R. v. Frohwerk, (1979) 5 Man.R.(2d) 257 (CA)

JudgeFreedman, C.J.M., Monnin, Hall, Matas and Huband, JJ.A.
CourtCourt of Appeal (Manitoba)
Case DateMay 15, 1979
JurisdictionManitoba
Citations(1979), 5 Man.R.(2d) 257 (CA)

R. v. Frohwerk (1979), 5 Man.R.(2d) 257 (CA)

MLB headnote and full text

R. v. Frohwerk

Indexed As: R. v. Frohwerk

Manitoba Court of Appeal

Freedman, C.J.M., Monnin, Hall, Matas and Huband, JJ.A.

May 15, 1979.

Summary:

This case arose out of a charge against the accused of refusing to provide a breath sample. The accused, after taking a roadside screening test, was taken to a central police station. A breathalyzer demand was made. However, before the procedures took place, the police officer asked the accused if he was under doctor's care and taking medication. The accused answered affirmatively and then asked whether the pills being taken by him would affect the result of the breathalyzer reading. The accused subsequently refused to provide a breath sample and was convicted at trial. The accused appealed his conviction.

The Manitoba Court of Appeal dismissed the accused's appeal. The court held that fear that a breathalyzer reading may not be inaccurate is not a reasonable excuse. The court stated that to constitute a reasonable excuse, there must be something more than concern that the test results will not be accurate or that the peace officer or the technician is unpleasant. The court stated that the breathalyzer test should be taken, and the chemical analysis of the blood sample subsequently challenged under s. 237 of the Code - see paragraph 11.

Criminal Law - Topic 1378

Motor vehicle - Impaired driving - Breathalyzer - Reasonable excuse for refusal - What constitutes - The appellant appealed his conviction for refusal to provide a breath sample contrary to s. 235(2) of the Criminal Code - The Manitoba Court of Appeal stated that fear by the accused that a breathalyzer reading may be inaccurate is not a reasonable excuse - See paragraph 11.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Zerischagin (1972), 6 C.C.C.(2d) 473, refd to. [para. 7].

Brownridge v. Queen (1972), 7 C.C.C.(2d) 417, refd to. [para. 8].

R. v. Hagan, [1972] 2 W.W.R. 472, refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Prout, [1972] 1 O.R. 498, refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Burkitt, [1972] 6 W.W.R. 251, refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Henderson (1973), 21 C.R.(2d) 191, refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Bryden, [1974] 5 W.W.R. 368, consd. [para. 11].

R. v. Campbell (1978), 9 A.R. 277, consd. [para. 12].

R. v. Nadeau (1975), 19 C.C.C. 199; 8 N.B.R.(2d) 703, refd to. [para. 13].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, sect. 235(2) [para. 1].

Counsel:

D.N. Abra, for the respondent;

R.L. Pollock, for the (accused) appellant.

This case was heard on May 15, 1979, by FREEDMAN, C.J.M., and MONNIN, HALL, MATAS and HUBAND, JJ.A., of the Manitoba Court of Appeal.

On May 15, 1979, HUBAND, J.A., delivered the following judgment for the Manitoba Court of Appeal:

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3 practice notes
  • R. v. Lawson (P.H.), 2014 SKPC 191
    • Canada
    • Saskatchewan Provincial Court of Saskatchewan (Canada)
    • 3 novembre 2014
    ...40, footnote 11]. R. v. Stewart, [1977] 2 S.C.R. 748; 12 N.R. 201; 1 A.R. 455, refd to. [para. 40, footnote 11]. R. v. Frohwerk (1979), 5 Man.R.(2d) 257 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 49, footnote R. v. Moldenhauer (1980), 8 Sask.R. 263 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 50, footnote 15]. R. v. Wall, [1974] ......
  • R. v. Eleason (L.L.), (2014) 590 A.R. 1 (PC)
    • Canada
    • Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
    • 21 janvier 2014
    ...1 S.C.R. 385; 5 N.R. 507, refd to. [para. 77]. R. v. H.A. et al. (2005), 202 O.A.C. 54 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 77]. R. v. Frohwerk (1979), 5 Man.R.(2d) 257 (C.A.), refd to. [para. R. v. Wall (1974), 19 C.C.C.(2d) 146 (Sask. C.A.), refd to. [para. 82]. R. v. Richardson (M.J.) (1993), 62 O.A.......
  • R. v. Chapman, (1979) 5 Man.R.(2d) 262 (CoCt)
    • Canada
    • Manitoba Provincial Court of Manitoba (Canada)
    • 14 décembre 1979
    ...v. Chrun, [1973] 5 W.W.R. 611, appld. [para. 10]. R. v. Wall, [1974] 5 W.W.R. 634 (Sask. C.A.), dist. [para. 11]. R. v. Frohwerk (1979), 5 Man.R.(2d) 257, refd to. [para. Statutes Noticed: Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, sect. 235(2). Counsel: R. Goldman, for the appellant; R......
3 cases
  • R. v. Lawson (P.H.), 2014 SKPC 191
    • Canada
    • Saskatchewan Provincial Court of Saskatchewan (Canada)
    • 3 novembre 2014
    ...40, footnote 11]. R. v. Stewart, [1977] 2 S.C.R. 748; 12 N.R. 201; 1 A.R. 455, refd to. [para. 40, footnote 11]. R. v. Frohwerk (1979), 5 Man.R.(2d) 257 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 49, footnote R. v. Moldenhauer (1980), 8 Sask.R. 263 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 50, footnote 15]. R. v. Wall, [1974] ......
  • R. v. Eleason (L.L.), (2014) 590 A.R. 1 (PC)
    • Canada
    • Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
    • 21 janvier 2014
    ...1 S.C.R. 385; 5 N.R. 507, refd to. [para. 77]. R. v. H.A. et al. (2005), 202 O.A.C. 54 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 77]. R. v. Frohwerk (1979), 5 Man.R.(2d) 257 (C.A.), refd to. [para. R. v. Wall (1974), 19 C.C.C.(2d) 146 (Sask. C.A.), refd to. [para. 82]. R. v. Richardson (M.J.) (1993), 62 O.A.......
  • R. v. Chapman, (1979) 5 Man.R.(2d) 262 (CoCt)
    • Canada
    • Manitoba Provincial Court of Manitoba (Canada)
    • 14 décembre 1979
    ...v. Chrun, [1973] 5 W.W.R. 611, appld. [para. 10]. R. v. Wall, [1974] 5 W.W.R. 634 (Sask. C.A.), dist. [para. 11]. R. v. Frohwerk (1979), 5 Man.R.(2d) 257, refd to. [para. Statutes Noticed: Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, sect. 235(2). Counsel: R. Goldman, for the appellant; R......

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