R. v. Giorgi (D.), 2015 ABQB 60

• Judge: Schutz, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: January 08, 2015
• Citations: 2015 ABQB 60;(2015), 608 A.R. 273 (QB)

R. v. Giorgi (D.) (2015), 608 A.R. 273 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2015] A.R. TBEd. JA.194

Her Majesty the Queen (appellant) v. Danny Giorgi (respondent)

(140402025S1; 2015 ABQB 60)

Indexed As: R. v. Giorgi (D.)

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

Schutz, J.

January 23, 2015.

Summary:

The accused was found not guilty of breaching a municipal bylaw which prohibited motorcycles operating on municipal highways from being noisier than certain prescribed maximum decibel limits. The Crown appealed.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench allowed the appeal and convicted the accused.

Evidence - Topic 7003.2

Opinion evidence - Expert evidence - General - When expert evidence required - [See Motor Vehicles - Topic 4279 ].

Motor Vehicles - Topic 4279

Offences - Particular offences - Vehicle noise - Giorgi was charged with breaching a municipal bylaw which prohibited motorcycles operating on municipal highways from being noisier than certain prescribed maximum decibel limits - The trial judge found that the Crown had established all elements of the offence, but that Giorgi had to be acquitted nonetheless because he was left with a reasonable doubt as to Giorgi's guilt based on conflicting evidence as to which of the motorcycle's exhaust pipes (left or right) was tested and whether the testing site would have skewed the noise readings - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench allowed the Crown's appeal - There was a presumption of accuracy attached to the noise testing device that could only be rebutted by evidence capable of raising a doubt that the results were inaccurate - The Crown's evidence indicated that the test was conducted in compliance with the required protocol, using an appropriate noise measuring device that delivered an accurate result - No reliable expert opinion was offered in support of the reliability or accuracy of Giorgi's theories and assertions to the contrary - The trial judge's reasonable doubt was tainted by a legal error - Further, which exhaust pipe was tested did not impact the elements of the offence, so a credibility analysis had limited application in that respect.

Municipal Law - Topic 3767

Bylaws - Particular bylaws - Noise control bylaw - [See Motor Vehicles - Topic 4279 ].

Municipal Law - Topic 3995

Bylaws - Enforcement or prosecution - Evidence - General (incl. burden of proof) - [See Motor Vehicles - Topic 4279 ].

Trials - Topic 1145

Summary convictions - Evidence - Burden of proof on accused to prove exceptions - [See Motor Vehicles - Topic 4279 ].

Cases Noticed:

Housen v. Nikolaisen et al., [2002] 2 S.C.R. 235; 286 N.R. 1; 219 Sask.R. 1; 272 W.A.C. 1; 2002 SCC 33, refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Lee (C.J.) (2010), 474 A.R. 203; 479 W.A.C. 203; 2010 ABCA 1, refd to. [para. 10].

J.L. v. Director of Child, Youth and Family Enhancement (Alta.), [2012] A.R. Uned. 674; 2012 ABQB 580, refd to. [para. 11].

R. v. J.M.H., [2011] 3 S.C.R. 197; 421 N.R. 76; 283 O.A.C. 379; 2011 SCC 45, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Lohrer (A.W.), [2004] 3 S.C.R. 732; 329 N.R. 1; 208 B.C.A.C. 1; 344 W.A.C. 1; 2004 SCC 80, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Biniaris (J.), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 381; 252 N.R. 204; 134 B.C.A.C. 161; 219 W.A.C. 161; 2000 SCC 15, refd to. [para. 13].

R.W. et al. v. Director of Child Welfare (Alta.) (2011), 502 A.R. 379; 517 W.A.C. 379; 2011 ABCA 139, refd to. [para. 24].

C.B. v. Director of Child Welfare (Alta.) (2007), 415 A.R. 166; 2007 ABQB 234, refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. D.W., [1991] 1 S.C.R. 742; 122 N.R. 277; 46 O.A.C. 352, refd to. [para. 27].

R. v. Lifchus (W.), [1997] 3 S.C.R. 320; 216 N.R. 215; 118 Man.R.(2d) 218; 149 W.A.C. 218; 150 D.L.R.(4th) 733, refd to. [para. 27].

Raymond v. Bosanquet (Township) (1919), 59 S.C.R. 452; 1923 CarswellOnt 107, refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. MacDonald (M.F.) (2006), 391 A.R. 140; 377 W.A.C. 140; 2006 ABCA 177, refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. St. Pierre (G.R.), [1995] 1 S.C.R. 791; 178 N.R. 241; 79 O.A.C. 321; 122 D.L.R.(4th) 619, refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. A.K. (2004), 373 A.R. 141; 2004 ABQB 875, affd. [2005] A.R. Uned. 202; 2005 ABCA 166, refd to. [para. 39].

R. v. Roy (R.L.), [2012] 2 S.C.R. 60; 430 N.R. 201; 321 B.C.A.C. 112; 547 W.A.C. 112; 2012 SCC 26, refd to. [para. 52].

R. v. Pittiman (R.), [2006] 1 S.C.R. 381; 346 N.R. 65; 209 O.A.C. 388; 2006 SCC 9, refd to. [para. 53].

R. v. Bourgeault (R.J.) (2014), 597 A.R. 400; 2014 ABQB 654, refd to. [para. 53].

R. v. Tran (T.K.) (2008), 432 A.R. 234; 424 W.A.C. 234; 2008 ABCA 209, affd. (2010), 409 N.R. 1; 493 A.R. 123; 502 W.A.C. 123; 2010 SCC 58, refd to. [para. 54].

Counsel:

Michael S. Gunther, for the Crown;

Danny Giorgi, self-represented litigant.

This appeal was heard on January 8, 2015, before Schutz, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Edmonton, who delivered the following reasons for judgment on January 23, 2015.