R. v. Bolczak,

JurisdictionManitoba
JudgeMcKelvey, J.
Neutral Citation2005 MBQB 56
Date29 March 2005
CourtCourt of Queen's Bench of Manitoba (Canada)

R. v. Bolczak (P.) (2005), 198 Man.R.(2d) 1 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2005] Man.R.(2d) TBEd. AU.020

Her Majesty The Queen v. Piotr Bolczak (accused)

(CR 04-01-25387; 2005 MBQB 56)

Indexed As: R. v. Bolczak (P.)

Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench

Winnipeg Centre

McKelvey, J.

March 29, 2005.

Summary:

The accused was charged with possession of cannabis (marijuana) for the purposes of trafficking under s. 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The marihuana was found in three boxes, behind a closed curtain in the sleeper berth of the accused's tractor-trailer. The accused alleged violations of his ss. 8 and 10(b) Charter rights.

The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench held, inter alia, that the search was authorized by Manitoba's Highway Traffic Act and there was no Charter breach.

Civil Rights - Topic 1508

Property - Expectation of privacy - At issue was whether the sleeper berth in the accused's tractor-trailer was a "dwelling" within the meaning of ss. 241.1(3) and 318.10(3) of Manitoba's Highway Traffic Act - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench held that it was - The accused testified that he slept and ate most of his meals in the berth area during the course of his journey - He had a berth, fridge and table in this confined area - It was where he lived, albeit on a temporary basis while on the road - Further, the accused had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the berth, but it was a lower expectation given the fact that the berth area was subject to regulatory inspection - See paragraphs 22 to 32.

Civil Rights - Topic 1643

Property - Search and seizure - Extent of protection - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench stated that "The standards to be applied to the reasonableness of a search in a criminal investigation context are not the same as those to be applied to a regulatory inspection. The regulatory inspection is directed towards ensuring and securing compliance with the legislation in question. Section 8 must be applied flexibly when regulatory schemes are under consideration." - See paragraph 21.

Civil Rights - Topic 1646

Property - Search and seizure - Unreasonable search and seizure defined - An RCMP officer inspected the accused's tractor-trailer under Manitoba's Highway Traffic Act - The load consisted of perishable goods - The officer found boxes behind a curtain, in the sleeper berth - They were later found to contain marijuana - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench found that the officer's act in looking behind the curtain was not one of conducting a criminal investigation, but of ensuring compliance with commercial vehicle regulations by continuing an authorized inspection under the Act, to determine whether a co-driver or other danger existed in the sleeper berth area - The officer had reasons to suspect a co-driver existed because a co-driver was often utilized where the load consisted of perishable goods and significant downtime was shown on the accused's logbooks - The search was authorized by law and the law itself and the search were both reasonable - See paragraphs 33 to 45.

Civil Rights - Topic 1646

Property - Search and seizure - Unreasonable search and seizure defined - An RCMP officer inspected the accused's tractor-trailer under Manitoba's Highway Traffic Act - The officer found boxes behind a curtain, in the sleeper berth - They were later found to contain marijuana - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench found that the act of looking behind the curtain was authorized by the Highway Traffic Act - Alternatively, this search was incident to a lawful detention that began when the officer started a properly authorized inspection under the Act by requesting the "paperwork" - The officer had reasonable and probable grounds to arrest the accused after viewing the boxes - The court held that the search was incident to a lawful detention or incident to a lawful arrest - See paragraphs 46 to 54.

Civil Rights - Topic 1651

Property - Search and seizure - Warrantless search and seizure - Motor vehicles - [See second Civil Rights - Topic 1646 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 3604

Detention and imprisonment - Detention - What constitutes detention - [See Civil Rights - Topic 4608 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 4608

Right to counsel - General - Right to be advised of - An RCMP officer inspected the accused's tractor-trailer under Manitoba's Highway Traffic Act - The officer found boxes behind a curtain, in the sleeper berth - They were later found to contain marijuana - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench found that the act of looking behind the curtain was authorized by the Highway Traffic Act - The court held that the accused was detained when he answered certain questions by the officer but the officer had no obligation to tell the accused about his right to counsel when he was simply asking questions pursuant to his authorization to inspect - The questions were of a general nature designed to obtain information for inspection purposes - See paragraphs 55 to 59.

Police - Topic 3063

Powers - Arrest and detention - Without warrant - Reasonable and probable grounds - [See second Civil Rights - Topic 1646 ].

Police - Topic 3185

Powers - Search - Following arrest or detention - [See second Civil Rights - Topic 1646 ].

Words and Phrases

Dwelling  - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench interpreted the word "dwelling" as found in ss. 241.1(3) and 318.10(3) of the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.M. 1987, c. H-60; C.C.S.M., c. H-60 - See paragraphs 25 to 29.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Grant (D.) (1992), 14 B.C.A.C. 94; 26 W.A.C. 94; 14 C.R.(4th) 260 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Feeney (M.), [1997] 2 S.C.R. 13; 212 N.R. 83; 91 B.C.A.C. 1; 148 W.A.C. 1; 115 C.C.C.(3d) 129, refd to. [para. 25].

Shirl John Laube, Jr., In Re (1993), 152 B.R. 260 (Wis. Bktcy.), refd to. [para. 25].

British Columbia Securities Commission v. Branch and Levitt, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 3; 180 N.R. 241; 60 B.C.A.C. 1; 99 W.A.C. 1; 97 C.C.C.(3d) 505; 123 D.L.R.(4th) 462; 38 C.R.(4th) 133, refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Edwards (C.), [1996] 1 S.C.R. 128; 192 N.R. 81; 88 O.A.C. 321; 104 C.C.C.(3d) 136, refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Collins, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 265; 74 N.R. 276; 56 C.R.(3d) 193; [1987] 3 W.W.R. 699; 38 D.L.R.(4th) 508; 33 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 13 B.C.L.R.(2d) 1; 28 C.R.R. 122, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Tessling (W.) (2004), 326 N.R. 228; 192 O.A.C. 168 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Belnavis (A.) and Lawrence (C.), [1997] 3 S.C.R. 341; 216 N.R. 161; 103 O.A.C. 81; 118 C.C.C.(3d) 405; 151 D.L.R.(4th) 443, refd to. [para. 39].

R. v. M.R.M., [1998] 3 S.C.R. 393; 233 N.R. 1; 159 N.S.R.(2d) 321; 468 A.P.R. 321, refd to. [para. 43].

R. v. Simpson (R.) (1993), 60 O.A.C. 327; 12 O.R.(3d) 182; 20 C.R.(4th) 1; 79 C.C.C.(3d) 482; 43 M.V.R.(2d) 1; 14 C.R.R.(2d) 338; 1993 CarswellOnt 727 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 47].

R. v. Mann (P.H.) (2004), 324 N.R. 215; 187 Man.R.(2d) 1; 330 W.A.C. 1; 2004 SCC 52, refd to. [para. 48].

R. v. Storrey, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 241; 105 N.R. 81; 37 O.A.C. 161; 53 C.C.C.(3d) 316; 75 C.R.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 52].

R. v. Mellenthin, [1992] 3 S.C.R. 615; 144 N.R. 50; 135 A.R. 1; 33 W.A.C. 1; 76 C.C.C.(3d) 481; 16 C.R.(4th) 273, refd to. [para. 53].

R. v. Ladouceur, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 1257; 108 N.R. 171; 40 O.A.C. 1; 77 C.R.(3d) 110; 56 C.C.C.(3d) 22; 21 M.V.R.(2d) 165, refd to. [para. 56].

R. v. Campbell (D.B.) (2003), 117 Man.R.(2d) 117; 304 W.A.C. 117 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 62].

Counsel:

Tanit Gilliam, for the Crown;

Grant M. Driedger, for the accused.

This voir dire was heard by McKelvey, J., of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench, Winnipeg Centre, who delivered the following decision on March 29, 2005.

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7 practice notes
  • R. v. Dhillon (K.), 2012 MBQB 39
    • Canada
    • Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba (Canada)
    • February 2, 2012
    ...Commission of Brantford v. Brantford (City) (1998), 108 O.A.C. 24; 36 O.R.(3d) 419 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 32]. R. v. Bolczak (P.) (2005), 198 Man.R.(2d) 1; 2005 MBQB 56, consd. [para. 35]. R. v. Kenyon (J.B.) (2009), 246 Man.R.(2d) 141; 2009 MBQB 259, affd. (2010), 258 Man.R.(2d) 20; 499 W......
  • R. v. Higgs (S.R.), (2006) 202 Man.R.(2d) 144 (PC)
    • Canada
    • Manitoba Provincial Court of Manitoba (Canada)
    • March 30, 2006
    ...the officer had reasonable and probable grounds to arrest the accused - See paragraphs 28 and 29. Cases Noticed: R. v. Bolczak (P.) (2005), 198 Man.R.(2d) 1; 2005 MBQB 56, folld. [para. 12, footnote 5, Appendix R. v. Macooh, [1993] 2 S.C.R. 802; 155 N.R. 44; 141 A.R. 321; 46 W.A.C. 321; 82 ......
  • R. v. Nolet (R.) et al., 2006 SKQB 393
    • Canada
    • Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan (Canada)
    • August 22, 2006
    ...Regional Police Force (1998), 116 O.A.C. 126; 131 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 167 D.L.R.(4th) 672 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 27]. R. v. Bolczak (P.) (2005), 198 Man.R.(2d) 1; 2005 MBQB 56, refd to. [para. 29]. R. v. I.D.D. (1987), 60 Sask.R. 72; 38 C.C.C.(3d) 289 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 32]. R. v. Perello (......
  • R. v. Sadeghi (D.), 2007 SKQB 120
    • Canada
    • Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan (Canada)
    • April 4, 2007
    ...38]. Johnson v. Ontario (Minister of Revenue) (1990), 41 O.A.C. 129; 75 O.R.(2d) 558 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 38]. R. v. Bolczak (P.) (2005), 198 Man.R.(2d) 1; 2005 MBQB 56, refd to. [para. 43]. R. v. Power (J.P.), [2005] 1 W.W.R. 556; 236 Sask.R. 40; 2003 SKQB 334, refd to. [para. 43]. Brow......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
7 cases
  • R. v. Dhillon (K.), 2012 MBQB 39
    • Canada
    • Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba (Canada)
    • February 2, 2012
    ...Commission of Brantford v. Brantford (City) (1998), 108 O.A.C. 24; 36 O.R.(3d) 419 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 32]. R. v. Bolczak (P.) (2005), 198 Man.R.(2d) 1; 2005 MBQB 56, consd. [para. 35]. R. v. Kenyon (J.B.) (2009), 246 Man.R.(2d) 141; 2009 MBQB 259, affd. (2010), 258 Man.R.(2d) 20; 499 W......
  • R. v. Nolet (R.) et al., 2006 SKQB 393
    • Canada
    • Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan (Canada)
    • August 22, 2006
    ...Regional Police Force (1998), 116 O.A.C. 126; 131 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 167 D.L.R.(4th) 672 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 27]. R. v. Bolczak (P.) (2005), 198 Man.R.(2d) 1; 2005 MBQB 56, refd to. [para. 29]. R. v. I.D.D. (1987), 60 Sask.R. 72; 38 C.C.C.(3d) 289 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 32]. R. v. Perello (......
  • R. v. Higgs (S.R.), (2006) 202 Man.R.(2d) 144 (PC)
    • Canada
    • Manitoba Provincial Court of Manitoba (Canada)
    • March 30, 2006
    ...the officer had reasonable and probable grounds to arrest the accused - See paragraphs 28 and 29. Cases Noticed: R. v. Bolczak (P.) (2005), 198 Man.R.(2d) 1; 2005 MBQB 56, folld. [para. 12, footnote 5, Appendix R. v. Macooh, [1993] 2 S.C.R. 802; 155 N.R. 44; 141 A.R. 321; 46 W.A.C. 321; 82 ......
  • R. v. Sadeghi (D.), 2007 SKQB 120
    • Canada
    • Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan (Canada)
    • April 4, 2007
    ...38]. Johnson v. Ontario (Minister of Revenue) (1990), 41 O.A.C. 129; 75 O.R.(2d) 558 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 38]. R. v. Bolczak (P.) (2005), 198 Man.R.(2d) 1; 2005 MBQB 56, refd to. [para. 43]. R. v. Power (J.P.), [2005] 1 W.W.R. 556; 236 Sask.R. 40; 2003 SKQB 334, refd to. [para. 43]. Brow......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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