Alan Pearse - Toronto DUI Lawyer
Automatically compiled listing. Details may contain errors.1 lawyer · City of Toronto
One of 2,276 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 307 handling Criminal Defence.
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Free consultationVirtual appointmentsAbout Alan Pearse - Toronto DUI Lawyer
Alan Pearse defends people charged with impaired driving, and that's the whole of the practice. Pearse takes on just three kinds of file: impaired driving, refusal and over 80 charges, with the only exceptions being a small number of pro bono outreach matters.
Pearse has practised since 2000, always as a defence lawyer in private practice, and has represented several thousand people in that time. Pearse is also the author of A Guide to Breathalyzer Certificates in Canada, a technical text from Canada Law Book that's sold to lawyers, Crown prosecutors and judges to explain the finer points of DUI litigation.
A case starts with a review of the Crown's disclosure. Pearse then gives an honest read on whether there's a reasonable chance of winning, and if there is, takes the matter to trial in person rather than passing it to a junior lawyer.
The main office is on 130 Spadina Avenue in downtown Toronto, but Pearse accepts files from anywhere in Ontario and can appear in every province and territory except Quebec. The first consultation is free, and Pearse works around the clock, all year, though a text is usually the better way to make first contact.
Practice areas
Impaired driving and over 80 charges
Depending on how the stop, arrest and charge unfolded, Pearse may challenge an impaired driving or over 80 charge with technical defences, cross-examination of witnesses or Charter arguments. In over 80 cases the fight is often over whether the certificate of analysis gets in and whether the Crown can rely on the statutory presumption, which are the exact questions Pearse's book deals with.
Refusal and drug-impaired driving
Refusal allegations can involve roadside screening devices, breath testing at the station, blood samples or drug investigations. On these files Pearse works through the police video and notes, the testing and medical records, and the legal basis for the demand to find weak points, and in marijuana cases looks closely at what the officers did and how reliable their equipment was, with the driver's constitutional rights in view.
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Free consultationHow Alan Pearse - Toronto DUI Lawyer works
Alan Pearse's policy is straight talk about a client's chances. When someone has no workable defence, Pearse tells them so in clear, plain terms, and in some cases that advice can be given for free after a brief phone call. On a first call, Pearse goes over what happened, answers questions honestly and explains where the person stands, free of charge and in confidence.
Milestones & recognition
- Pearse lectures on impaired driving law to practising lawyers and law students, and gives briefs to the defence bar.
- Pearse publishes the Alan Pearse Impaired Driving Newsletter, which carries technical analysis of impaired driving and related subjects.
In the community
- Every day, Alan Pearse fields questions on impaired driving law from fellow lawyers and from members of the public, with the lawyers' questions usually answered by email.
Affiliations & connections
- Canadian Bar Association: Lawyer organizations such as the Canadian Bar Association commonly consult Alan Pearse for input and advice on impaired driving issues, and Pearse has written many position papers in that role.
Lawyers 1
The neighbourhood
The Toronto office is in the Fashion Building at 130 Spadina Avenue, an eight-storey heritage building known for its neo-Gothic detailing and its lobby. Suites there have polished wood floors, 12-foot ceilings and large windows that open, and the building offers barrier-free access. It's close to both the Financial and Entertainment Districts, with LRT service right outside.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Alan Pearse take criminal cases other than impaired driving, refusal and over 80 charges?
- Alan Pearse doesn't. Pearse refuses other criminal files to keep the practice focused on clients' impaired driving cases.
- Will Alan Pearse run my impaired driving trial personally, or hand it off to another lawyer?
- Alan Pearse runs every one of the trials personally, so a client's trial is never passed along to someone else.
- Is texting Alan Pearse at (647) 465-7875 better than calling?
- Because of the high volume of calls, a text is usually the better first step. Alan Pearse can be reached directly at (647) 465-7875.
- Can Alan Pearse arrange payment options if I can't pay the whole retainer up front?
- Alan Pearse sets up payment options that suit the individual client, since many people facing a charge can't put the full retainer together right away.
- Does Alan Pearse take impaired driving files outside Toronto, in places like Brampton or Ottawa?
- Yes. Alan Pearse serves Toronto, Mississauga, Markham, Brampton, Oakville, Ottawa and all other communities.
Where to find them
Suite 606, 130 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5V 2L4 · 647-465-7875
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Legal AidThis listing was generated by AI from public sources in October 2026. It may contain errors, and we can’t guarantee it’s accurate or complete. Before you rely on anything here, verify it on the firm’s own website. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗
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