impaired Driving or Care & Control of a Motor Vehicle

The Canadian Criminal Code prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, the Crown prosecutor has to prove that your ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by drugs or alcohol during the driving or care and control of the motor vehicle.

Note that the Crown prosecutor only needs to prove there was even the slightest hint of impairment, but he/she still has to prove this beyond any reasonable doubt.

Our impaired driving lawyer at Costa Law Firm, we have been defending clients against impaired driving charges for several years now. We will ensure the court looks at such factors as comprehension, evidence of balance, motor skills, judgment, reaction time, physical movement, and coordination during the time of the arrest.

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Driving or Having Care & Control while Over 80

This is a more serious charge because it means you are charged with driving or being in care and control of a motor vehicle while you are already drunk. To sustain this charge, the police officer will have taken a blood sample through a qualified technical at the police station or used a breath analyzer and the results should have shown that you have a blood alcohol level of over 80mg of alcohol in 100mL of blood.

Under section 253 of the Canadian Criminal Code, if an officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that you have committed an offence within the past 3 hours due to alcohol, he/she can demand that you provide “suitable breath samples into an approved instrument.”

On the other hand, blood samples are taken if you are unable to give a breath sample (such as if you have been injured in a motor vehicle collision). An officer of the peace can demand a blood sample, with the approval of a medical doctor, and the doctor or nurse can assist collect the sample.

Although this is much more difficult to argue and win, we will urge the court to exclude the samples from its consideration. As an example, we may argue that the findings were not accurate due to equipment or human error, even when there is a Certificate of a Qualified Technician. In case of toxicology reports, we will argue the inaccuracy of the assumptions the extrapolated readings are predicated on.

Failure or Refusal to Provide Breath Sample

Under Canadian law, you are obligated to provide breath samples if a valid demand is made by an officer of the peace, unless there is a reasonable and understandable reason not to do this.

If you are accused of not failure or refusal to provide a breath sample, we will argue that the demand was not valid and it violated your “protection against unreasonable searches and seizures” which is in section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Failure to comply with an invalid demand is not an offence. We will apply before the judge to have these results excluded as evidence under section 24(2) of the Charter. We will also argue that there was a reasonable excuse not to give the breath sample.

This is a more serious charge because it means you are charged with driving or being in care and control of a motor vehicle while you are already drunk. To sustain this charge, the police officer will have taken a blood sample through a qualified technical at the police station or used a breath analyzer and the results should have shown that you have a blood alcohol level of over 80mg of alcohol in 100mL of blood.

Under section 253 of the Canadian Criminal Code, if an officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that you have committed an offence within the past 3 hours due to alcohol, he/she can demand that you provide “suitable breath samples into an approved instrument.”

On the other hand, blood samples are taken if you are unable to give a breath sample (such as if you have been injured in a motor vehicle collision). An officer of the peace can demand a blood sample, with the approval of a medical doctor, and the doctor or nurse can assist collect the sample.

Although this is much more difficult to argue and win, we will urge the court to exclude the samples from its consideration. As an example, we may argue that the findings were not accurate due to equipment or human error, even when there is a Certificate of a Qualified Technician. In case of toxicology reports, we will argue the inaccuracy of the assumptions the extrapolated readings are predicated on.

Failure or Refusal to Provide Breath Sample

Under Canadian law, you are obligated to provide breath samples if a valid demand is made by an officer of the peace, unless there is a reasonable and understandable reason not to do this.

If you are accused of not failure or refusal to provide a breath sample, we will argue that the demand was not valid and it violated your “protection against unreasonable searches and seizures” which is in section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Failure to comply with an invalid demand is not an offence. We will apply before the judge to have these results excluded as evidence under section 24(2) of the Charter. We will also argue that there was a reasonable excuse not to give the breath sample.

Second Time

  • Mandatory treatment program or education
  • A fine with the amount at the discretion of the judge
  • 3-year minimum requirement to drive a car that has an ignition interlock device
  • 30-day minimum jail sentence
  • 2-year licence suspension
  • Third and subsequent times
  • Mandatory treatment program or education
  • A fine with the amount at the discretion of the judge
  • Variable interlock periods
  • 120-day minimum jail sentence
  • 3-year licence suspension

DUI Penalties Lawyer Toronto

You need a impaired driving lawyer Toronto for DUI cases because the penalties for driving under the influence are quite serious. They include:

If you are convicted, you will get an automatic Canada-wide driving prohibition, and either a jail sentence or a fine and the possibility of probation.

First Time

  • Mandatory treatment program or education
  • $1,000 fine and victim fine surcharge of 30%
  • 1-year minimum requirement to drive a car that has an ignition interlock device
  • No minimum jail sentence
  • 1-year licence suspension

Second Time

  • Mandatory treatment program or education
  • A fine with the amount at the discretion of the judge
  • 3-year minimum requirement to drive a car that has an ignition interlock device
  • 30-day minimum jail sentence
  • 2-year licence suspension
  • Third and subsequent times
  • Mandatory treatment program or education
  • A fine with the amount at the discretion of the judge
  • Variable interlock periods
  • 120-day minimum jail sentence
  • 3-year licence suspension

Other than these penalties, another reason to avoid DUI charges is that with them come higher insurance rates, a criminal record, and you could get someone killed. The Ministry of Transportation may also impose even heftier penalties, including suspension of your license for life (which we can assist your appeal after the lapse of 10 years).

Avoid driving under the influence since you risk 10 years in jail if someone is hurt and a life sentence if someone is killed. Whatever happens, we are here for you. You can call us on 416-535-6329 to ask a criminal defence lawyer Toronto any question you may have on impaired driving and DUI.

First Time

  • Mandatory treatment program or education
  • $1,000 fine and victim fine surcharge of 30%
  • 1-year minimum requirement to drive a car that has an ignition interlock device
  • No minimum jail sentence
  • 1-year licence suspension

Other than these penalties, another reason to avoid DUI charges is that with them come higher insurance rates, a criminal record, and you could get someone killed. The Ministry of Transportation may also impose even heftier penalties, including suspension of your license for life (which we can assist your appeal after the lapse of 10 years).

Avoid driving under the influence since you risk 10 years in jail if someone is hurt and a life sentence if someone is killed. Whatever happens, we are here for you. You can call us on 416-535-6329 to ask a criminal defence lawyer Toronto any question you may have on impaired driving and DUI.

Testimonials

What our clients are saying.

If I could give David Costa more than 5 stars I would. The moment that I called him in 2015, I knew right away that he was the right person to represent my son. He gave my son a list of things to do to help his case. David replied to every email that I sent to him and answered all my questions no matter how many times I asked the same questions. He even talked to my son when he thought my son was not doing enough to get the best possible outcome. We are pleased with the outcome of the case. Excellent lawyer! Highly recommended! Definitely Toronto’s Top Lawyer!
Rusty Moore
Rusty Moore
15:55 16 Jan 19
David Costa was my brother’s defense lawyer on a first degree murder charge. I called the lawyer the moment my brother was arrested. There was absolutely no physical evidence against my brother. There were alibi witnesses and coroner evidence that he could not have killed the victim. And Mr. Costa did everything we asked him to do as our lawyer. He called the alibi witnesses, he made sure all evidences are preserved, he hired a PI and did an investigation of his own. He did everything he could to save my brother from jail. Our whole family is grateful to David Costa for his knowledge, experience, support and strong motivation. David is a very good man.
Jeffrey Wen
Jeffrey Wen
02:34 27 Nov 18
The charges I had were dismissed, however along the way I spoke to a couple lawyers. I stuck with David because I could tell he had a level of knowledge others didn’t. He also was always very quick to get back to me. If I ever need a lawyer in the future it will be David for sure and I also recommend him to anyone needing legal assistance.
James Obryant
James Obryant
17:02 15 Jan 19
The best adoption lawyer in Toronto! David Costa walked us through everything, and was with us every second on the big day! We did not have many face to face meetings, as he communicates very well via email. This is definitely a lawyer who takes his time to do it correctly. We honestly can’t thank him enough!
Ruth Bowen
Ruth Bowen
02:34 13 Jan 19
Mr. Costa is a great lawyer. He is a professional who always answered my calls/emails promptly and kept me informed on the latest information regarding my case. I am happy with the outcome and I recommend him to anyone who needs a defense lawyer.
Frank Elliott
Frank Elliott
06:28 13 Jan 19
From my experience, as a client and referring clients to Costa Law Firm keeps satisfying me and referred family, friends, and business contacts. They are easy to reach, easy to talk to, and make what can be a complex legal system very manageable .
Benji Teixeira
Benji Teixeira
17:41 09 Apr 19
Excellent lawyer with great work ethics, professionalism, knowledge and understanding. I hired him to represent me for traffic violation. He explained me everything about the case and expected outcomes. He studied my case in detail and in the end got the case dismissed. Highly recommended.
Willie Sweeney
Willie Sweeney
16:47 05 Jan 19
My family and I are grateful for the positive experience we had with Costa Law firm. Kowlasar Misir, our Lawyer was extremely honest, thorough and trusting through out the entire process of our family case. We had the pleasure of meeting with Kowlasar for a second time recently and again the help and understanding surpassed my expectations.
Tania E
Tania E
15:14 28 Aug 19
Mr. Costa was a great help with my custody case. He walked me through the process step-by-step and gave me some useful tips. I am relieved now that I got a full custody of my daughter. Back than I was quite shaken by the circumstances and his confidence really was just what I needed.
Jeanne Axy
Jeanne Axy
03:25 15 Sep 19
Back in 2017, my nephew was accused of a fraud over $5000, he was only 19 and my family felt horrible for him. Costa Law did everything to defend him and was able to help him. We are very grateful to David and his team and strongly recommend them.
Katie Quirk
Katie Quirk
12:12 17 Sep 19
David was handling my DUI case and I could not be more grateful. I gave him a call right after I got arrested, he calmed me down and gave me an action plan. I don’t know how things would turn out if I would go with another lawyer. This guy is worth every penny spent on his services.
Clyde Wiley
Clyde Wiley
09:05 19 Sep 19
Costa Law was incredible experience from day one. Very intelligent, compassionate and accessible team, I felt like they actually cared about my case.  I strongly recommend them for criminal defence cases (speaking from personal experience).
Mary Schmitt
Mary Schmitt
04:30 26 Sep 19
Back in 2009 I was a troublesome young man and managed to get a criminal record. Time have passed and I changed, but my record remained as a reminder of my past, reminder that made my life more difficult than needed.  I was referred to David Costa by one of my friends who also had a similar experience. He helped me to get a pardon and today my record is clean. I feel like that weight is finally off my shoulders.
William Palmisano
William Palmisano
03:11 27 Sep 19
Thanks to these guys I was able to close the deal on my dream house! I can’t stop braging about Costa Law, they are an amazing team and deserve all the credit.
Freddy Bishop
Freddy Bishop
02:46 09 Oct 19
My son was arrested for possession of Schedule 1 drug back in January. I was completely mortified. David did an amazing job minimizing penalties, he was there for our family throughout the whole process. I strongly recommend Costa Law to anyone who needs help to deal with criminal charges.
Nicolas Lane
Nicolas Lane
07:50 12 Oct 19
David is so on point! He worked on my criminal defence case, great guy and great outcome. Would give him 10 stars if I could.
Gillian Smith
Gillian Smith
08:50 29 Oct 19
David worked on my sister in law sponsorship application. She is from Bulgaria and the immigration process from that country to Canada is pretty complex. My brother told us David was always reachable, answered every question they had and most importantly, my sister in law is now in Canada with us!
Karen Gallo
Karen Gallo
08:42 08 Nov 19
David is very professional and thorough. He helped me to deal with my speeding over 50 charge. Great job!
Bahareh Shai
Bahareh Shai
19:13 21 Jan 20
Best Lawyer ever! dropped my charges a few years ago, still keep in touch with him! really appreciate his work and effort! life changing ! He's the best lawyer in the field!
Lucy Zimmerman
Lucy Zimmerman
19:29 19 Feb 20
I was refered to David by a good friend of mine, when I needed help the most. It was a difficult time for me and working with him on my side really helped me to get through it. I recommend David and his law firm to anyone who needs help with criminal law.
Terri Burningham
Terri Burningham
03:37 17 Feb 20
I had a DUI charge and was very anxious about it as you can imagine. Looking for a bail lawyer I scheduled meetings at several law firms. Costa was my third meeting and the moment we set down with him I knew he should represent me. He is compassionate and honest guy who genuinely wants best for his clients. I can't thank him enough for all the help with my case.
Sean Keller
Sean Keller
15:12 25 Feb 20
I had GREAT experience hiring mr. costa as my bail lawyer, highly recommend!
Scott Chen
Scott Chen
16:07 26 Feb 20

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