Charged with impaired driving in London or Middlesex County? Ontario suspends your licence at the roadside, and the criminal charge goes to the London courthouse on Dundas Street. The lawyers below defend impaired operation, over 80, refusal and drug-impaired driving charges in London and across Southwestern Ontario.

London Impaired Driving Lawyers

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Impaired Driving Charges in London, Ontario

London Police Service and OPP officers carry out roadside screening on city streets and on Highway 401 and Highway 402, and call in Drug Recognition Expert officers when drugs are suspected. Operating a vehicle, or having care or control of one, while your ability is impaired to any degree by alcohol or drugs is a Criminal Code offence.

The charges

  • Impaired operation: based on the driving, the officer’s observations and physical coordination tests.
  • Over 80: a blood alcohol concentration of 80 mg per 100 mL of blood or more within two hours of driving.
  • Failing or refusing a demand: refusing a breath, blood or bodily fluid sample without a reasonable excuse. A first refusal carries a $2,000 minimum fine, double the $1,000 minimum for a first impaired or over 80 conviction.
  • Impaired driving causing bodily harm or death: the most serious charges, laid after a collision that injures or kills someone.

Roadside Penalties and Penalties on Conviction

Ontario’s current rules (in force since July 1, 2026) apply the moment you are charged:

  • 0.08 or over, a failed or refused test, or a poor Drug Recognition Expert evaluation: an immediate 90-day licence suspension, a 7-day vehicle impoundment and a $550 penalty, plus a remedial education or treatment program.
  • Warn range (0.05 to 0.079): 7 days and $250 the first time, then 14 days and $350, then 30 days, $450 and six months of ignition interlock.
  • Drivers 21 and under, G1/G2 and M1/M2 drivers, and commercial drivers: zero alcohol and zero drugs.

A Criminal Code conviction adds a minimum fine of $1,000 for a first offence ($1,500 or $2,000 for higher readings, and $2,000 for a refusal), a driving prohibition, and minimum jail of 30 days for a second offence and 120 days for a third. Ontario then suspends your licence for at least one year on a first conviction and requires an education or treatment program and at least a year of ignition interlock. Our guides cover Ontario licence suspensions, ignition interlock and getting your licence back.

How London Lawyers Defend Impaired Driving Cases

A London defence lawyer goes through the Crown’s disclosure, including the officers’ notes, the breath room video and the instrument records, looking for Charter problems and errors in the investigation. Areas that often matter:

  • Charter sections 8, 9 and 10: the reason for the stop, an arbitrary detention, the search, and any delay in reaching a lawyer.
  • The approved instrument: calibration and maintenance records and the qualified technician’s certification.
  • Timing: whether samples were taken within the Criminal Code time limits after driving.
  • Other explanations: medical conditions, injuries, fatigue or the conditions at the scene.

No lawyer can guarantee an outcome. A lawyer can explain which issues apply to your case before you decide how to plead.

The London Courthouse

Criminal cases from London and Middlesex County are heard at the London courthouse, 80 Dundas Street. Your paperwork shows your first appearance date; a lawyer can often attend for you and request disclosure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will an impaired driving conviction give me a criminal record?

Yes. A conviction creates a criminal record, which can affect employment, professional licensing and travel to the United States. A record suspension can only be applied for after a waiting period. A lawyer can explain the realistic outcomes for your case.

Can I fight the 90-day roadside suspension?

The administrative suspension starts right away and runs separately from the criminal case. Ask a lawyer whether a review is available in your situation.

What if I refuse the breath test at the police station?

Refusing a lawful demand without a reasonable excuse is a separate criminal offence. A first refusal carries a $2,000 minimum fine, higher than the $1,000 minimum for a first impaired or over 80 conviction, plus a driving prohibition and a record.

Do I have to blow at the roadside?

Yes. Since December 2018, police who lawfully stop you and have an approved screening device can demand a breath sample without suspecting you were drinking.

General information about impaired driving law in Ontario as of November 2026, not legal advice. Speak with a lawyer about your own situation.

Sources: Government of Ontario, Impaired driving; Criminal Code of Canada, ss. 320.14–320.19; Government of Ontario, Ontario court locations.