Gunn Law Blog

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    Breaking Development in Impaired Cases in Alberta

    ByShannon Gunn Emery Hours

    This is breaking news! In fact, CanLii, our national law reporter, has not even updated its website yet. So, you are likely hearing this for the first time here. A new amendment just came into force yesterday, September 1, 2026, that is going to be changing SafeRoads hearings. To understand the full import of the amendment, we have to take you back to a case that Gunn Law Group won three years ago. On July 25th, 2023, after a successful constitutional challenge brought by Shannon Gunn Emery, Justice Whitling held that audio and video recordings had to be disclosed in every SafeRoads case. He also found that the police had an obligation to say whether or not those recordings existed. Immediately following that decision, nearly…

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    What Counts as Impaired Driving in Alberta?

    ByShannon Gunn Emery Hours

    What Does the Law Consider Impaired Driving? You may have heard people say that driving while tired is the same as driving while drunk. While fatigue can affect your reaction time and judgment, that statement does not accurately reflect Canadian law. Knowing what qualifies as impaired driving will help you understand your legal responsibilities and the risks you face when you get behind the wheel. The law is focused on the cause of the impairment and the degree to which your ability to drive was affected. Fatigue Is Not Impaired Driving Under the Criminal Code Driving while extremely tired is dangerous and may put you and others at risk. However, fatigue by itself does not meet the legal definition of impaired driving under the Criminal…

  • 7 Social Media Tips if You Are Going Through a Divorce

    ByShannon Gunn Emery Hours

    What you post on social media during a divorce or criminal case can seriously harm the outcome of your case.  Even posts that may seem harmless can be used as evidence against you. The safest approach is simple: do not post about your legal situation and assume that anything you share could be seen by a judge. If you are going through a divorce, a family law matter, or even a criminal case, your use of social media can directly impact your legal outcome. Many people underestimate the power of social media evidence. What you post, comment, or share can be used in court, sometimes in ways you did not expect. Here are seven tips regarding using social media when you are involved in a legal…

  • How Bail Works in Alberta What You Need to Know About Release Conditions

    ByShannon Gunn Emery Hours

    If you are charged with a criminal offence in Alberta, you will go through a form of bail or release process. Release conditions are not admissions of guilt, but they are legally binding promises you must follow. Early legal advice is critical, especially if your case involves serious charges, repeat allegations, or a reverse onus situation. If you or someone close to you has been arrested in Alberta, you will quickly hear the words “bail” and “release conditions.” These terms can sound intimidating, especially when you are under stress. Understanding how bail works helps you make informed decisions during a critical moment. Bail Applies in Almost Every Case Many people believe bail only applies if you are kept in custody and brought before a judge….

  • What Happens to Your License After a DUI in Alberta?

    ByShannon Gunn Emery Hours

    If you are charged with impaired driving in Alberta, your driver’s license is affected immediately. Most cases involve automatic administrative penalties under the SafeRoads program, including license suspensions and ignition interlock requirements. Understanding how these penalties work, including how out-of-province suspensions apply, helps you protect your driving privileges and plan your next steps. Facing a charge for impaired driving in Alberta brings serious and immediate consequences, especially when it comes to your driver’s license. Many drivers are surprised to learn that these penalties can apply even before any criminal case is resolved. Administrative vs. Criminal Penalties In Alberta, police can address impaired driving through two different systems. One option is the administrative SafeRoads Alberta regime. The other involves laying charges under the Criminal Code, often…

  • What is Considered Impaired Driving in Alberta?

    ByShannon Gunn Emery Hours

    Impaired driving in Alberta has a specific legal meaning that often differs from public messaging. While driving tired, emotional, or distracted can be dangerous, only alcohol and drugs legally qualify as impaired driving under Alberta and Canadian law. Understanding this distinction will help you to protect your rights and make informed decisions on the road. Impaired driving is a topic that concerns and confuses many Albertans. Media campaigns and public safety messaging warn against driving while tired, emotional, or distracted, which can blur the line between safety advice and legal definitions. To protect your rights and responsibilities as a driver, you should understand what impaired driving actually means under Alberta law. Impaired driving has a clear and narrow legal definition. While behaviors like driving while…

  • 4-Day Work Week

    ByGunn Law Group Hours

    On July 26, 2023 reports started flooding in about the results from the world’s largest trial of a four-day workweek. There were 61 UK-based companies that participated and at the end of it, 56 out of the 61 are continuing with it. Only two companies said they definitely were not going to do so while three others were expected to continue but did not confirm it.[1] When Shannon Gunn Emery heard about it on the radio, she was instantly interested. In order to offer top notch services to the public, Gunn Law Group needs good people. This means we need to be able to attract hard working, creative lawyers who are interested in criminal law, family law, and administrative law. Once we have hired them,…

  • An Update on how COVID 19 is Affecting the Court

    ByGunn Law Group Hours

    COVID 19 continues to affect Criminal and Family Law proceedings, as well as Traffic Court.  Gunn Law’s team of Family, Criminal and Impaired Driving Lawyers are monitoring the situation closely and are always ready to help you through whatever your facing. Here are updates on how it is affecting the various courts in Alberta, Northwest Territories and Yukon Criminal https://albertacourts.ca/pc/resources/covid In Alberta Provincial Court, if the matter does not fall under a category of an essential function, any dates currently scheduled for court between now and July 3, 2020 are adjourned for 6 weeks. If the accused is in custody, one should presume that those matters are proceeding. The Court considers those to be part of the Court’s “Essential functions” and will be proceeding as…

  • COVID 19 and the Courts

    ByGunn Law Group Hours

    We have clients from all over the country. Each province and territory has been scrambling to try to find ways to meaningfully respond to the COVID19 pandemic that is effectively shutting down the country. The responses of each jurisdiction, and each level of court within that jurisdiction, have been similar but differ in details. In general, the courts have shut down non-essential services and are trying to put into place measures to keep both court staff and the community at large safe. Below is a summary of what we have gleaned so far. Please be advised that these are all subject to change and the information below may not be accurate at the time you are reading it, as the situation is evolving and changing…

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