I’ve Been Charged with a DUI for Impaired Driving

Have you been charged with a DUI for Impaired Driving in Nova Scotia? We can help you.

A charge or conviction related to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can have a serious impact on almost every aspect of your life. Impaired driving falls under the Criminal Code of Canada and the three most common charges are impaired driving, driving over the legal limit (“over 80” or “over 0.8”), and refusing to provide a breath/blood sample or perform a sobriety test. You can be charged with impaired driving of a car, truck, ATV, boat, or aircraft.

In Nova Scotia, the consequences for an impaired driving conviction are wide-ranging. And in addition to the penalties found in the Criminal Code of Canada, our province imposes additional penalties related to impaired driving. Depending on the charge, you may be facing:

• Losing your license for anywhere from 7 days to permanently

• Fines up to $2000

• The cost of alcohol interlock devices

• The costs of mandatory alcohol rehabilitation

• Legal fees

• Increased insurance costs or inability to get insurance

• The social and employment costs of having a criminal record​

Because a DUI conviction can have such drastic and wide-ranging consequences, it’s critical to work with an experienced lawyer who knows impaired driving law inside and out. Some of the aspects of your case that a lawyer may be able to challenge on your behalf include:

• Whether the the breath or blood sample was taken properly and legally

• Whether there is a possibility of a false positive test results

• Whether you were truly in care and control of the vehicle

• Whether you were stopped for a valid reason

• Whether you were properly informed of your rights

The lawyers at Hutchison Law are skilled and experienced impaired driving lawyers who will defend your constitutional rights within the complicated criminal justice system.