Police Background Checks
Do you know the difference between a police background check, a criminal record check, and a vulnerable sector check? Has a prospective employer ever asked you to complete one of these personal background checks? It may shock you to find out what information could appear depending upon the search you have completed. Police officers (local, […]
Parking Fines and Driving Using a Cell Phone
Increase in Fines for Parking Tickets Last week the City of Toronto increased fines for illegally parking during the morning and evening commute. If you receive a ticket for parking between the hours of 6am – 10am or 3pm – 7pm in a rush hour route, you will now receive a $150 fine. The previous […]
Why You Should Clean Snow and Ice Off Your Vehicle
The winter season is upon us and with it comes the snow, ice, sleet and all the other elements which make driving in the winter much more challenging. It is also during the winter season that we see the police issuing tickets for Highway Traffic Act offences that we wouldn’t normally expect to receive any […]
Peace Bond FAQs
Common Law and Statutory Peace Bonds The first thing you should know about peace bonds is that there are two kinds of peace bonds. The first kind of peace bond is pursuant to s. 810 of Criminal Code of Canada. The second type of peace bond is the common law peace bond. The significant difference […]
Domestic Assault Trials
Domestic assault charges are often some of the more challenging criminal charges to deal with. Conducting trials relating to these charges can be equally as challenging and frustrating for all parties involved. The police get frustrated when a victim changes his or her story. The Crown Attorney’s office gets frustrated when they have an uncooperative witness […]
Pleading Guilty and Sentencing for Criminal Charges
Whether you have hired a lawyer or you representing yourself in a criminal matter, if you are contemplating pleading guilty then you should understand both the process for pleading guilty and sentencing before you go to court. If you have hired a lawyer or it is your intention to hire a lawyer to assist you […]
Youth Criminal Records
There is often a misconception that a youth record disappears after young person reaches the age of 18. The period of time that a youth criminal record will remain accessible is dependent upon how the criminal charges were resolved. The truth is that most youth criminal records are removed after a passage of time. However […]
First Court Date
For anyone unfamiliar with the criminal justice system and how our courts operate, the first time you attend court can be both confusing and frustrating. If you have not retained a lawyer and depending on how busy the court is that day, you may be at court for a couple hours. The following is intended […]
Hamilton Police Officers Praised
Anytime a police officer’s actions create media attention, it often seems to be related to the inappropriate conduct of a police officer. This is why it has been quite refreshing to see two Hamilton police officers receive positive media attention with respect to a recent arrest. From the perspective of a criminal defence lawyer, during […]
Courtroom Etiquette: How do I Dress, Speak, and Act in Court?
Criminal defence lawyers are in court on a regular basis and thus are familiar with both appropriate and inappropriate courtroom etiquette. However, for someone who has never been in a courtroom before you may not know how to act, what to say, or how to dress appropriately. As a lawyer, I make sure you understand appropriate […]