legal rights

Your Right to Silence in Police Investigations

Woman in sunglasses sitting in a car, holding up her driver's license while a police officer in uniform writes a ticket outside her window.

If you remember one phrase when dealing with the police, it should be this: “lawyer told me not to talk to you.” That line is more than a meme or a slogan. It captures a core legal protection that exists to shield ordinary people from accidentally harming themselves during police investigations.

Understanding your right to silence can make the difference between protecting yourself and creating evidence the police did not already have.

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Your Right to Silence in Police InvestigationsRead More »

Your Right to Silence in Police Investigations Read More »

Episode 428: Supreme Court’s “Goldson” Decision – Breath Tests, Due Process, and a Bus Heist

The Supreme Court of Canada handed down decisions this week that mark a dark day for fair trial rights in Canada. In the Goldson line of cases, the Court ruled that prosecutors don’t have to file both the qualified technician’s and the analyst’s certificates for breath-test calibration — a shortcut that keeps key evidence out of reach for the defence.

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Episode 428: Supreme Court’s “Goldson” Decision – Breath Tests, Due Process, and a Bus HeistRead More »

Episode 428: Supreme Court’s “Goldson” Decision – Breath Tests, Due Process, and a Bus Heist Read More »

Your Right to a Fair Hearing: Allegations of Bias in Traffic Court

Disputing a traffic ticket can often feel like an uphill battle, especially when you’re representing yourself. Self-represented people often do not have the benefit of knowledge of legal procedure or knowledge of the particular quirks of a judge or justice presiding over their case. It is therefore important for the players involved in traffic court, including the officer prosecuting the ticket and the judicial justice, to ensure the trial is fair.

A recent decision from the Supreme Court of British Columbia, R. v. Advincula, 2025 BCSC 1662, has highlighted the importance of procedural fairness in traffic court.

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Your Right to a Fair Hearing: Allegations of Bias in Traffic CourtRead More »

Your Right to a Fair Hearing: Allegations of Bias in Traffic Court Read More »

Episode 426: IRP Chaos, Strike Fallout, and the Case That Won’t End

This week, Kyla Lee and Paul Doroshenko break down the fallout from BC’s government strike and the chaos now hitting RoadSafetyBC’s Immediate Roadside Prohibition system – from rushed hearings to missing disclosure and mounting Charter violations.

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Episode 426: IRP Chaos, Strike Fallout, and the Case That Won’t EndRead More »

Episode 426: IRP Chaos, Strike Fallout, and the Case That Won’t End Read More »

Plead Guilty to a Traffic Ticket and Now Regretting it? This Case May Help You. 

Police officer writing a traffic ticket on a clipboard beside a car window.

A recent decision by the Court of Appeal for British Columbia in R. v. Dancho, 2025 BCCA 258, has granted leave to appeal in a case challenging a traffic ticket. This case raises important issues that affect applications to withdraw guilty pleas in traffic ticket cases. 

The Court of Appeal Grants Leave in a Traffic Ticket Case

In Mr. Dancho’s case, the BC Supreme Court dismissed his application to extend time for filing a notice of appeal of his traffic ticket guilty plea. This came after Mr. Dancho realized the ticket had penalty points only after receiving an invoice for the Driver Risk Premium in the mail. Mr. Dancho had pled guilty in order to request a fine reduction because he had a limited income. 

The Court of Appeal granted leave because Mr. Dancho raised arguable issues that the BC Supreme Court judge misapprehended applicable legal standards, leading to errors of law. Specifically, he raised concerns about the BC Supreme Court judge’s assessment of setting aside the guilty plea. These included that she had applied an incorrect legal standard. 

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Plead Guilty to a Traffic Ticket and Now Regretting it? This Case May Help You. Read More »

Plead Guilty to a Traffic Ticket and Now Regretting it? This Case May Help You.  Read More »

10 Common Mistakes People Make During a DUI Investigation

Driver sitting in a car being stopped by a police officer, who is checking a device, possibly related to impaired driving enforcement.

DUI investigations are high-pressure situations that often lead individuals to make mistakes that can significantly impact their cases. Understanding these common errors can help you protect your rights and minimize the consequences of a potential DUI investigation.

Here are the top 10 mistakes people commonly make during a DUI investigation, along with practical advice on how to avoid them.

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10 Common Mistakes People Make During a DUI InvestigationRead More »

10 Common Mistakes People Make During a DUI Investigation Read More »

Why the Seven-Day Period to Dispute an IRP is a Mockery of Justice

British Columbia’s Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) system is lauded by the government as an efficient tool for combating impaired driving. But behind the veneer of public safety lies a deeply flawed, grossly unfair process that tramples on fundamental principles of justice.

Chief among its failures is the absurdly short seven-day window to dispute an IRP. This arbitrary timeline—designed more for bureaucratic convenience than for fairness—sets countless individuals up for failure, leaving them powerless against a system stacked against them.

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Why the Seven-Day Period to Dispute an IRP is a Mockery of JusticeRead More »

Why the Seven-Day Period to Dispute an IRP is a Mockery of Justice Read More »

Navigating a DUI Charge in Canada: Understanding Your Plea Options

A man holding a beer bottle while sitting in the driver’s seat of a car, illuminated by red and blue police lights.

Facing a DUI charge in Canada can be an incredibly daunting experience. One of the most important decisions you’ll encounter is choosing how to plead. Your plea is your formal response to the charges laid against you, and it can significantly influence the outcome of your case.

It’s important to understand your options and their potential consequences before making this decision.

This post aims to guide you through the various pleas available in a Canadian DUI case, and why securing skilled legal representation is the best was to navigate this complex process.

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Navigating a DUI Charge in Canada: Understanding Your Plea OptionsRead More »

Navigating a DUI Charge in Canada: Understanding Your Plea Options Read More »

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