Over .08? You Still Have Legal Options. Call 902-499-1597 Now for a Free Honest Case Review
If you have been charged with impaired driving, driving over .08, or refusing a breathalyzer in Halifax, you are likely dealing with fear, uncertainty, and immediate consequences. A DUI charge in Nova Scotia carries serious criminal and driving penalties under the Criminal Code of Canada and the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act.
What matters most right now is understanding this: a DUI charge is not a conviction. Many impaired driving cases in Halifax are legally defendable when handled properly and early by a lawyer who focuses specifically on DUI defence.
This website exists for one purpose — to help people charged with impaired driving in Halifax protect their licence, their criminal record, and their future.
Charged With a DUI in Halifax? Here’s What You’re Facing
In Halifax, impaired driving charges most commonly include driving over .08, impaired operation by alcohol or drugs, and refusal or failure to provide a breath sample. Charges may also arise in less obvious situations, including care and control, where a person can be charged even if a vehicle is parked and not moving. Each of these offences is treated differently under Nova Scotia law and requires a tailored defence strategy.
Impaired driving charges often move quickly. Administrative driving suspensions, vehicle impoundment, and court appearances can begin immediately. Understanding exactly what you are charged with — and how that charge is prosecuted in Halifax — is critical before making any decisions.
Why DUI Charges in Halifax Are Often Defendable
DUI law is highly technical. These cases are decided on evidence, procedure, and constitutional rights — not assumptions.
In Halifax impaired driving cases, defence strategies frequently arise from how the traffic stop occurred, whether police had lawful grounds to make demands, how breath samples were obtained, and whether Charter rights were respected throughout the process. Disclosure must be carefully reviewed, timelines must be analyzed, and police conduct must be tested against legal standards.
Impaired driving cases are not “automatic convictions.” Even when alcohol or drugs are involved, the Crown must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Roadside Stops, Breath Demands, and Procedure
Many DUI cases in Halifax begin with a roadside stop, where police may rely on approved screening devices, followed by formal breath demands at the station. These steps are governed by strict legal timelines and procedural rules. Whether those rules were followed correctly often becomes a central issue in defending impaired driving charges.
Halifax police commonly rely on evidentiary breathalyzers such as the Intox EC/IR II. Maintenance records, testing protocols, and operator compliance all matter and must be examined carefully.
Alcohol and Drug-Impaired Driving in Halifax
Impaired driving allegations in Halifax are not limited to alcohol. Drug-impaired driving, including cannabis, is increasingly charged and relies on different forms of evidence, such as roadside evaluations, Drug Recognition Experts, and bodily fluid testing. These cases raise distinct legal and scientific issues that must be examined carefully and cannot be defended the same way as alcohol-based charges.
Impaired Driving Defence Is Not General Criminal Defence
DUI defence is a specialized area of criminal law. It involves understanding breath testing science, police procedure, constitutional law, and evolving case law specific to impaired driving.
Impaired driving cases in Halifax are heard before the Halifax Provincial Court, where local court practices and prosecutorial approaches can meaningfully affect how a defence is advanced. Local experience matters, and defence strategies must account for how Halifax courts actually handle impaired driving cases.
This site is dedicated exclusively to impaired driving defence in Halifax and throughout Nova Scotia.
Laura McCarthy Halifax DUI Lawyer Serving Nova Scotia
Laura McCarthy is a Halifax-based criminal defence lawyer whose practice focuses on impaired driving and DUI-related offences throughout Nova Scotia. She represents individuals charged with driving over .08, impaired operation by alcohol or drugs, refusal to provide a breath sample, care and control, and drug-impaired driving.
DUI law is highly technical and often misunderstood. These cases turn on police procedure, timelines, breath testing requirements, and constitutional rights — not simply on whether alcohol or drugs were consumed. Because of this, many impaired driving charges in Nova Scotia are legally defendable when examined carefully and early.
Laura McCarthy’s approach to DUI defence emphasizes a detailed review of disclosure, including police notes, video evidence, breath testing records, and the circumstances surrounding roadside stops and formal demands. Even small procedural errors can significantly affect the strength of the Crown’s case.
Impaired driving cases in Halifax are prosecuted before the Halifax Provincial Court, where local court practices and enforcement patterns can meaningfully affect how a defence is advanced. Effective representation requires familiarity with how these cases are actually handled in Nova Scotia courts, not just a general understanding of criminal law.
Laura McCarthy represents clients charged in Halifax and surrounding communities, including Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville, and Truro. Her practice is centred on protecting clients from the long-term consequences of a DUI conviction, including criminal records, driving prohibitions, fines, and mandatory programs.
Speak with Laura McCarthy about your Halifax DUI charge. Call 902-499-1597.
Serious DUI Allegations Require Immediate, Specialized Defence
More serious allegations, such as impaired driving causing bodily harm or impaired driving causing death, are prosecuted as indictable offences and involve significantly higher stakes. These cases follow a different legal process and require immediate, specialized defence due to their complexity and potential consequences.
Recent DUI Results in Halifax and Nova Scotia
Many DUI cases are resolved through careful Charter analysis, technical challenges to breath evidence, or strategic negotiation once weaknesses in the Crown’s case are identified. Outcomes may include withdrawn charges, acquittals, or reduced penalties depending on the facts.
Examples of how impaired driving cases have been successfully defended in Halifax and across Nova Scotia are available on our results page. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, but they demonstrate how proper defence strategy can change the course of a case.
What to Do After a DUI Arrest in Halifax
What you do immediately after a DUI arrest can affect the outcome of your case.
Do not plead guilty without legal advice. Do not assume the evidence against you is unbeatable. Do not rely on informal advice from friends or online forums that do not understand Nova Scotia law.
Instead, preserve details while they are fresh. Take note of timelines, locations, and interactions. Speak with a DUI lawyer as soon as possible so potential defence issues can be identified early. Early intervention often creates more options.
Serving Halifax and Communities Across Nova Scotia
Impaired driving charges affect individuals across the Halifax Regional Municipality and beyond. Defence services are provided to clients in Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville, Truro, and throughout Nova Scotia.
Wherever your charge occurred, the focus remains the same: protecting your rights and minimizing the long-term impact on your life.
Speak With a DUI Lawyer in Halifax Today
If you are facing a DUI charge in Halifax, time matters. Evidence does not improve with delay, and missed opportunities cannot always be recovered.
Confidential consultations are available to review your situation, explain your options, and determine the best path forward based on the facts of your case.
Contact a DUI lawyer in Halifax today to protect your licence, your record, and your future.
Halifax DUI Lawyer – Laura McCarthy
1888 Brunswick St,
Suite 805b
Halifax, NS
B3J 3J8
902-499-1597