DUI Lawyer in Terrebonne: What to Do After a Charge

What to do right now if you were charged with impaired driving in Terrebonne

Being stopped, arrested or charged with impaired driving in Terrebonne is stressful. Your licence may already be suspended and your car towed. Being charged is not the same as being found guilty. You are presumed innocent, and there are clear steps you can take today.

• Use your right to counsel. Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, you have the right to speak with a lawyer without delay after arrest or detention. If you have not yet had real legal advice, get it now.
• You have the right to stay silent. You do not have to explain your drinking, your driving or your evening to the police. Polite silence is not an admission.
• Follow your release conditions. If you were released on an undertaking or other document, read it carefully. Breaking a condition is a separate criminal offence.
• Keep every piece of paper. This includes the appearance notice or undertaking, any breath test printout, the SAAQ suspension notice and the vehicle seizure documents. Note the names of any witnesses and what you remember, while it is fresh.
• Mark your first court date. Missing it can lead to a warrant for your arrest. A lawyer can often appear for you on early dates.

You can also request a free, confidential consultation with an independent criminal defence lawyer using the form on this page.

How an impaired driving case moves through the courts in Terrebonne

In Quebec, police investigate, but a prosecutor with the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP), the provincial prosecution service, reviews the file and authorizes the charge. This is different from some provinces where police lay charges directly.

1. First appearance. Most impaired driving cases from Terrebonne are heard in the criminal and penal division of the Court of Québec, the provincial court. The first date is usually administrative: the charge is confirmed and your lawyer requests the evidence.
2. Disclosure. The Crown (the prosecutor) must give you its evidence, called disclosure: police notes, breathalyzer or blood results, video and calibration records for the testing device.
3. The Crown's election. Impaired driving is a hybrid offence. The prosecutor chooses to proceed by summary conviction (less serious) or by indictment (more serious). First offences often proceed summarily. More serious cases, especially those involving injury or death, can end up in the Superior Court.
4. Resolution or trial. After reviewing disclosure, your lawyer may discuss the file with the prosecutor, bring Charter motions, or prepare for trial. You have the right to a trial in French or English, the official language of your choice.

Timelines vary. Many cases take several months; complex ones take longer. The Supreme Court of Canada has set ceilings on unreasonable delay, generally 18 months in provincial court and 30 months in superior court.

What a DUI lawyer can do for you

Impaired driving files are technical. Under section 320.14 of the Criminal Code, you can be charged with operating while impaired, with having a blood alcohol concentration of 80 mg or more per 100 mL of blood within two hours of driving ("over 80"), or with drug-related offences. Refusing a demand is a separate offence. A lawyer can examine:

• The demand. Was the roadside or breath demand lawful and properly made? Mandatory alcohol screening has rules too.
• Breath or blood evidence. Were samples taken correctly, by a qualified technician, on an approved instrument that was properly maintained?
• Charter issues. Were you told of your right to counsel and given a real chance to use it? Was the stop or search lawful? Breaches can sometimes lead to evidence being excluded.
• Impairment evidence. Observations like driving pattern, speech or balance can have other explanations.
• SAAQ measures. The SAAQ (Quebec's licensing authority) applies an immediate 90-day licence suspension and vehicle seizure. These are separate from the criminal case, and a lawyer can explain how they interact with any court-ordered driving prohibition.

Impaired driving in Terrebonne: what the numbers show

Statistics Canada police-reported data (table 35-10-0177) for the Terrebonne municipal police service area show 242 impaired driving incidents in 2025, a rate of 157.71 per 100,000 people, with 322 persons charged. That is above Quebec's rate of 141.2 and just below Canada's rate of 161.82.

Year	Terrebonne rate	Incidents	Quebec rate	Canada rate
2016	197.00	269	190.69	197.46
2019	171.99	245	173.64	228.09
2021	120.19	176	124.92	187.79
2023	175.64	263	152.88	179.13
2024	149.17	226	145.17	165.91
2025	157.71	242	141.20	161.82

The rate fell from 197 in 2016 to a low of 120.19 in 2021, climbed back to 175.64 in 2023, and has stayed in the 150s since. Since 2022, Terrebonne has been above the provincial rate each year. For wider context, the Montréal census metropolitan area, which includes Terrebonne, had a Crime Severity Index of 61.29 in 2025, down 4.87% from the year before (Canada was 100 in 2006). See more on the Terrebonne crime statistics page.

Possible penalties and other consequences

Impaired driving is a hybrid offence. On summary conviction, the maximum is two years less a day; on indictment, up to 10 years, and more where someone is hurt or killed. Even a first offence carries a mandatory minimum fine and a mandatory driving prohibition. Repeat offences carry mandatory jail.

• Criminal record if convicted.
• Travel: entry to the United States may be refused.
• Immigration: impaired driving is treated as serious criminality, which can affect permanent residents and visitors.
• Work and insurance: jobs that require driving, and insurance costs, may be affected.

For details, read the guide to impaired driving charges in Quebec and the national guide to this offence.

Choosing a lawyer and paying for one

Questions worth asking at a first meeting:

• How much of your practice is impaired driving defence?
• What do you see as the possible issues in my file, once you have disclosure?
• Can you appear for me so I do not miss work?
• Do you work in French and English?
• How are fees structured, and what is included?

Fees vary with the case and are discussed at the first meeting. If your income is low, you may qualify for legal aid through the Commission des services juridiques (aide juridique). Duty counsel, a lawyer available at court, can also give brief help on your court date.

If you are the complainant or victim

If you were hurt or your property was damaged by a driver, you can report to police. CAVAC centres offer support to victims of crime in Quebec, and IVAC provides compensation in eligible cases. The accused may be under no-contact conditions; report any breach to police. You can also get your own legal advice through a free victim consultation.

Free, confidential consultation

Crime Canada is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. When you fill in the form on this page or go to the free consultation page, your request is passed to an independent criminal defence lawyer. The firm reviews it, and a lawyer contacts you to discuss your situation confidentially. There is no lawyer-client relationship until you and the lawyer both agree to one. You can also follow Quebec crime news.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a DUI lawyer in Terrebonne cost?

It depends on the case: whether it is a first offence, whether there was an accident, how much disclosure there is, and whether it goes to trial. Lawyers structure fees differently, so ask at the first meeting what is included. If your income is low, you may qualify for legal aid through the Commission des services juridiques, and duty counsel can help briefly on your court date.

Do I need a lawyer for a first impaired driving offence?

You are not required to have one, but even a first offence carries a mandatory minimum fine, a driving prohibition and a criminal record if convicted. Breath testing and Charter rules are technical, and a lawyer can review whether the evidence was gathered properly. Many people find it worthwhile to get advice before deciding anything about their case.

Is my SAAQ licence suspension the same as the criminal charge?

No. The SAAQ's immediate 90-day licence suspension and vehicle seizure are administrative measures that apply separately from the criminal case. The criminal court can later impose its own driving prohibition if you are convicted. A lawyer can explain how the two processes interact and what options may exist for getting back on the road.

Which court will hear my Terrebonne impaired driving case?

Most impaired driving cases from Terrebonne are heard in the criminal and penal division of the Court of Québec. A DPCP prosecutor authorizes the charge and decides whether to proceed summarily or by indictment. Serious cases, such as those involving injury or death, may go to the Superior Court. You can choose a trial in French or English.

Can a lawyer go to court for me in Terrebonne?

Often, yes. For many early court dates in impaired driving cases, a lawyer can appear on your behalf so you do not have to miss work. You may still need to attend certain dates, such as a trial or plea. Check with your lawyer before any date, because missing a required appearance can lead to a warrant.

Will an impaired driving charge stop me from travelling to the U.S.?

A charge or conviction can affect entry to the United States, as border officers may refuse entry based on criminal history. A conviction can also have immigration consequences for non-citizens in Canada, since impaired driving is treated as serious criminality. Tell your lawyer early if travel or immigration status matters to you.