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Impaired Driving & DUI Defence Lawyer in Toronto

Often understood as “drunk driving” or “DUI”, it is the offence of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Criminal lawyers who practice in this area of law in Canada, refer to it is as “impaired driving” or “over 80”. Drivers are charged with this offence if police have a suspicion of impairment and can request a breath sample into an ASD- Approved Screening Device if they have reasonable and probable grounds to do so. If your breath into the device registers a fail then the police will initiate an arrest and transport you to the police station where they will request another 2 breath samples.

“DUI” Charges are serious criminal charges and you can be charged these offences or a combination of the following –

  • Impaired Driving – these criminal charges arise when police have a suspicion that a driver has alcohol and/or drugs in their system.
  • Over 80 – If after your breath sample it is found that you have over 80 mg of blood alcohol content then you are charged “Over 80”
  • Failure to provide a breath sample – If the police make a request of a motorist to provide a breath sample and you refuse a breathalyzer in Ontario, without reasonable grounds, then a criminal charge can be laid.

Impaired driving cases in Toronto can be quite complex, and it’s important to have qualified criminal lawyers on your side.

DUI lawyer Toronto Jeffrey I. Reisman knows the law and will work to get the best possible outcome for your case. As a criminal defence lawyer, Jeffrey I. Reisman has a wealth of experience in dealing with DUI cases. He knows the best ways to defending DUI charges against the accusations and ensure his clients receive a fair trial.

What are the Consequences of Impaired Driving?

These charges are very serious and can cause you to lose your license, face potential jail time and even a criminal record. Having a criminal record can hurt your employment, credit, housing and travel opportunities.

Additionally, the ancillary effects of a conviction far outweigh the immediate fine or sentence. Upon a finding of guilt for impaired driving (or “over 80” or “DUI”), insurance premiums will skyrocket, there will be a mandatory driving suspension for a period of one year, as well as remedial programs imposed by the government to transition back into driving (such as ignition interlock systems installed in vehicles). All of this comes with a considerable expense and unbearable inconvenience to those people who rely upon their driving for work and day-to-day purposes. Other consequences may include:

  • 90 Day Automatic License Suspension
  • Drivers License Suspension ranging from 1 year on your first offence to a lifetime for your third offence
  • Minimum jail sentences from 30 to 120 days
  • Installation of an Ignition Interlock
  • Completing a mandatory educational program

Because the penalties can be great in these cases it is important to have an experienced Toronto DUI lawyer defend your case. DUI charges can be complicated, and an expert understanding of the situation and the law is required to secure your future. Jeffrey Reisman, an experienced criminal lawyer will fight for your drinking and driving case. His years of experience may result in the drinking and driving charges being withdrawn or substantially reduced. He has extensive trial experience in the United States and Canada and will be able to walk you through each step of your defence. He will never leave you in the dark about your case.

How urgent is it to hire a lawyer for my impaired driving charge?

Unfortunately, there is no simple, or inexpensive way to address impaired driving charges. Even though criminal lawyers fees may be high, they will often pale in comparison to the money spent on insurance and other matters if a conviction is registered. Therefore, do not agree to plead guilty until you understand whether there are defences that apply to your case, and what the consequences are of a conviction like this.

If you are facing drinking and driving charges, it is important to seek legal advice from qualified impaired driving lawyers as soon as possible. Drinking and driving can have serious consequences, including fines, imprisonment, and a criminal record.

Contact Jeffrey I. Reisman today for a free consultation!

Jeffrey I. Reisman is a skilled DUI lawyer who knows how to navigate the complicated DUI laws in Toronto. He will work tirelessly to get the best possible outcome for your careless driving case. Whether it means negotiating a plea deal or going to trial, he will be there every step of the way.

What can an Impaired Driving Lawyer Do to Help?

Obviously, a person can approach this however they wish. The choice on whether to hire an impaired driving lawyer or not is up to the person charged with the offence. However, delaying this decision can also have consequences as there are time limits on different approaches for these types of offences in Ontario.

In particular, if a person decides to plead guilty early they are eligible for “Stream A” or “Stream B” license reinstatement and reduced driving prohibitions. For those impaired driving charges in Ontario, a detailed explanation of the differences between such programs can be found at the Ministry of Transportation website on impaired driving consequences and the Back on Track Program.

Depending on the facts of your case, entering such a program may or may not be advisable. However, those decisions need to be made promptly and no less than 90 days from the date of the offence in the case of “Stream A” allowances. This is why it is very important to obtain proper legal advice and assistance at the earliest opportunity so that a prudent course of action can be decided upon by the alleged offender. In short, speak to a lawyer as soon as possible regardless of your intended course of action so you can fully appreciate the consequences to your actions and whether there is any way to avoid culpability, including proving one’s innocence.

If you’ve been charged with drunk driving, it’s important to seek legal counsel from experienced impaired driving lawyers. Jeffrey I. Reisman is a criminal defence lawyer who has successfully represented clients charged with impaired driving offences in Toronto and throughout Ontario.

Do I really need a lawyer for impaired driving charges?

Impaired driving is an extremely complicated and specialized area of law that requires a great deal of experience and knowledge to understand what the issues may be as it relates to your case. To name only a few common aspects:

  • Can the Crown prove the person was in “care and control” of the motor vehicle at the time of the offence?
  • Was there an intention or act of driving even if they had constructive care and control of the vehicle (for example, found drunk sleeping in a running car to keep warm)?
  • Were the devices used approved in law?
  • Were the devices in proper working order and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications?
  • Did the police engage in the testing as soon as practicable?
  • Were there any constitutional violations in obtaining the samples or observations of impairment?
  • Was the person detained in excess of what they ought to have been in the circumstances?
  • Do the observations made prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person was impaired at the time?
  • Does new provisions under the Criminal Code to establish impairment by drug meet sufficient levels of reliability or are they junk science?

As mentioned, this is only a small fraction of the types of issues a lawyer will look at in assessing the merit to defending an impaired driving / over 80 charge that a client may be facing. Even though a person has an absolute right to defend themselves, they also have an absolute right to try and take out their own wisdom teeth – neither decision will end well.

Contact Jeffrey I. Reisman, criminal defence lawyer, to book a free consultation directly at 647.351.HELP or 647-556-5235

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Testimonials

Jeff Reisman works hard for his clients. I highly recommend him if you’ve been charged with a criminal offence.

Hamzah Khadim

Jeffrey is as shrewd as they come, He cares about your freedom and overall outcome. Court is no joke and I feel most comfortable with Jeffrey on my side.

Justin English

I hired Jeff after arrested for impaired driving/and over .80. He was accessible and always answered his phone when I had questions. He eventually had my case reduced so I didn’t have to undergo a year licence suspension. Hope I never go through this again but if I did would definitely hire him again.

Jose Mendez

Thanks for everything Jeff, Since the day I hired you, You took all my tensions and got me out of this charge.I hope I will not have to go through this again, but in case if it happened, blindly, you will be the first person to contact.

Anurag Panwar

He is a great lawyer. He never let me down. Trust him. Fallow his lead you will get whatever result you want to get. Thank you Jeffrey.

Yigit Kalelioglu

Jeffrey Reisman is an amazing lawyer. He really helped me through my criminal case. He answer all my questions and concerns anytime I needed him. He definitely went over and beyond what was asked/needed. I would highly recommend him. I am forever grateful he made a bad experience much easier to deal with!

Michelle Silva

Jeffrey services are outstanding. Highly recommend.

Renu Kalra

Excellent lawyer. I recommend him for youth cases. He comforted us for the situation and did not give us any hassle. Got us the result we were looking for. Trust me he is good and caring.

Syed Abbas Moosvi

I would recommend Jeffrey Reisman for anyone who is looking for a confident and trustworthy lawyer who really cares about his clients. He helped me through my entire case and got me a great deal. I was very pleased with his work and attitude. I highly recommend Jeffrey for any criminal case.

Kevin Petrson

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Charged or arrested for a criminal offence? Jeff Reisman will defend your rights.