Charged with Care and Control in Ontario?
it must be remembered that you are presumed innocent until proven guilty and the Crown bears the heavy burden of proving all essential elements of the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Given the heavy penalties involved you owe it to yourself to seek the best possible representation from an experienced lawyer with a record of defending these types of cases. If you are uncertain about your rights and need to win the case to keep your licence and avoid a criminal record then why not call the Impaired Driving Defence Centre? Our initial consultation is always free and IDDC colleagues can speak with you, promptly.
" I was charged with a DUI but I wasn't even driving "
A person does not need to be actually driving or operating their vehicle to be charged with a drinking and driving offence in Ontario. It is also possible to be charged and convicted if a person is in care or control of their vehicle. This is due to the risk of an intoxicated person losing their judgment and operating a vehicle they have care or control of.
Care or control has been defined as whether a person has taken any acts that could cause the vehicle to become a danger whether by putting it in motion or by some other way.
If a person is found to be in the driver's seat of a motor vehicle (or the seat normally occupied by the operator of one of the other types of vehicles listed), they are presumed to be in care or control of the vehicle. The presumption can only be rebutted if the person is able to show on a balance of probabilities that at the time the person occupied the seat he or she did not occupy the seat for the purpose of putting the vehicle in motion. However, even if the person is able to rebut the presumption, the prosecutor may still be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they met the traditional definition of care or control (example, had keys in pocket while intoxicated).
Charged with Over 80, Impaired Driving?
Blowing over 80 is the most common drinking and driving Charge that is defended in the courts. In Ontario, operating an automobile, boat, snowmobile or motorcycle - motorized vehicle with an alcohol level that exceeds 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood is over the legal limit.
You were arrested!
Until the evidence is seen by a Criminal Lawyer only then can your options be presented to you. How much will this cost? Again, you need to sit down with a lawyer to understand the complexities of your case. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Toronto & GTA Call 289.481.1007- Outside GTA Call 1-877-497-3927
First Offence:
- First offence, with blood alcohol content of 80-129 mg: mandatory minimum $1,000 fine
- First offence, with blood alcohol content of 130-159 mg: mandatory minimum $1,500 fine
- First offence, with blood alcohol content of 160 mg or more: mandatory minimum $2,000 fine
- First offence, but refuse to be tested: mandatory minimum $2,000 fine
- Mandatory education or treatment program
- Mandatory Ignition Interlock period of at least 9 months
- Prohibited from Operating a motor vehicle of any kind within Canada for a minimum of 1 year, subject to the ignition interlock program
Second Offence:
- Mandatory education or treatment program
- 3 year minimum requirement to drive a car equipped with an ignition interlock device; subject to the Stream D program
- mandatory minimum 30 days imprisonment
- Fine amount at the discretion of the judge
- Licence suspended for minimum 3 years by the Ministry of Transport; subject to the Stream D program
- Minimum 2 year prohibition on operating a motor vehicle anywhere in Canada, even if they don’t require a driver’s license
Third and subsequent Offences:
- Mandatory education or treatment program
- Variable interlock periods (depending on sequence of prior convictions)
- mandatory minimum 120 days imprisonment
- Lifetime licence suspension (can be reduced to 10 years if certain conditions are met on the third conviction; on fourth or subsequent conviction lifetime suspension with no possibility of reduction)