"I wasn't able to provide a breath sample and they charged me"
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.
"The Approved Screening Device"
When a breath sample is demanded the roadside breath testing machine is used by the officer who pulled you over or stopped you at a RIDE spotcheck or traffic stop. This portable, hand-held machine is called an “Approved Screening Device". It is used to determine your approximate blood alcohol level, but it is less accurate than the machines kept in police stations. You may be told to blow in to this machine to tests your breath for alcohol or perform physical co-ordination tests. If you fail or refuse to provide a breath sample or to perform the physical co-ordination tests, you will be charged under the Criminal Code.
Not providing sufficient samples of breath for the required duration, playing with/removing the mouthpiece from the machine, not blowing properly and not complying with instructions would lead to the Failure to provide a breath sample. If the person has a phobia or a medical reason for not providing a breath sample he must inform the testing officer so an alternative sample can be collected. Refusing to provide a blood or urine sample could lead to the offence. Claiming to have complied by taking the roadside breath test could lead to the offence since this has been held to be a preliminary test only.
(3.3) If the evaluating officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that the person has alcohol in their body and if a demand was not made under paragraph (2)(b) or subsection (3), the evaluating officer may, by demand made as soon as practicable, require the person to provide, as soon as practicable, a sample of breath that, in the evaluating officer's opinion, will enable a proper analysis to be made by means of an approved instrument.
Samples of bodily substances
(3.4) If, on completion of the evaluation, the evaluating officer has reasonable grounds to believe, based on the evaluation, that the person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle, a vessel, an aircraft or railway equipment is impaired by a drug or by a combination of alcohol and a drug, the evaluating officer may, by demand made as soon as practicable, require the person to provide, as soon as practicable,
(a) a sample of either oral fluid or urine that, in the evaluating officer’s opinion, will enable a proper analysis to be made to determine whether the person has a drug in their body; or
(b) samples of blood that, in the opinion of the qualified medical practitioner or qualified technician taking the samples, will enable a proper analysis to be made to determine whether the person has a drug in their body.
Condition
(4) Samples of blood may be taken from a person under subsection (3) or (3.4) only by or under the direction of a qualified medical practitioner who is satisfied that taking the samples would not endanger the person's life or health.
Failure or refusal to comply with demand
(5) Everyone commits an offence who, without reasonable excuse, fails or refuses to comply with a demand made under this section.
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)