L'Orignal & Prescott-Russell DUI & Impaired Driving Defence

Where Your Case Is Heard

All impaired driving matters in Prescott and Russell County are heard at the Ontario Court of Justice, 1023 King Street, L’Orignal — Ontario’s oldest operating courthouse. This venue handles cases from Hawkesbury, Vankleek Hill, Alfred, Plantagenet, Rockland, and other surrounding communities.

How DUI Charges Happen in L’Orignal

In this part of Eastern Ontario, limited public transit means people rely on their vehicles to get to work, attend community events, and visit neighbouring towns. DUI charges often follow what seemed like a reasonable decision, usually because people don’t realize they are over the limit:

• Driving home after dinner and drinks
• Returning from a festival, house party, or community event
• Morning-after driving with alcohol or cannabis still in your system
• Operating a boat on the Ottawa River after a day on the water
• Crossing between Ontario and Quebec without realizing you are over the limit

The Ottawa River and surrounding recreational areas draw boaters, cottage-goers, and tourists. Impaired boating carries the same criminal penalties as impaired driving on the road, and enforcement by the OPP can be strict in summer months.

Charges We Defend

• Alcohol-related offences — impaired operation, “Over 80,” and care and control
• Drug-related offences — cannabis, prescription medications, and other narcotics
• Refusal or failure to provide a breath or blood sample
• Boating DUIs — impaired operation on the Ottawa River or inland lakes
• Snowmobile & ATV DUIs — common in rural and recreational areas

Legal & Personal Consequences

A conviction can mean:

• Criminal record affecting employment, licensing, and volunteer work
• Licence suspension and ignition interlock
• Jail time in serious or repeat cases
• Insurance increases
• Mandatory education or treatment programs
• Travel restrictions, including to the U.S.
• For non-citizens: potential immigration consequences, including inadmissibility or removal from Canada

In a small, close-knit region, reputational damage can be as harmful as the legal penalty.

Why Prescott–Russell Cases Require Local Insight

The L’Orignal courthouse serves an entire bilingual county, with a legal culture influenced by both Ontario and neighbouring Quebec. Understanding local enforcement patterns patterns and investigative habits, whether related to OPP highway stops or marine patrols on the Ottawa River, is essential to the strategic defence you deserve.

Our Clients

We defend clients who cannot afford the consequences of a conviction:

• Professionals and business owners in Hawkesbury, Rockland, and surrounding towns
• Skilled tradespeople in construction, manufacturing, and transportation
• Non-citizens, including permanent residents, work permit holders, and foreign students
• Tourists, seasonal residents, and Ottawa–Gatineau commuters

How We Build Your Defence

Every case starts with a complete review of police disclosure. We examine:

• Was the stop or RIDE checkpoint lawful?
• Were your Charter rights, including the right to counsel, respected?
• Were roadside and station tests conducted properly and on time?
• Was there a valid basis for arrest or demand?
• Are there errors or inconsistencies in the Crown’s evidence?

Even if your readings were over the legal limit, the Crown must prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. When the facts and law support it, outcomes can include withdrawals, reduced charges, or outright acquittals (not guilty verdicts).

A DUI charge in L’Orignal can affect your freedom, livelihood, and future. The sooner we get involved, the more options you may have. Call 289-481-1007 and 877-497-3927 now for a free, confidential case review.