For more than 15 years, Ian Hutchison has been representing people accused of crimes ranging from drug and driving offences, assault and manslaughter, fraud, breaking and entering, and beyond.Preparation is the key to Ian’s success and his approach to criminal defence. His goal is to get the charges against you dropped or, if the case must go to trial, have a ‘not guilty’ verdict rendered. After all, your future depends on it.Ian understands that when you’re accused of a crime, your life gets put on hold. A solid legal defence is your best shot at getting back to life the way it was before all this began. The consequences you may face are never set in stone, and Ian will fight tirelessly on your behalf to avoid or reduce jail time, and to access alternative justice programs that will allow you to move on with your life.If you or someone you love is accused of a crime, you need an advocate on your side. Someone who understands the accused’s constitutional rights inside and out. Someone who will vigorously pursue every avenue of defence and have your back each step of the way. Contact Ian today for a consultation about your situation. Phone: 1 902 818-9184E-mail: ian@hutchisonlaw.caIan Hutchison – Halifax Criminal Lawyer
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Areas of Practice
Driving Offences
Speeding, failing to obey traffic signs and signals, and parking tickets are encounters with the law that most of us will have at least once in our lives. When you simply pay the fine indicated on your ticket, you are pleading guilty to and being convicted of a summary offence, and this will result in […]
DUI & Impaired Driving
A charge or conviction related to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can have a serious impact on almost every aspect of your life. Impaired driving falls under the Criminal Code of Canada and the three most common charges are impaired driving, driving over the legal limit (“over 80” or “over 0.8”), and […]
Assault & Aggravated Assault
Assault is generally defined as the intentional application of force to another person, directly or indirectly. Assault can also take place simply through the threat or gesture that leads someone to believe assault is intended. A charge of aggravated assault is more serious one resulting in considerable injury. If you’re charged with assault or aggravated […]
Drug Offences
Regardless of whether it’s related to pot (marijuana), cocaine, heroin, hash, LSD, Molly/ecstasy (MDMA), mushrooms, or GHB, being accused of a drug offence is serious matter. There are various types of criminal charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act: Possession Trafficking Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Production of a Controlled Substance Importing a […]
Theft, Fraud & Financial Crimes
Theft and other financial crimes are some of the most common offences in Canada, and even though there may be no physical harm to others, the consequences of a conviction can still be serious. Some examples of these types of crimes include: Theft under $5000 and theft over $5000 (including shoplifting and motor vehicle theft)
Child Pornography Defence
In Canada, there are four separate offences related to child pornography: Possession child pornography Accessing child pornography Distribution and sale of (making available) child pornography Making child pornography The consequences of a conviction for one of these crimes are severe, and include mandatory minimum jail sentences (at least one year), and being required to register […]
Firearms & Weapons Offences
A firearm or weapon-related offence is a serious charge that has the potential to carry severe penalties, including jail time and a criminal record — which can affect your employment, immigration status, and ability to travel. Under the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act, these types of charges can involve weapons such as: Guns Knives […]
Domestic Violence Defence
Domestic violence crimes are those offences that take place between members of an intimate relationship (such as a marriage, common-law or other romantic relationship regardless of whether they are current or former partners). Incidents of domestic violence are taken extremely seriously by the justice system because they make up the majority of violent offenses and […]
Immigration Offences
When it comes to second chances, immigrants in Canada don’t get a lot of them. Individuals who are here on on temporary status (as with a business or tourist visa or a work permit) or permanent status (for example, family, educational, business or labour categories) may be accused of various breaches of immigration law by […]
DUI & Impaired Driving
A charge or conviction related to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can have a serious impact on almost every aspect of your life. Impaired driving falls under the Criminal Code of Canada and the three most common charges are impaired driving, driving over the legal limit (“over 80” or “over 0.8”), and refusing to provide a breath/blood sample or perform a sobriety test. You can be charged with impaired driving of a car, truck, ATV, boat, or aircraft.
In Nova Scotia, the consequences for an impaired driving conviction are wide-ranging. And in addition to the penalties found in the Criminal Code of Canada, our province imposes additional penalties related to impaired driving. Depending on the charge, you may be facing:
- Losing your license for anywhere from 7 days to permanently
- Fines up to $2000
- The cost of alcohol interlock devices
- The costs of mandatory alcohol rehabilitation
- Legal fees
- Increased insurance costs or inability to get insurance
- The social and employment costs of having a criminal record
Because a DUI conviction can have such drastic and wide-ranging consequences, it’s critical to work with an experienced lawyer who knows impaired driving law inside and out. Some of the aspects of your case that a lawyer may be able to challenge on your behalf include:
- Whether the the breath or blood sample was taken properly and legally
- Whether there is a possibility of a false positive test results
- Whether you were truly in care and control of the vehicle
- Whether you were stopped for a valid reason
- Whether you were properly informed of your rights
Ian Hutchison is a skilled and experienced impaired driving lawyer who will defend your constitutional rights within the complicated criminal justice system.