Blog Archives

DUI vs IRP in British Columbia: Two Different Systems, Two Different Risks

Jul 22 2026

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 […]

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Meet the Alcotest 6000: The New Roadside Breathalyzr BC Police Will Be Using – and How It Can Be Challenged

Jul 14 2026

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,

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Over 80 vs Refusal: Which Charge Is Worse in BC?

Jul 7 2026

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 »

Vancouver DUI Lawyer: What Actually Matters When Choosing Defence Counsel

Jun 30 2026

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

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DUI vs IRP in British Columbia: Two Different Systems, Two Different Risks

Jun 23 2026

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

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Who Gets the Work? A Look at Equity in Legal Aid Data

Jun 17 2026

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 »

How a Pardon for Impaired Driving Affects Future Charges

Jun 9 2026

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

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Can I Drive After Being Issued an IRP in BC? Temporary Licences Explained

Jun 3 2026

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 »

Teslas, Accidents, and the Insurance Fight You Didn’t Expect

May 26 2026

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

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AI is Not Your Lawyer

May 19 2026

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

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Driving while prohibited in BC: Why these cases are harder for the government to prove than people think

May 13 2026

People facing a driving while prohibited charge in British Columbia may think that proving the case would be fairly straightforward. The police say a person was prohibited, the person was driving, and that, you would think, would be enough for a prosecutor to prove their case. That is not quite how it works in British

Driving while prohibited in BC: Why these cases are harder for the government to prove than people think Continue Reading »

Is an IRP a Criminal Offence?

May 5 2026

You are pulled over by the police, and the officer makes you blow into a hand-held breathalyzer. You understand that the officer is conducting a roadside investigation. The officer uses words such as “in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Code” before you blow into the handheld breathalyzer. All of this takes place while

Is an IRP a Criminal Offence? Continue Reading »

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DUI vs IRP in British Columbia: Two Different Systems, Two Different Risks

Meet the Alcotest 6000: The New Roadside Breathalyzr BC Police Will Be Using – and How It Can Be Challenged

Over 80 vs Refusal: Which Charge Is Worse in BC?

Vancouver DUI Lawyer: What Actually Matters When Choosing Defence Counsel

DUI vs IRP in British Columbia: Two Different Systems, Two Different Risks

Who Gets the Work? A Look at Equity in Legal Aid Data

How a Pardon for Impaired Driving Affects Future Charges

Can I Drive After Being Issued an IRP in BC? Temporary Licences Explained

Teslas, Accidents, and the Insurance Fight You Didn’t Expect

AI is Not Your Lawyer

Driving while prohibited in BC: Why these cases are harder for the government to prove than people think

Is an IRP a Criminal Offence?

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