Verdict delayed at impaired driving trial for Ottawa councillor

Courts released video of Coun. Matthew Luloff providing breath samples, as he awaits a verdict in his impaired driving trial. CTV’s Katie Griffin reports.

The verdict at the impaired driving trial for Ottawa Coun. Matthew Luloff is now expected next week.

Luloff was arrested in July 2024 and pleaded not guilty to operating a vehicle while impaired and one count of having blood alcohol content above 80 mg per 100 ml of blood two hours after ceasing to operate a vehicle.

• ‘This is not going to be good for me’: Ottawa councillor’s breath test video released at impaired driving trial

A verdict was originally expected on Friday, but the proceedings were adjourned until Thursday, March 5.

The lawyer for Luloff argued during the trial that key evidence for the Crown should be excluded and all charges should be dismissed due to a number of alleged breaches of Luloff’s Charter rights.

Lawrence Greenspon alleged there were seven breaches of Luloff’s rights guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including:

• Police entering onto his property without a warrant.
• Telling Luloff they were investigating a traffic complaint and not an impaired driving complaint.
• Unlawful detention by the way officers parked their vehicles blocking the driveway.
• Searching Luloff’s satchel which contained keys to the Jeep without a warrant.
• Delaying his rights to counsel.
• Forgetting to read a demand for a breath sample until he got to cellblock.

Luloff has been an Ottawa councillor since 2018, including representing the riding of Orléans East-Cumberland since 2022.

He was born and raised in Ottawa’s east end and served with the Governor General’s Foot Guards and the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Katie Griffin

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