Are you facing DUI charges in Ontario? Your defence could hinge on a crucial timeline that many people don’t even know exists – the two-hour rule. As a DUI defence lawyer at NextLaw, I’ve seen how understanding this rule can completely change the outcome of a DUI case.
Understanding the Two-Hour Rule and Its Impact
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover three critical aspects of the two-hour rule that could significantly affect your DUI case:
- The fundamental meaning of the rule and its legal importance
- Why the timing of your breath test can make or break your case
- How this timeline could become your strongest defence strategy
What Is the Two-Hour Rule?
Timing becomes crucial when you’re pulled over and arrested for a DUI. The two-hour rule states that police must conduct your first breath test within two hours of your last driving moment – not from when they pulled you over or arrested you.
This isn’t just a procedural guideline. It’s a fundamental part of our criminal law that states it’s an offence to have a blood alcohol concentration at or over 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood within two hours of driving. Importantly, breath test results are only accepted as evidence of your blood alcohol level while driving if the test occurs within this two-hour window.
The Critical Testing Timeline
Let’s break down a typical scenario:
- You’re pulled over at 11:30 PM
- The officer conducts their investigation
- They call for a breath technician
- You’re transported to the station
- The first breath test is administered
Here’s the crucial part: everything changes if that first breath test happens at 1:31 AM – just one minute after the two-hour mark.
Why Timing Changes Everything
The Crown needs two separate breath samples as evidence, using the lower of these readings. However, if the first test occurs even slightly after the two-hour window, they need additional support: a toxicologist’s testimony. This expert must calculate backward and testify about your probable blood alcohol level at the time you were driving.
Using the Timeline as Your Defense Strategy
When reviewing a DUI case, the timing of events becomes a critical factor in building a defence. If the police conducted the first test outside the two-hour window, it would create powerful grounds to challenge the evidence.
Key Defense Implications:
- Without a toxicologist’s testimony, the Crown may struggle to prove their case
- The Crown must prove your blood alcohol concentration was over the legal limit while driving, not just at testing
- Getting expert testimony is expensive and complex, often costing thousands of dollars
- This additional layer of complexity can significantly impact the Crown’s case
The Impact on Your Case
The two-hour rule isn’t just a technicality – it could be the difference between a conviction and an acquittal in your Ontario DUI case. Understanding this timeline is crucial for the following:
- Evaluating the strength of the evidence against you
- Identifying potential defence strategies
- Challenging the admissibility of breath test results
- Building a strong legal defence
What is Ontario's two-hour rule in DUI cases?
Ontario's two-hour rule requires police to conduct your first breath test within two hours of your last driving moment. This timeline is critical for determining the admissibility of your blood alcohol level as evidence in court.
How can the two-hour rule help my DUI defence?
If the first breath test occurs outside the two-hour window, the prosecution may need a toxicologist's testimony to prove your blood alcohol level while driving, making their case more challenging and complex.
