The Law Society of British Columbia recently suspended a lawyer for one month after he received an Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) and attempted to use his professional status to get out of it. The regulator found that the lawyer’s behaviour was unbecoming. This makes it clear that, for many professionals, a police investigation and the […]
Lawyer Suspended After IRP: A Tale of Professional Consequences Continue Reading »
Getting charged with a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) for the first time is a stressful and often confusing experience. You might be wondering what penalties you’re facing and how it will affect your future. Here’s a clear breakdown of what a first-time DUI in Canada typically involves and why hiring a lawyer is one
What is the First Offence of DUI in Canada? Continue Reading »
Yesterday was the 6th anniversary of Bill C-46, which amended the Criminal Code with respect to impaired driving provisions and other criminal driving provisions. This was meant to correspond with the legalization of cannabis in Canada. As you may recall, there was moral panic fomented by the Conservatives suggesting that there would be carnage on
Newest Developments in Impaired Driving Law in Canada Continue Reading »
A Changing Landscape in Police Encounters on the Road For years, Dodge trucks were known to be involved in more DUI incidents than any other vehicle. Of course, Dodge marketed its trucks as rebellious and rugged, appealing to drivers who might view themselves as outside of the rules. Their large size and street presence likely
From Dodge to Tesla Continue Reading »
On December 18, new impaired-driving laws that are stricter than ever before will come into effect. They include harsher penalties, amendments to existing offences and some entirely new offences altogether. You may not have heard about them until now, but you shouldn’t feel bad. There has been virtually no publicity from the government of Canada
Canada’s strict new impaired driving laws Continue Reading »
In May, the federal government tabled Bill C-46, which would amend the Criminal Code for impaired driving offences. The proposed changes come on the eve of the government’s legalization of recreational cannabis use, and they include new “legal limit” drug offences, as well as mandatory alcohol screening. Proponents say that mandatory alcohol screening, for one,
New drinking and driving rules bring mandatory alcohol screening to Canada Continue Reading »
Until legislation is introduced giving police officers new ways to determine whether a driver is impaired by drugs, one of the more common tools at police disposal remains the Standard Field Sobriety Tests (SFST). The internationally used test falls into three parts: a check for involuntary eye movement, walking and turning in a line, and
Walk in a line: three co-ordination tests used to check sobriety Continue Reading »
Earlier this year, the Federal Government invited 24 police officers across Canada to test a pair of devices that claim to screen drug-impaired drivers. The roadside drug screening evaluations were conducted between December 18, 2016 and March 6, 2017 and included several officers from the Vancouver Police Department. Two devices were selected for the pilot
The many problems of roadside drug screening Continue Reading »
