Whitehorse Law

PHONE / TEXT (867) 689-4570

driving offense? we offer expert traffic ticket defence

Whitehorse Law has the experience and expertise to help you confidently navigate your next steps.

Traffic law in the Yukon is a complex patchwork that includes the following laws:

Motor Vehicles Act
Motor Vehicle Regulation
Summary Convictions Act
Criminal Code of Canada
Evidence Act
Motor Vehicles Equipment Regulations
National Safety Code (for commercial carriers)

Who Prosecutes Traffic Charges in the Yukon?

The Independent Prosecutions Unit (“IPU”) is a branch of the Government of Yukon’s Department of Justice. The IPU is responsible for bringing all court prosecutions related to alleged breaches of territorial laws. Every traffic court charge is prosecuted by a lawyer from the IPU. The IPU lawyers are highly experienced and knowledgeable. They are committed to preserving public safety by enforcing the Yukon’s traffic laws.

Get the Legal Help You Need

If you're facing a legal issue, turn to Luke Faught and his team at Whitehorse Law for the help you need.

Whitehorse Law offers free initial consultations and will work with you to develop a legal strategy that meets your needs and goals. Contact Whitehorse Law today to schedule a consultation.

Schedule Now

The Most Common Consequences In Traffic Court In The Yukon

The 4 most common consequences at play in a traffic court charge in the Yukon are: jail, driving suspensions, demerit points, and fines.

Jail

While jail is available as a punishment for almost all Yukon traffic offences, Judges almost always reserve jail for cases involving: repeat offenders; serious property damage; or injury or death to another person. Unless your case involves one of the above features, you should not worry about jail as a consequence.

Fine

Fines are the most common form of punishment for Yukon traffic offences. The Yukon legislature recently increased some minimum and maximum fines for traffic offences in the Yukon.

Demerits

Demerits are “points” officially recorded on your driving history. If you are found guilty of certain offences, you will automatically receive the number of demerits linked to that offence under the Motor Vehicles Regulation.

Demerits can have unwanted consequences:

You might lose your employment if your job requires a clean driving history; and
Your insurance provider might increase the price of your vehicle insurance based on your driving record.

Driving Suspension

Nearly every offence under Yukon’s highway traffic laws carries the possibility of a driving suspension of up to 3 months.

How Can A Yukon Traffic Lawyer Help You?

Experience Matters

Because Yukon traffic law is made from a complex patchwork of laws, even a seemingly “simple” and straightforward traffic charge is governed by multiple complicated laws. An experienced Yukon traffic lawyer can help you navigate the complex laws and increase the chances of a great result in court. Luke has been working traffic charges since 2010.

From 2010 - 2014 Luke prosecuted traffic charges in Alberta. This gave him extremely valuable insight into how best to defend people.
From 2014 to today, Luke has been defending people who face traffic charges, from “simple” speeding tickets to cases involving serious collisions, injuries, and fatalities.

Luke’s first step when hired to defend a traffic charge is to carefully review the Crown’s evidence file (“disclosure”). By reviewing the disclosure, Luke will be able to tell you your “odds and options:

Is the case against you strong or weak?
What are your defences?
What are the odds of successfully raising that defence?
Is it possible to make a good deal with the Crown without the need to go to trial?

A Deal Without the Need to Go to Trial

When Luke is hired to defend Yukon traffic charges, and after he identifies his client’s priorities, he is generally able to make a “plea bargain” (a deal that satisfies his client and avoids the uncertainty, cost and stress of going to trial).

Before entering plea bargain talks with the IPU, Luke strategizes with his clients to determine their priorities, and Luke negotiates with the IPU with his client’s priorities front of mind.

Luke will never make a deal with the IPU that his client does not want.

The deal might include:

Pleading guilty to a different change than the one you currently face, that comes with a lower fine, fewer demerits or a short or no driving suspension
Pleading guilty to some charges in exchange for others being dropped
Making a complete agreement with the Crown over what your sentence should be (subject to the Judge’s approval), which reduces uncertainty in the court process.

Luke Faught can advise you on how to put yourself in the best possible light in the eyes of the IPU or the Judge. In addition to negotiating with the Crown, Luke can also give you advice on how to remove demerits from your driving record as quickly as possible, and other matters that impact your driving privileges.