PUBLIC NOTICE: Traffic Court Duty Counsel
In the last decade, the consequences of Violation Tickets have become increasingly harsh. Depending on the offence and your driving record, convictions in traffic court can trigger Driver Risk Premium, Driver Point Premium and driving prohibitions. Just last week the Attorney General announced that as of September 1, 2019, your car insurance is going to increase based on the offences recorded on your driving record. Traffic violations have become a serious matter.
We understand that there are barriers to contacting a lawyer to get help with your traffic ticket. Many people are simply intimidated by the process. When it comes to access to justice, one barrier is simply the steps associated with contacting a lawyer.
Traffic Court Duty Counsel Project
To increase accessibility to traffic court legal advice, BC Driving Lawyers is launching a two-month project to provide free legal advice at various traffic court locations. Here on our blog, we will post a schedule of courthouse locations where we will have regular hours from June 14, 2019, to August 16, 2019, where you can come and speak to traffic court counsel for free about your Violation Ticket.
If you have a Violation Ticket and are not able to attend one of the locations where we will be providing free duty counsel services, please give us a call and we can talk to you about your ticket free of charge.
Finding us at the courthouse
The schedule of when you can find us is listed below. Please consult it before coming down to meet us as there may be last minute changes.
Most traffic court locations have meeting rooms outside the courtrooms where you can speak with a lawyer. Our lawyers will have a notice at or near the door saying Free Legal Advice: Traffic Court. Walk up to us and introduce yourself. If you have legal questions, we’re there to help.
Who will give free legal advice?
Traffic court has complex procedures most similar to criminal court. In most cases, one of our lawyers will be there to speak to you. On some days it may be an articled student, who is an individual who has either completed law school or is in the process of completing their law degree and who is working in our offices toward being called as a lawyer.
Specialized knowledge and skills
Lawyers and articled students from BC Driving Lawyers offices have studied traffic court procedure. We run traffic ticket trials and appeals. We have continuous training and retraining to ensure that we know the ins and outs of traffic court cases. For example, each of the lawyers and articled students in our offices have completed the police training to operate Laser speed guns. We are serious about traffic court.
How we can help
We will speak to you about the allegations including possible defences, the consequences and the facts of your case. We will suggest a possible course of action you may wish to consider and steps you can take. We will explain the basic court procedures that apply to your facts and some of the essential elements of the offence that the officer must prove in court.
Please note that we will not negotiate with the investigating or prosecuting officers about your case, nor will we conduct a trial or sentencing. We offer free legal advice. We cannot properly defend a ticket without proper preparation and that doesn’t happen in the hallway of traffic court. Our goal is to provide free legal advice to help you decide how to handle your case.
Preparing to meet with us
Please ensure you bring the Violation Ticket for your meeting, and if possible make a few (not too many) point-form notes about what happened in your case. We’re looking forward to meeting you.
Traffic Court duty counsel schedule
June 14: Robson Square. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
June 18: Richmond. 9.00 am to 10.30 am, 1.00pm to 2.30 pm
June 19: Port Coquitlam. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
June 21: North Vancouver. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
Robson Square. 9.00am to 10.30 am
Port Coquitlam. 1.00pm to 2.30 pm
June 25: North Vancouver. 9 am to 10.30 am
June 26: Robson Square. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
Port Coquitlam. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
June 28: North Vancouver. 9 am to 10.30 am, 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
Richmond. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
Robson Square. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
July 2: Robson Square. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
July 3: Robson Square. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
July 4: Port Coquitlam. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
July 5: Robson Square. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
Port Coquitlam. 9.00 am to 10.30 am, 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
July 8: Robson Square. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
July 9: Richmond. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
Port Coquitlam. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
July 11: Robson Square. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
North Vancouver. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
July 12: Robson Square. 9.00 am to 10.30 am, 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
Richmond. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
July 16: Richmond. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
July 17: Richmond. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
Robson Square. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
July 19: Richmond. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
July 25: Port Coquitlam. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
Robson Square. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
Richmond. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
July 26: Robson Square. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
New Westminster. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
Richmond. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
July 30: New Westminster. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
July 31: Richmond. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
August 2: Richmond. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
August 6: Port Coquitlam. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
August 9: Robson Square. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
Richmond. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
August 13: Port Coquitlam. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
August 14: Robson Square. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
August 15: Robson Square. 9.00 am to 10.30 am
August 16: Robson Square. 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm