The BC Supreme Court has ruled that people with serious drug addictions are protected by the equality guarantee in s 15 of the Charter, and that the law criminalizing possession for the purpose of trafficking discriminates against them. The decision in R v Kalicum, 2026 BCSC 1855, was released on September 29, 2026. The case […]
BC Court Rules Drug Addiction Is a Disability Protected by the Charter Continue Reading »
In June 2014, we wrote a blog post addressing what scientific research the British Columbia government had conducted before it began punishing drivers on the basis of roadside breathalyzer results. The answer was that it had conducted none. An Approved Screening Device was (and is) exactly what its name suggested. It was a screening device.
BC Turned a Screening Device Into a Punishment Machine. Where Is the Science? Continue Reading »
Later this month marks the sixteenth anniversary of British Columbia’s Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) scheme, introduced on September 20, 2010. Over the past sixteen years, thousands of drivers across BC have experienced the exact same stomach-drop moment at the side of the road. You had a couple of drinks with dinner or a single pint
“I Was Under but Blew Over”: The Science, the Trap, and 16 Years of the IRP Continue Reading »
When a BC Court of Appeal panel led by Chief Justice Leonard Marchand recently reduced the life sentences of two teens convicted of the 2019 killing of South Surrey mechanic, the reaction was understandably painful. The victim’s family said they were shocked and disappointed, and no written judgment, however carefully reasoned, can ease the grief
Youth, Rehabilitation, and the Limits of Adult Sentencing Continue Reading »
The short answer is yes. You can fight an Immediate Roadside Prohibition in British Columbia. But the longer, more honest answer is that success depends heavily on the specific grounds available in your case, and many reviews fail. Here’s what you need to know before deciding whether to pursue one. How IRP Reviews Work The
Can You Fight an IRP in BC? How Reviews Work and When They Fail Continue Reading »
The Immediate Roadside Prohibition system can feel like a black box. Police take your licence, hand you paperwork, and you’re left trying to understand what just happened and what comes next. Here’s a clear, step-by-step explanation of how the system actually works from beginning to end. Step 1: The Roadside Stop It begins when a
How BC’s Immediate Roadside Prohibition System Actually Works (Step-by-Step) Continue Reading »
This is one of the most important questions for anyone facing a DUI charge in BC. And the answer is more complicated than most people expect, because “your record” means different things in different contexts. Your Criminal Record If you’re convicted of a Criminal Code impaired driving offence, whether over .08, impaired, or refusal, that conviction
How Long Does a DUI Stay on Your Record in British Columbia? Continue Reading »
In April of 2026, a BC woman who once worked in Punjabi-language broadcasting was sentenced in New Westminster to five and a half years in jail after she was caught attempting to bring more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine across the Canada–US border. For many readers, the numbers are staggering; both the quantity of the
Cross-Border Drug Importation Continue Reading »
If police showed up at your home, walked up your driveway, and opened your car door to begin an impaired driving investigation, you might have a stronger case than you realize. In February 2026, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in R. v. Singer, 2026 SCC 8, and it has changed the rules
R. v. Singer: What the Supreme Court Just Said About Police in Your Driveway Continue Reading »
If you’re trying to understand whether an “over .08” charge or a refusal charge is worse in BC, the answer isn’t as simple as it might seem. On paper, the mandatory minimum penalties are nearly identical. In practice, the two charges are very different, and which one is “worse” depends largely on the specific facts
Over 80 vs Refusal: Which Charge Is Worse in BC? Continue Reading »
A lot of people who’ve been stopped for impaired driving in BC think they’re dealing with one problem. In reality, they’re often dealing with two entirely separate legal systems operating simultaneously — the provincial administrative system and the criminal justice system. Understanding the difference is fundamental to knowing what you’re facing. The Provincial System: Immediate
DUI vs IRP in British Columbia: Two Different Systems, Two Different Risks Continue Reading »
If you have been pulled over in British Columbia in the past year or two and asked to blow into a small handheld device at the roadside, there is a good chance that device was federally approved under an updated Canadian regulation that most drivers have never heard of. One of the newest approved devices,
