Napanee DUI & Impaired Driving Defence

Where your case is heard

Impaired driving cases from across Lennox and Addington County are heard at the Ontario Court of Justice, 41 Dundas Street West, Napanee. This courthouse is the regional hub for criminal matters, including DUI.

How DUI charges arise in and around Napanee

Napanee sits on the 401 corridor, so files often begin with a stop on the highway or on feeder routes serving Deseronto, Selby, Roblin, Yarker, Odessa, Camden East, and Loyalist Township. The Lennox and Addington County OPP polices the area, operating year-round RIDE checkpoints and seasonal blitzes that are regularly reported in local news.

Common scenarios include:

• Leaving a dinner, backyard gathering, or waterfront patio and driving home
• Being stopped during a long weekend or holiday RIDE program
• Morning after driving with alcohol still in your system
• Operating a boat after a few drinks on regional waterways connected to the Bay of Quinte
• Winter trail rides on a snowmobile or ATV

The OPP’s marine unit is active during summer, patrolling Bay of Quinte connections and other area waterways. Seasonal boating enforcement includes spot checks for alcohol or drug impairment. These files carry the same Criminal Code consequences as a road-based DUI and can have equally severe impacts on your licence, insurance, and reputation.

Charges we defend

• Alcohol-related offences including impaired operation, “Over 80,” and care or control
• Drug-related offences involving cannabis, prescription medication, or other substances
• Refusal or failure to provide a breath or blood sample
• Boating DUIs on regional lakes and Bay of Quinte connections
• Snowmobile and ATV DUIs on winter trails and rural properties

Legal and personal consequences

A conviction can mean:

• Immediate licence suspension and a minimum one-year driving ban
• Ignition interlock and mandatory education or treatment programs
• Substantial fines and significant insurance increases
• A permanent criminal record and possible jail in serious or repeat cases
• Travel restrictions, including to the United States
• For non-citizens, potential immigration consequences, including inadmissibility or removal from Canada.

In a smaller community, losing your licence can impact employment, family obligations, and medical access. Reputational harm can be as damaging as the legal penalty.

Clients we represent

We focus on people who cannot absorb the cost of a criminal conviction, including:

• Professionals, business owners, and executives
• Skilled trades and contractors serving regional industry
• Students and seasonal workers
• Visitors passing through on Highway 401
• Non-citizens such as permanent residents, work permit holders, and foreign students

How we build your defence

Every file begins with a complete disclosure review and a plan that fits your facts. We examine:

• Whether the stop or RIDE checkpoint was lawful
• Whether your Charter rights, including the right to counsel, were respected
• The accuracy and timing of roadside and station testing
• The legal grounds for arrest and for any breath or blood demand
• Gaps, inconsistencies, or procedural errors that may justify excluding evidence

Even if a test shows you 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.

Serving Napanee and surrounding communities

We defend clients from across Lennox and Addington County, including Deseronto, Selby, Roblin, Yarker, Odessa, Camden East, and Loyalist Township. Many charges originate on Highway 401, local roads, or regional waterways and proceed at the Napanee courthouse.

Facing a DUI in or around Napanee can follow you for years. The sooner we are involved, the more options you may have. Call 613-480-5045 now for a free, confidential case review.