R. v. Houben (K.), 2005 SKQB 179

• Judge: Laing, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan (Canada)
• Case Date: April 14, 2005
• Jurisdiction: Saskatchewan
• Citations: 2005 SKQB 179;(2005), 263 Sask.R. 97 (QB)

R. v. Houben (K.) (2005), 263 Sask.R. 97 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2005] Sask.R. TBEd. MY.043

Her Majesty the Queen (appellant) v. Kenneth Houben (respondent)

(2004 Q.B.C.A. No. 19; 2005 SKQB 179)

Indexed As: R. v. Houben (K.)

Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial Centre of Saskatoon

Laing, J.

April 14, 2005.

Summary:

The accused was charged with driving while over .08. The accused challenged the admissibility of the certificate of analyses, alleging that he had been arbitrarily detained contrary to s. 9 of the Charter.

The Saskatchewan Provincial Court, in a decision reported at 246 Sask.R. 34, held that the accused had been arbitrarily detained and the certificate evidence should be excluded. The Crown appealed.

The Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench dismissed the appeal.

Civil Rights - Topic 3603

Detention and imprisonment - Detention - What constitutes arbitrary detention - Two police officers stopped the accused's vehicle at 2:45 a.m. - In response to one officer's inquiry, the accused admitted having had a few drinks - The officer administered a roadside screening test, then made a breathalyzer demand - The accused was charged with driving while over .08 - The trial judge held that the accused had been arbitrarily detained contrary to s. 9 of the Charter and the certificate evidence should be excluded - The accused was doing nothing untoward when he was detained - The genuine intention in stopping his vehicle was "preventative policing" - Two police officers stopped a citizen to rule out suspicious behaviour because they viewed all drivers on the street at this time as potentially suspicious - The Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench affirmed the decision.

Civil Rights - Topic 8368

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Exclusion of evidence - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3603 ].

Police - Topic 3109

Powers - Investigation - Motor vehicles - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3603 ].

Police - Topic 3204

Powers - Direction - Stopping vehicles - General - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3603 ].

Police - Topic 3208

Powers - Direction - Random or arbitrary stopping of persons - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3603 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Wilson (J.W.), [1990] 1 S.C.R. 1291; 108 N.R. 207; 107 A.R. 321; 56 C.C.C.(3d) 142; 77 C.R.(3d) 137, refd to. [para. 2].

R. v. Duncanson (1991), 93 Sask.R. 193; 4 W.A.C. 193; 12 C.R.(4th) 86 (C.A.), affd. [1992] 1 S.C.R. 836; 135 N.R. 117; 97 Sask.R. 96; 12 W.A.C. 96; 12 C.R.(4th) 98, refd to. [para. 2].

R. v. Mann (P.H.), [2004] 3 S.C.R. 59; 324 N.R. 215; 187 Man.R.(2d) 1; 330 W.A.C. 1; 21 C.R.(6th) 1; 2004 SCC 52, refd to. [para. 3].

R. v. Ladouceur (M.J.) (2002), 223 Sask.R. 161; 277 W.A.C. 161; 2 C.R.(6th) 68 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

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

R. v. Schaeffer (D.B.) (2005), 257 Sask.R. 219; 342 W.A.C. 219; 2005 SKCA 33, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Ladouceur, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 1257; 108 N.R. 171; 40 O.A.C. 1; 77 C.R.(3d) 110 refd to. [para. 16].

Counsel:

Marilyn L. Gray, Q.C., for the appellant;

Mark R. Vanstone, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard by Laing, J., of the Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial Centre of Saskatoon, who delivered the following decision on April 14, 2005.