Costs of going to trial for an impaired driving/DUI related charge
It is essential for individuals considering pleading not guilty to DUI to consider the pros and cons of going to trial. The potential pro is obvious: you may be found not guilty and acquitted.
The cons of going to trial can also be substantial:
- If you retain a lawyer to represent you (which is wise for a DUI case), lawyers fees will be significantly higher because they will have to charge to prepare and attend court for trial.
- Depending on your province, you may forfeit the right to participate in an interlock ignition program which would allow you to get back behind the wheel in as short as three months. Most provinces, including Ontario, only offer such programs to individuals who admit responsibility at a relatively early date. If you choose to go to trial, this makes you ineligible.
- You may have to wait upwards of one year for trial. This means that had you instead pled guilty right away the matter would have been over with by the time you reach trial. Of course, you would also have a criminal record, tripled insurance premiums, and all the other negative consequences associated with a DUI conviction.
- If you are ultimately found guilty after the trial you will be sentenced by the Judge without the mitigating factor of having resolved the case at an early opportunity. In Canadian criminal sentencing law, an early resolution is considered a mitigating factor. First time offenders charged with impaired driving can be sentenced to jail even in cases where nobody was injured. An accused who loses at trial and is found guilty is at a higher risk of being sentenced to jail time than had they resolved the case earlier.
It is thus extremely important that your lawyer identify and explain what "triable issues" are present if any. While ultimately it is the accused's decision whether to resolve the case or go to trial, it is part of their lawyer's job to ensure this decision is informed.
As with any criminal charge, there are tremendous financial and social consequences generated from the charge itself. If you plead not guilty you will have a pending charge while you await the trial date that will prevent you from having a clean criminal record check. Your name may be reported in the media (even without being convicted). Those who know about the charge may accuse you of being an "alcoholic".
Of course, if you plead guilty you will get an automatic
criminal record, driving ban, and astronomical insurance rates. It is best to
discuss your case and options with a lawyer immediately to determine a plan of
action.
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.
Have a skilled criminal lawyer who focuses on impaired driving related charges protect you and
your future from the stigma and consequences of a criminal record.
- Flat fee pricing
- U.S. travel advice and information
- Employment background check advice/services
- Fingerprints and records destruction services
- Clear goals of getting charges dropped and bail conditions varied without a trial
- Help with related immigration issues
- Vulnerable Sector records suppression help
- Experienced, focused counsel
- DUI consequences
- immigration problems
- spot checks
- refusal charges
- insurance and DUI
- child custody and CAS
- career/employment losses
- trial costs
- hiring a lawyer
- the "Carter" defence
- DUI criminal records
- police database and DUI
- U.S. driving with Canada DUI
- get DUI charges dropped
- more information on DUI law
Social and Statistics
- how to not get caught
- DUI frequency
- admitting alcoholism
- how drunk drivers get caught
- how many drinks is okay to drive
- alcohol prices in Canada
If you are not a paying client, we cannot answer questions and provide assistance with U.S. travel, immigration, employment background checks, and avoiding a criminal record. This includes those who have already retained other counsel and those whose cases have already been completed.
Are you a lawyer? If you are defending an impaired driving related 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.
Law and Consequences
- immigration problems
- spot checks
- refusal charges
- insurance and DUI
- child custody and CAS
- career/employment losses
- trial costs
- hiring a lawyer
- the "Carter" defence
- DUI criminal records
- police database and DUI
- U.S. driving with Canada DUI
- get DUI charges dropped
- more information on DUI law
Social and Statistics
- how to not get caught
- DUI frequency
- admitting alcoholism
- how drunk drivers get caught
- how many drinks is okay to drive
- alcohol prices in Canada
- Flat fee pricing
- U.S. travel advice and information
- Help with related immigration issues
- Employment background check advice/services
- Fingerprints and records destruction services
- A clear goal of getting the charges dropped without a trial
- Vulnerable Sector records suppression help
- Timely resolutions