Find a Lawyer » Canada Legal Guides » Ontario Legal Guides » Ottawa Legal Guides » Criminal Defence & Traffic Offences Ottawa » DUI & Impaired Driving Defence Ottawa
🔄To get your driver’s licence back in Ottawa after an impaired driving suspension, you must wait out your suspension period, pay the required MTO fees (including a $281 CAD reinstatement…
⚠Refusing a roadside breath test in Ontario is a serious criminal offence. It carries a minimum fine of $2,000 CAD (double the fine of a standard first-time impaired driving charge),…
🔍Beating a drug-impaired driving charge in Ottawa requires challenging the subjective Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) tests, questioning the accuracy of oral fluid swabs, and scrutinizing blood test continuity. Hiring an…
💡A first-time impaired driving (DUI) conviction in Ottawa carries a mandatory federal minimum fine of $1,000 CAD. However, when you add mandatory provincial fees like the Back on Track program…
💡Resolving an impaired driving charge at the Ottawa Courthouse typically takes between 9 to 18 months. Severe cases or matters going to a full trial can take up to 18…
🚨In Ottawa, failing a breath test triggers an immediate 90-day Administrative Driver’s Licence Suspension (ADLS). If you are later convicted of impaired driving in criminal court, you face a mandatory…
💡In Ottawa, hiring a criminal defence lawyer for an impaired driving (DUI) case typically costs between $4,000 and $10,000+ CAD in block fees. The exact amount depends heavily on whether…
🚗The Back on Track program is Ontario’s mandatory remedial course for anyone convicted of impaired driving. It costs approximately $900 CAD, takes a minimum of 11 months to complete, and…
👮If you fail a breathalyzer test in Ottawa, remain calm and exercise your right to silence. You will be arrested and given a 90-day licence suspension. Demand to speak with…
💬To dispute an immediate 90-day Administrative Driver’s Licence Suspension (ADLS) in Ontario, you must file a formal appeal with the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT). You can only win if you…
💡In Ontario, “Over 80” and “Impaired Driving” are two distinct criminal offences, though you are usually charged with both simultaneously. Fighting an Over 80 charge often involves your lawyer challenging…
💡Driving while suspended for an impaired driving conviction is a severe offence in Ontario. It triggers an automatic 45-day vehicle impoundment, fines up to $50,000, a mandatory minimum 6-month additional…
🚘If you are arrested for impaired driving in Ottawa, your car is immediately towed and impounded for 7 days under Ontario’s Vehicle Impoundment Program. You cannot get it back early,…
💡Ontario’s Ignition Interlock program allows first-time impaired driving offenders to drive sooner. Under Stream A, if you plead guilty within 90 days, your 1-year suspension is reduced to a 3-month…
🤝Pleading down an impaired driving charge to careless driving involves your lawyer negotiating with the Crown Attorney. If successful, you avoid a federal criminal record and a mandatory 1-year driving…
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: DUI Defence, Domestic Assault, Bail Hearings, Sexual Assault Defence
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 1443 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2004
🎯 Specialization: Criminal Defence, Homicide, Human Trafficking, Sexual Assault, Drug Offences, Domestic Violence, Bail…
🗣️ Languages: English, French, Farsi
📍 Address: 190 O'Connor St, Ottawa, Ontario
🎯 Specialization: Criminal Defence, Impaired Driving, Sexual Assault
🗣️ Languages: English, French, Italian
📍 Address: 200 Cooper St, Ottawa, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2008
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Traffic Tickets, Stunt Driving, Small Claims, Landlord and Tenant
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 2527 Baseline Rd, Ottawa, Ontario
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: DUI Defence, Domestic Assault, Theft and Fraud
🗣️ Languages: English, French
📍 Address: 222 Somerset St W, Ottawa, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2011
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Traffic Tickets, Impaired Driving Defense, Stunt Driving, Commercial Vehicle Offences
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 1901 Bank St, Ottawa, Ontario
🎯 Specialization: Speeding Tickets, Stunt Driving, Notary Public, Commercial Driver Defence
🗣️ Languages: English, Arabic
📍 Address: 381 Metcalfe St, Ottawa, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2013
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Criminal Defence, DUI, Domestic Assault, Theft, Fraud, Sexual Assault, Youth Offences
🗣️ Languages: English, French
📍 Address: 251 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2010
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Internet-Based Offences, Sexual Assault Defence, Impaired Driving, Domestic Violence
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 141 Laurier Ave W Floor 6, Ottawa, Ontario
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Child Protection Defence, Domestic Assault, High Conflict Divorce
🗣️ Languages: English, French
📍 Address: 116 Lisgar St, Ottawa, Ontario
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: Records Management, Background Checks, Freedom of Information, Fingerprinting Services
📍 2670 Queensview Dr, Ottawa, Ontario
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: Criminal Administration, Civil Intake, Family Counter, Small Claims Counter, Sheriff's Office, Legal…
📍 161 Elgin St, Ottawa, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Community Supervision, Adult Probation, Parole Services, Conditional Sentencing
📍 161 Elgin St, Ottawa, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Criminal Record Checks, Vulnerable Sector Checks, Fingerprinting Records, Pardons and Suspensions
📍 1200 Vanier Pkwy, Ottawa, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Explosives Training, Forensic Identification, Executive Development, Polygraph Unit, Technological Crime
📍 1 Sandridge Rd, Ottawa, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Military ID, Security Clearances, Police Records Checks
📍 101 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Federal Policing, National Security, International Policing, Specialized Policing Services
📍 73 Prom. Leikin Dr, Ottawa, Ontario
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: Court Filings, Support Orders, Restraining Orders
📍 36 Wyndham St S, Guelph, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Criminal Court Records, Bail Orders, Surety Documents
📍 200 Chatham St E, Windsor, Ontario
🚶 Walk-ins Welcome
⚙️ Services: Court Transcripts, Certificates of Offence
📍 60 Queen St W, Toronto, Ontario
Welcome to the Ottawa DUI & Impaired Driving Defence guide centre. Here you will find comprehensive resources covering everything from Over 80 charges to roadside licence suspensions, based on current provincial regulations.
Facing an impaired driving charge in Ottawa is a frightening experience that can severely disrupt your daily life. In Canada, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is heavily regulated by the federal Criminal Code, but the penalties and administrative suspensions are enforced locally by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO). Understanding the serious nature of these offences is the first step toward building a strong legal defence.
A conviction for impaired driving carries strict mandatory minimum penalties, including steep fines, a permanent criminal record, and long-term driving prohibitions. Beyond the courtroom, immediate provincial sanctions like roadside licence suspensions and vehicle impoundment can impact your employment and family duties right away.
If you are criminally charged with impaired driving in the capital region, your case will primarily be heard at the Ontario Court of Justice, located at the main Ottawa Courthouse on Elgin Street. Because most impaired driving offences are treated as summary conviction or hybrid offences, initial appearances and trials take place within this provincial court system. Navigating this courthouse requires a clear understanding of local Crown prosecution policies regarding impaired driving cases.
Local enforcement is vigorously conducted by the Ottawa Police Service on city streets, while the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) patrol major regional routes like Highway 417 and the 416. It is vital to note that police officers must strictly follow procedural rules outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms during a traffic stop. If an officer unlawfully detains you or denies your right to legal counsel, a judge may exclude the breathalyzer evidence from your trial entirely.
Defending against an impaired driving charge is highly technical, involving scrutinizing breathalyzer calibration logs, analyzing police procedures, and challenging toxicology reports. Attempting to defend yourself against the Crown prosecutor without professional legal representation is strongly discouraged. A single misunderstanding of the strict evidentiary rules can easily lead to a permanent criminal record and a mandatory driving ban.
We always recommend retaining a skilled criminal defence lawyer who focuses on impaired driving cases as soon as possible. You can find a list of relevant local lawyers and government agencies at the top of this page. An experienced lawyer can protect your Charter rights, negotiate effectively with the Crown, and explore every available legal defence to help you achieve the best possible outcome.
Impaired driving means your ability to drive was diminished by alcohol or drugs, which is proven by officer observations like slurred speech or erratic driving. An “Over 80” charge is purely scientific, meaning your blood alcohol concentration tested at or above the legal limit, regardless of your driving behaviour.
Under Ontario’s administrative rules, your licence is automatically suspended for 90 days at the roadside, and your vehicle will be impounded for 7 days. This administrative suspension happens before you ever go to court and is separate from any formal criminal penalties.
It is a criminal offence to refuse or fail to provide a breath sample without a valid medical excuse. The penalties for refusing a lawful demand are typically just as severe, if not harsher, than being convicted of the impaired driving charge itself.
A criminal conviction remains on your record permanently unless you apply for and successfully receive a record suspension. You generally must wait at least five years after completing your entire sentence, including driving prohibitions and fines, before applying to the Parole Board of Canada.
For a standard first-time offence without any aggravating factors, such as a collision causing bodily harm or having passengers under 16, jail time is rare. The mandatory minimum penalty is usually a steep fine, a one-year driving prohibition, and a permanent criminal record.
The Ignition Interlock Program allows certain eligible drivers to legally drive during their suspension period if they install a breath-screening device in their vehicle. The driver must blow a sober breath sample into the machine to start the engine and keep the vehicle running.
