Despite the province's pledge to keep the pressure on drunk drivers, the number of people caught over the limit has plummeted in the months since part of B.C.'s new drunk-driving...
Read more
May16
Bill will move traffic disputes out of B.C. courts
Drivers may soon be denied their day in court to challenge traffic tickets. Vancouver lawyer Sarah Leamon expects constitutional questions to arise with the likely passage of legislation that removes courts from disputes involving driving violations. “The right to counsel and the right to a fair trial are most certainly going to...
Read more
May12
Mulgrew: Altered drunk driving law likely to bring on new court challenges
The B.C. Government’s attempt to rehabilitate the unconstitutional drunk-driving law looks like it will trigger further court challenges. “I’m sure it will be challenged again,” said Jeremy Carr one of the lead lawyers on the landmark case that overturned the controversial legislation late last year. Vancouver lawyer Paul Doroshenko called the situation...
Read more
May04
Accused drunk drivers get new ways to challenge penalties – CTV News
The B.C. government has rolled out its court-ordered adjustments to the province's tough drunk-driving law, promising that drivers who blow over the legal limit will have more chances to challenge...
Read more
May03
B.C. drunk driving roadside test laws change – CBC News
The B.C. government has introduced new driving laws that it says will enhance fairness for drivers accused of being impaired and increase public confidence. But critics are unsure the proposed changes will stand up in court and say the earlier bad laws could cost the government millions of dollars in refunds. Lawyer...
Read more
Dec29
Is it .08 or not?
There is a big kerfuffle in British Columbia about the accuracy of portable breathalyzers police forces are using to measure the blood alcohol level of suspected drunk drivers. Those accuracy questions should be of concern to every driver in Canada, not just in British Columbia. It’s bad enough that some innocent people...
Read more
Dec29
Breathalyzer tests need to be reliable
A controversy in B.C. about the reliability of breathalyzers used by police in roadside tests should raise red flags in this province, too. A Vancouver lawyer's examination of the situation through access to information requests raises questions about the accuracy of such tests. Paul Doroshenko's investigation showed that in one case,...
Read more
Dec28
Records show police alcohol monitoring equipment is malfunctioning
Records from police detachments around the province show roadside screening devices are malfunctioning or being improperly maintained says a Vancouver criminal defence lawyer. Paul Doroshenko believes this is why portable breath analyzers should never have been used to provide blood-alcohol results that allow police officers to unilaterally suspend driver’s licences for...
Read more
Dec28
Follow up by CTV – watch the Abbotsford explanation
CTV drove out to Abbotsford to follow up on the Canadian Press story published on boxing day. Watch the video. We'll comment about it on the blog.
Read more
Dec26
Documents cast doubt on accuracy of breathalyzers
News that a sober Abbotsford, B.C., police officer tried out the department's breathalyzer and failed the test is enough to send chills down the spine of any designated driver in...
Read more
