DUI Charges in Mississauga
If you have been charged with impaired driving, over 80, refusal to provide a breath sample, dangerous driving, and care and control in Mississauga, the consequences are serious. A first offence DUI carries a mandatory minimum $1,000 fine and one-year driving prohibition. Second offence: 30 days jail. Third offence: 120 days jail. Maximum: 10 years imprisonment by indictment.
Although Mississauga is Ontario's third-largest city, it does not have its own criminal courthouse. All criminal charges laid in Mississauga by Peel Regional Police are heard at the A. Grenville & William Davis Courthouse in Brampton. This is an important practical detail — your first court appearance, bail hearing, and trial will all take place in Brampton, not Mississauga. Impaired driving charges along the QEW, Highways 403 and 401, and domestic assault are among the most common charges for Mississauga residents.
How We Defend DUI Charges
Every dui case is different, but experienced defence lawyers look for weaknesses in the Crown’s case at every stage. Common defence strategies include:
- Charter challenges to the traffic stop or arrest
- Breathalyzer maintenance and calibration errors
- Right to counsel violations under s. 10(b)
- Challenging the grounds for the breath demand
- Exclusion of evidence under s. 24(2) of the Charter
- Challenging care and control presumptions
The Court Process in Brampton
Criminal charges laid in Mississauga are heard at the A. Grenville & William Davis Courthouse in Brampton. Your first appearance will typically be scheduled within a few weeks of being charged. At that appearance, your lawyer will receive disclosure (the Crown’s evidence against you) and begin assessing the strength of the case.