Owen Sound DUI Defence Lawyer

We defend all forms of Criminal Code DUI/impaired driving charges in Owen Sound court.

Those charged with DUI related offences in Owen Sound will be provided with an Undertaking or Release Order requiring them to attend court at 611 9th Ave E, Owen Sound, ON. Anyone charged by the police with impaired driving should hire a criminal defence lawyer immediately. Ideally, your lawyer will be the first person to address your case in court and discuss it with the Crown Attorney.

Our criminal lawyers defend all forms of DUI (impaired driving) related charges, including:

1. Operation while impaired
2. Being over 80 mgs per ml of blood
3. Failure or refusal to provide a breath sample
4. Impairment by drugs or cannabis

All forms of impaired driving related charges in Canada will result in a mandatory minimum criminal record that shows up on background checks upon conviction.

Mandatory jail sentences are required by law for repeat offenders, but even a first time DUI can result in a jail sentence in Owen Sound court.

Jail sentences are most often imposed in first offence cases with aggravating factors, such as:

1. Accidents, injuries, and other 3rd party losses
2. High BAC breathalyzer readings
3. The accused having a prior criminal record
4. Difficult or otherwise offensive behaviour upon arrest

We are very familiar with the Crown Attorneys who handle DUI cases at the Owen Sound courthouse. Even if there are aggravating factors or the accused was driving drunk we may still be able to get the charges dropped or acquitted.

If you have just recently been charged with a DUI, it is extremely important that your defence lawyer be the first person to engage with the Crown. If you have just recently been charged, it is in your best interest to hire a lawyer now. We want to be the first people to speak to the Crown on your behalf.

Don’t think that just because you were charged that the Crown has a strong case against you. DUIs are some of the most commonly litigated offences because there are many ways in which a defence lawyer can help you.

How our DUI lawyers get charges dropped and win acquittals in Owen Sound court

We use numerous defence tactics to win DUI cases. Some include:

1. Charter and evidence law violations
2. Police arrest misconduct applications
3. Challenging the Crown's proof of impairment
4. Proving the accused was not in care and control of the vehicle
5. Using expert witnesses to testify in your favour

DUI cases are not all about the “science” of breathalyzer and blood test BAC readings. They often involve the subjective interpretation of intoxication by the officer in charge, the DRE/Intoxilyzer technician, medical professionals, and others. The perception and account of the officer at the roadside may be inconsistent with the other case evidence.

Sometimes the police’s DUI investigation is influenced by “tunnel vision” which causes them to disregard exonerating evidence.

The police may wrongly disregard indicators of sobriety. The arresting officer does not know your normal personality disposition and may wrongly misinterpret your behaviour as drunkenness. The accused’s sloppy or disorganized behaviour at the roadside may be a result of anxiety, fatigue, stress, or something other than alcohol or drug impairment.

In defending DUI cases we often rely on CCTV footage such as officer bodycam, dash cam, in car cameras, police station CCTV video, and other media. This may prove that the officer’s account of what happened is constructed to exaggerate suspicious behavior. They may embellish their notes to make you appear worse than you were. When compared with video and other evidence on cross examination, this can sometimes raise doubt as to the officer’s account.

If you have been charged with DUI, failure to provide a breath sample, driving while high, or any other Criminal Code impaired driving related offence at the Owen Sound courthouse, give us a call now at 647-228-5969 for a free consultation.

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You don't have to jeopardize your future or waste thousands of dollars on excessive legal fees. We provide effective and affordable lawyer representation for those charged with impaired driving offences throughout Ontario, Canada.

Have a skilled criminal lawyer who focuses on DUI defence law in Owen Sound court protect you and your future from the stigma and consequences of a criminal record and conviction.

Are you a lawyer? If you are defending a criminal case and are looking for expert advice regarding possible defences, case strategies, and information release management call us at: 647-228-5969.

Please note: We do not accept legal aid certificate cases. All clients are handled on a private retainer only.

*2024 Results: the percentage of 99% of clients avoiding a criminal record (conviction) stated on this page is based solely on Lawyer Mark Zinck's personal representation of approximately 2000 criminal defence case clients as of the year 2024. Past results are not necessarily an indication of future results.

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