{"id":5680,"date":"2024-06-11T17:12:56","date_gmt":"2024-06-11T17:12:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oykhmancriminaldefence.com\/victoria\/?page_id=5680"},"modified":"2026-04-25T22:54:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T22:54:01","slug":"criminal-driving-lawyers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.strategiccriminaldefence.com\/victoria\/criminal-driving-lawyers\/","title":{"rendered":"Criminal Driving Lawyers Victoria"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: #ffffff;background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#e2e2e2;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\" style=\"max-width:calc( 1440px + 50px );margin-left: calc(-50px \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-50px \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><h3>What is Criminal Driving?<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Criminal driving <\/strong>encompasses multiple motor vehicle offences in the <a href=\"https:\/\/laws-lois.justice.gc.ca\/eng\/annualstatutes\/2018_21\/page-3.html#:~:text=320.13%20(1)%20Everyone%20commits%20an,is%20dangerous%20to%20the%20public.\"><em>Criminal Code<\/em><\/a>, and is different from charges under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/96318_01\"><em>Motor Vehicle Act<\/em><\/a> of British Columbia (e.g. impaired driving vs careless driving). With a criminal charge, the Victoria, Saanich, or Oak Bay Police Service will take your photograph and fingerprints and you will have a police file. A conviction for criminal driving charges may result in a criminal record, whereas convictions under the <em>Motor Vehicle Act<\/em> will only appear on your Driver\u2019s Abstract.<\/p>\n<p>Criminal driving offences can be found under <a href=\"https:\/\/laws-lois.justice.gc.ca\/eng\/annualstatutes\/2018_21\/page-3.html#h-5\">Section 320<\/a> of the <em>Criminal Code<\/em>. Criminal driving is not an offence in and of itself, but is rather an umbrella term that includes the following offences:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dangerous driving of a motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft causing death or bodily harm;<\/li>\n<li>Operating a vehicle while impaired;<\/li>\n<li>Refusing or failing to comply with the demands of a peace officer (e.g. to provide a breath sample);<\/li>\n<li>Failing to stop at the scene of an accident;<\/li>\n<li>Evading police causing bodily harm or death; and<\/li>\n<li>Driving while unauthorized, disqualified or prohibited.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What is required to be convicted of criminal driving differs based on the offence. With these offences, it is the <em>actions inside the vehicle<\/em> that are the key elements of the offence, so it is critical to be precise about the circumstances surrounding the driving of the vehicle.<\/p>\n<p>In most criminal driving cases, a conviction may result in harsh penalties that could include mandatory sentencing. Punishments can include jail time, fines, the loss of your driver\u2019s license, and\/or a lifelong criminal record.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\"><h3>Investigation of Criminal Driving Charges in Victoria<\/h3>\n<p>The Victoria, Saanich, and Oak Bay Police Services take driving offences seriously. They are each equipped with a large team of law enforcement officers to maintain traffic safety in the city. If you are stopped by police, you will be routinely checked for driving credentials, and for your license to drive the vehicle that you are operating.<\/p>\n<p>Given the list of offences included under \u201ccriminal driving,\u201d many different events can prompt driving offence investigations. An investigation may be initiated by a routine police stop at the roadside, an accident, or following a report or complaint from an alleged witness or victim.<\/p>\n<p>In their investigation, the police will likely consult surveillance camera footage as well as written statements from the alleged complainant and witnesses. If they believe you are the perpetrator, they will arrest you, whether at the scene of an accident or later.<\/p>\n<h3>Penalties for Criminal Driving Charges in Victoria<\/h3>\n<p>Because of the broad range of offences classified as \u201ccriminal driving,\u201d punishments for a conviction are diverse. They include both criminal penalties imposed by the British Columbia court system, and driving suspensions imposed by provincial traffic laws. For example, unique to impaired driving is the addition of an administrative driving suspension that runs alongside, yet separate to criminal charges<\/p>\n<p>In most cases, criminal driving charges do not result in a jail sentence, provided there are no aggravating circumstances and you have a relatively clean criminal record.<\/p>\n<p>However, a conviction for criminal driving can have many negative consequences on your future, nonetheless. You may experience problems securing employment in the field of your choice, especially in roles that require driving. The lifelong criminal record that results from a conviction can also hinder immigration and travel.<\/p>\n<p>Rest assured, our lawyers will work hard to defend you so that you are not saddled with the consequences of a conviction for criminal driving. In fact, we can canvass a range of sentencing options with the Prosecutors that will either leave you with no criminal record or impose minimal restrictions on your liberty after sentencing. To learn more about potential non-criminal resolutions, please visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.strategiccriminaldefence.com\/victoria\/criminal-court-process\/diversion-program-resolutions\/\">Resolutions<\/a> page.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\"><h3>Defending Criminal Driving Charges in Victoria<\/h3>\n<h4>What are the best defences to criminal driving charges in Victoria?<\/h4>\n<p>Because of the list of offences that fall under the umbrella of \u201ccriminal driving,\u201d and the varied circumstances involved in such charges, there are many different possible defences. It is important for your criminal defence lawyer to review the facts of your case and prepare your defence accordingly.<\/p>\n<p>Our experienced lawyers will use the most effective defence against the charges according to the precise circumstances of your case.<\/p>\n<p>For more detailed information on defending your criminal driving charge, see the practice area pages specific to your offence.<\/p>\n<h4>How can I help defend criminal driving charges in Victoria?<\/h4>\n<p>Because a criminal driving charge relates to the actions you took inside your vehicle, it is essential to clarify the circumstances surrounding these actions and any resulting collision.<\/p>\n<p>If you have been charged with criminal driving in Victoria, the following can help your lawyer build a strong defence:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Make a statement about what happened;<\/li>\n<li>Have passengers write down their observations of what happened;<\/li>\n<li>Collect and maintain all documents and records about the event;<\/li>\n<li>Gather any photographic evidence that you may have; and<\/li>\n<li>Log any relevant texts, emails or phone calls.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As soon as you are released, you should start to gather any information that may be of use to your lawyer. What information is relevant will depend on the facts of your case. If you are uncertain what information may be relevant, you should contact one of our lawyers immediately to create a plan of action for gathering information.<\/p>\n<p>If you are truly proactive about the matter, consider doing the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Secure proof of employment,<\/li>\n<li>Secure reference letters,<\/li>\n<li>Enroll in counselling (e.g. alcohol or drug rehabilitation),<\/li>\n<li>Secure a record of prescriptions, and<\/li>\n<li>Secure a record of any mental health conditions you suffer from.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These steps can be very helpful in building an effective defence (or convincing the Prosecutor to drop the charges altogether).<\/p>\n<h4>What can a lawyer do to help me defend against criminal driving charges in Victoria?<\/h4>\n<p>As we start preparing your defence by examining police actions and the evidence against you, there are certain strategies that can be used to aid your cause. Some of these strategies include the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Assembling documents, photos, texts, etc. that contradict the allegation and support your version of events;<\/li>\n<li>Identifying mistakes in the actions of the police, such as Charter breaches; and<\/li>\n<li>Uncovering administrative\/systemic errors, such as \u201cJordan delay,\u201d non-disclosure, lost or destroyed evidence, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Our experienced defence lawyers will use the most effective defence against the charges according to the precise circumstances of your case. Even if the charges proceed and you are found guilty, a good lawyer can significantly reduce the severity of the consequences for you.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 30px;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 25px;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 25px;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 25px;margin-left : 25px;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 25px;margin-left : 25px;}}<\/style><\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-1{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}<\/style><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Facing a criminal driving charge in Victoria can carry serious consequences. Our criminal driving lawyers provide clear legal advice, protect your rights, and build a strong defence. We guide you through the legal process and work to achieve the best possible outcome for your case.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":53252,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5680","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Criminal Driving Lawyers Victoria | Strategic Criminal Defence<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you have been charged with Criminal Driving in Victoria, contact our experienced and dedicated legal team. 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