R. v. Ecker, (1984) 55 A.R. 249 (QB)

• Judge: Chrumka, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: July 06, 1984
• Citations: (1984), 55 A.R. 249 (QB)

R. v. Ecker (1984), 55 A.R. 249 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

R. v. Ecker

(8301-A-0096)

Indexed As: R. v. Ecker

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Calgary

Chrumka, J.

July 6, 1984.

Summary:

The Crown appealed from the acquittal of the accused on a charge of driving with an excessive blood-alcohol content, because a correct notice of intention to use the breathalyzer certificate in evidence was served on the accused only after plea.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench allowed the appeal and entered a conviction on the ground that the notice need only be served a reasonable time before the calling of evidence.

Civil Rights - Topic 3604

Detention - What constitutes - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench held that a person is not detained within the meaning of s. 10(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms when subjected to a breathalyzer demand - See paragraph 14.

Criminal Law - Topic 1374

Motor vehicle - Impaired driving - Breathalyzer - Certificate evidence - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench held that a breathalyzer certificate which contained no identification of the breathalyzer solution was defective - See paragraphs 16 to 19.

Criminal Law - Topic 1374

Motor vehicle - Impaired driving - Breathalyzer - Certificate evidence - Notice of intention to use in evidence - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench held that a notice of intention to use a breathalyzer certificate in evidence need not be served on the accused before plea, but only a reasonable time before the calling of evidence - See paragraphs 21 to 34.

Criminal Law - Topic 1374

Motor vehicle - Impaired driving - Breathalyzer - Certificate evidence - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench held that an objection should be made to a breathalyzer certificate before it is admitted and that a defective certificate should not be admitted - See paragraph 20.

Words and Phrases

Trial - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench held that "trial" within the meaning of s. 237(5) of the Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, which requires a notice of intention to use a breathalyzer certificate in evidence to be served before trial, refers to the calling of evidence and not plea - See paragraphs 21 to 34.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Rahn, [1984] 2 W.W.R. 577; 50 A.R. 43, appld. [para. 14].

R. v. Engen, [1984] 2 W.W.R. 590; 50 A.R. 51, appld. [para. 14].

R. v. Campbell, [1984] 2 W.W.R. 594; 50 A.R. 54, appld. [para. 14].

R. v. Taylor (1984), 7 C.C.C.(3d) 293, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Kornak (1984), 51 A.R. 93, appld. [para. 15].

R. v. Bykowski, [1980] 7 W.W.R. 282, dist. [para. 16].

R. v. Lightfoot (1981), 36 N.R. 349; 59 C.C.C.(2d) 414 (S.C.C.), dist. [para. 16].

R. v. Mabee (1972), 6 C.C.C.(2d) 467, dist. [para. 16].

R. v. Gosby (1974), 16 C.C.C.(2d) 228, dist. [para. 18].

R. v. Morgan (1984), 29 Alta. L.R.(2d) 183; 51 A.R. 201, appld. [para. 20].

R. v. Goertz (1971), 21 C.R.N.S. 356, consd. [para. 26].

R. v. Surgeson (1974), 15 C.C.C.(2d) 95, consd. [para. 28].

R. v. Breen (1975), 12 N.B.R.(2d) 616; 10 A.P.R. 616; 30 C.C.C.(2d) 229, consd. [para. 29].

R. v. Riddle, [1980] 1 S.C.R. 380; 29 N.R. 91; 48 C.C.C.(2d) 365, appld. [para. 32].

R. v. Peterson (1983), 44 N.R. 93; 69 C.C.C.(2d) 385, dist. [para. 32].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, sect. 10(b) [para. 14].

Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, sect. 237(1)(f) [para. 17]; sect. 237(5) [para. 22]; sect. 740(1) [para. 31].

Counsel:

J.C. Darling, for the appellant;

T.C. Semenuk, for the respondent.

This case was heard at Calgary, Alberta, before Chrumka, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Calgary, who delivered the following judgment on July 6, 1984: