Toronto DUI & Impaired Driving Lawyer
Impaired driving charges are technical and demanding to defend. Robb MacDonald has spent more than fifteen years defending drinking and driving cases, and he assesses the evidence carefully to find every available defence.
Drinking and Driving Charges in Ontario
Impaired driving law most often involves operating a motor vehicle while affected by alcohol, but it also captures impairment by drugs or other intoxicants. In Ontario, drivers suspected of impairment are frequently charged with several related offences at once. Robb MacDonald represents clients facing the full range of these charges:
- Driving while impaired.
- Impaired care or control of a vehicle.
- Driving with a blood alcohol concentration over 80 milligrams.
- Over 80 care or control.
- Refusing or failing to provide a breath sample.
He also handles appeals from impaired driving trials at every level of court in Ontario, up to and including the Supreme Court of Canada.
A Thorough, Evidence-Driven Defence
These charges are difficult to defend, and a strong result depends on a meticulous review of the evidence against you. The defence may turn on how the traffic stop was conducted, whether the police had reasonable grounds for a demand, how the breath samples were taken and recorded, the maintenance and operation of the instrument, and whether your rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms were respected.
Where a Charter breach has occurred, a well-prepared application can lead to evidence being excluded or the charges being stayed entirely. In one reported case, R v. Mach, Robb defended a client facing charges of impaired driving and refusing to provide a breath sample. Despite a strong Crown case, Robb brought a Charter argument under section 11(b) for unreasonable delay, and all charges were ultimately stayed.
It is important to consult a lawyer immediately after charges are laid. The defence must act efficiently to assess the case and preserve every available argument.
Why Early Action Matters
The consequences of a conviction extend well beyond a fine. They can include a criminal record, a lengthy licence suspension, mandatory ignition interlock requirements, higher insurance costs, and in some cases jail. Disclosure must be obtained and analyzed quickly, and time-sensitive defences can be lost if the file sits idle. If you are facing a drinking and driving charge, call Robb to arrange a free consultation and begin building your defence without delay.
Charged with impaired driving? Act now.
Robb is available day and night and in court five days a week. Free, confidential consultation.