R. v. S.S.Z.

(Cochrane, P.C. - Impaired Driving).  SSZ was charged with a handful of driving offences, to include impaired driving, operating a motor vehicle with blood-alcohol exceeding the legal limit and careless driving. Where the DUI offences were under the Criminal Code of Canada (and thus Federal law), the careless driving charge was provincial legislation, under the Traffic Safety Act. Prior to trial SSZ's Cochrane criminal lawyer filed an extensive Charter Notice alleging breaches of section 8 (search and seizure) and section 10 (right to counsel). The section 10 infractions were the most serious because the accused was detained for a substantial period without right to counsel. Though cases such as R. v. Thomsen and R. v. Orbansky make it clear that right to counsel is suspended within "strict temporal limits" for the purpose of roadside sobriety screening, SSZ's detention was not within those limits. The Crown was alive to the issues and prior to trial offered to resolve the case by way of a guilty plea to the already charged Traffic Safety Act offence of careless driving. SSZ was advised in no uncertain terms by her criminal lawyer, David Chow, that notwithstanding the quality her defences, the ultimate goal is successfully defending against the potentially permanent fixture of a criminal record. If you have been charged with impaired driving, a drug offence, domestic violence or anything else in the Criminal Code of Canada, there are plenty of Alberta criminal lawyers to choose from.  David Chow is a criminal lawyer (who represents clients throughout the Province) who is grateful for the opportunity to earn your business. Looking for a Cochrane DUI lawyer, call 403.452.8018.