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,
Both “over 80” and refusal are serious criminal charges. In practice, refusal is often treated as worse. An “over 80” charge is based on a breath alcohol concentration over the legal limit. These cases turn on whether the testing process was lawful and reliable. There may be issues with timing, device operation, procedure, and continuity
Over 80 vs Refusal: Which Charge Is Worse in BC? Continue Reading »
People searching for a DUI lawyer are often overwhelmed. Websites promise results. Rankings claim expertise. None of that tells you what actually matters. What matters is experience with impaired driving law in British Columbia. DUI and IRP cases are technical. They turn on procedure, timing, device operation, disclosure practices, and the way the administrative and
Vancouver DUI Lawyer: What Actually Matters When Choosing Defence Counsel Continue Reading »
British Columbia operates two separate impaired driving systems. One is criminal. The other is administrative. They run in parallel and create different risks. The criminal system applies when police lay charges such as impaired driving, over 80, or refusal. These cases proceed through the courts. A conviction can result in a criminal record, fines, driving
DUI vs IRP in British Columbia: Two Different Systems, Two Different Risks Continue Reading »
There is a common story told about the legal profession. It is a story of gradual progress. More women entering law. More young lawyers building practices. More attention to inclusion. On the surface, this report from Legal Aid BC seems to support part of that narrative. The number of women entering criminal defence work has
Who Gets the Work? A Look at Equity in Legal Aid Data Continue Reading »
Many people believe that obtaining a record suspension, commonly known as a pardon, acts as a magic eraser that completely vanishes a past mistake. As a criminal defence lawyer, I am here to tell you that a recent and disappointing judgment from the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, R. v. Skene, has proven that this
How a Pardon for Impaired Driving Affects Future Charges Continue Reading »
One of the first practical questions people ask after receiving an Immediate Roadside Prohibition is whether they can still drive. The Short Answer For most IRPs, you cannot drive during the prohibition period. That’s the whole point of the prohibition. However, there are some nuances worth understanding, particularly around temporary licenses if there is an
Can I Drive After Being Issued an IRP in BC? Temporary Licences Explained Continue Reading »
Sometimes the law hits close to home. Yesterday, just two blocks from our office in Richmond, I watched a Tesla being loaded onto a flatbed, badly smashed, It wasn’t remarkable in the abstract. What made it striking is how unremarkable it has become. We see this more and more, and increasingly, we see what comes
Teslas, Accidents, and the Insurance Fight You Didn’t Expect Continue Reading »
Everyone is talking about AI. We would like to be clear about how it works here. We’ve spent time testing these tools. More than once, we’ve asked an AI a specific legal question only for it to confidently hand us an answer that was flat-out wrong. When we’re talking wrong, we mean not just slightly
AI is Not Your Lawyer Continue Reading »
