R. v. Lenihan (O.E.), (1997) 158 N.S.R.(2d) 216 (CA)

JudgeHallett, Chipman and Pugsley, JJ.A.
CourtCourt of Appeal of Nova Scotia (Canada)
Case DateFebruary 25, 1997
JurisdictionNova Scotia
Citations(1997), 158 N.S.R.(2d) 216 (CA)

R. v. Lenihan (O.E.) (1997), 158 N.S.R.(2d) 216 (CA);

    466 A.P.R. 216

MLB headnote and full text

Otis Edward Lenihan (appellant) v. Her Majesty The Queen (respondent)

(C.A.C. No. 129710)

Indexed As: R. v. Lenihan (O.E.)

Nova Scotia Court of Appeal

Hallett, Chipman and Pugsley, JJ.A.

February 25, 1997.

Summary:

A peace officer appointed to monitor Nova Scotia's highways for overweight vehicles had reason to believe, on visual inspection, that the accused's truck and load exceeded the maximums permitted under the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations. The officer stopped the accused, ordered him to proceed to his portable scales, and weighed the truck. The truck exceeded the maximum permitted under the Regulations and the accused was charged accordingly. At no time did the officer advise the accused that he had the right to obtain and instruct counsel without delay. The accused sought to exclude the evidence obtained by the officer, arguing that it was obtained contrary to the Charter, s. 10(b).

The Nova Scotia Provincial Court, in a decision reported 152 N.S.R.(2d) 264; 442 A.P.R. 264, dis­missed the application. The accused appealed.

The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal dis­missed the appeal.

Civil Rights - Topic 3604

Detention and imprisonment - Detention - What constitutes detention - [See Motor Vehicles - Topic 3214 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 4602

Right to counsel - Denial of - Evidence taken inadmissible - [See Motor Vehicles - Topic 3214 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 4604

Right to counsel - Denial of - What con­stitutes - A peace officer believed that the accused's truck and load were overweight - He stopped the accused, ordered him to proceed to his portable scales, and weighed the truck (Motor Vehicle Act, s. 192) - The trial judge held that the accused was detained and not advised of his s. 10(b) Charter right to counsel, and that the weight evidence was obtained as a result of the Charter violation - However, he refused to exclude the evidence - The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal questioned whether the accused had a Charter right to counsel in the circumstances - The court opined that s. 192 and the Regulations creating the offence of operating an over­weight truck on a public highway could be justified under s. 1 of the Charter - See paragraphs 42 to 44.

Civil Rights - Topic 4613

Right to counsel - Requirement of arrest or detention and notice of reasons for - [See Motor Vehicles - Topic 3214 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8348

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Application - Exceptions - Reasonable limits prescribed by law (Charter, s. 1) - [See Civil Rights - Topic 4604 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8368

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Exclusion of evidence - [See Motor Vehicles - Topic 3214 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8550

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Interpretation - Particular phrases - Bring the administration of justice into disrepute (s. 24(2)) - [See Motor Vehicles - Topic 3214 ].

Motor Vehicles - Topic 3206

Regulation of vehicles and traffic - Vehicles - Excess weight - Demand that vehicle be weighed - [See Motor Vehicles - Topic 3214 ].

Motor Vehicles - Topic 3214

Regulation of vehicles and traffic - Vehicles - Excess weight - Defences - A peace officer believed that the accused's truck and load were overweight - He stopped the accused, ordered him to pro­ceed to his portable scales, and weighed the truck - At no time did he advise the accused of his right to counsel (Charter, s. 10(b)) - The trial judge held that the accused was detained and not advised of his right to counsel, and that the weight evidence was obtained as a result of the Charter violation - However, he refused to exclude the evidence, holding that its admission would not bring the administra­tion of justice into disrepute - The accused appealed - The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal, assuming without deciding that there was a detention (and therefore a requirement to advise the accused of his right to counsel), dismissed the appeal.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Therens, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 613; 59 N.R. 122; 40 Sask.R. 122; 18 D.L.R.(4th) 655; [1985] 4 W.W.R. 286; 32 M.V.R. 153; 45 C.R.(3d) 97; 18 C.C.C.(3d) 481, dist. [para. 10].

R. v. Wholesale Travel Group Inc. and Chedore, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 154; 130 N.R. 1; 49 O.A.C. 161; 67 C.C.C.(3d) 193; 8 C.R.(4th) 145; 84 D.L.R.(4th) 161, appld. [para. 12].

R. v. Fitzpatrick (B.), [1995] 4 S.C.R. 154; 188 N.R. 248; 65 B.C.A.C. 1; 106 W.A.C. 1; 102 C.C.C.(3d) 144, appld. [para. 14].

R. v. Collins, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 265; 74 N.R. 276; 33 C.C.C. 1, appld. [para. 16].

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, dist. [para. 20].

R. v. Burlingham (T.W.), [1995] 2 S.C.R. 206; 181 N.R. 1; 58 B.C.A.C. 161; 96 W.A.C. 161; 97 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 124 D.L.R.(4th) 7, dist. [para. 20].

R. v. Simmons, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 495; 89 N.R. 1; 30 O.A.C. 241; 66 C.R.(3d) 297; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 296, refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Gray (H.W.) (1987), 67 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 141; 206 A.P.R. 141 (P.E.I.S.C.), disagreed with [para. 39].

R. v. Saunders (1988), 27 O.A.C. 184; 41 C.C.C.(3d) 532 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 43].

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. 43].

Statutes Noticed:

Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 293, sect. 192 [para. 6].

Counsel:

Geoffrey P. Muttart, for the appellant;

Denise C. Smith, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard on January 28, 1997, by Hallett, Chipman and Pugsley, JJ.A., of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.

Hallett, J.A., delivered the following judg­ment on February 25, 1997.

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  • R. v. M.R.M., (1997) 159 N.S.R.(2d) 321 (CA)
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    • Nova Scotia Court of Appeal of Nova Scotia (Canada)
    • 1 Abril 1997
    ...[para. 90]. R. v. Colarusso (1994), 162 N.R. 321; 69 O.A.C. 81; 87 C.C.C.(3d) 193 (S.C.C.), dist. [para. 97]. R. v. Lenihan (O.E.) (1997), 158 N.S.R.(2d) 216; 466 A.P.R. 216 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 111]. R. v. Therens, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 613; 59 N.R. 122; 40 Sask.R. 122; 18 D.L.R.(4th) 655; [1......
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    ...481, refd to. [para. 9]. R. v. Grafe (1987), 22 O.A.C. 280; 36 C.C.C.(3d) 267 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 9]. R. v. Lenihan (O.E.) (1997), 158 N.S.R.(2d) 216; 466 A.P.R. 216 (C.A.), refd to. [para. R. v. Fitzpatrick (B.), [1995] 4 S.C.R. 154; 188 N.R. 248; 65 B.C.A.C. 1; 106 W.A.C. 1; 102 C.C.C......
  • Richardson v. Payne et al., (1998) 204 N.B.R.(2d) 203 (TD)
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    • New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
    • 13 Marzo 1997
    ...v. Picard and Minister of Justice (1984), 53 N.B.R.(2d) 169; 138 A.P.R. 169 (T.D.), folld. [para. 14]. R. v. Lenihan (O.E.) (1997), 158 N.S.R.(2d) 216; 466 A.P.R. 216 (C.A.), consd. [para. 25]. R. v. Wholesale Travel Group Inc. and Chedore, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 154; 130 N.R. 1; 49 O.A.C. 161; 84......
  • Broad v. Woodstock (Town), (2010) 365 N.B.R.(2d) 291 (TD)
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    • New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
    • 9 Enero 2010
    ...48]. R. v. M.R.M., [1998] 3 S.C.R. 393; 233 N.R. 1; 171 N.S.R.(2d) 125; 519 A.P.R. 125, consd. [para. 50]. R. v. Lenihan (O.E.) (1997), 158 N.S.R.(2d) 216; 466 A.P.R. 216; 115 C.C.C.(3d) 246 (C.A.), consd. [para. Statutes Noticed: Intoxicated Persons Detention Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. I-14, s......
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5 cases
  • R. v. M.R.M., (1997) 159 N.S.R.(2d) 321 (CA)
    • Canada
    • Nova Scotia Court of Appeal of Nova Scotia (Canada)
    • 1 Abril 1997
    ...[para. 90]. R. v. Colarusso (1994), 162 N.R. 321; 69 O.A.C. 81; 87 C.C.C.(3d) 193 (S.C.C.), dist. [para. 97]. R. v. Lenihan (O.E.) (1997), 158 N.S.R.(2d) 216; 466 A.P.R. 216 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 111]. R. v. Therens, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 613; 59 N.R. 122; 40 Sask.R. 122; 18 D.L.R.(4th) 655; [1......
  • R. v. P.R.C., 2000 PESCTD 22
    • Canada
    • 8 Febrero 2000
    ...481, refd to. [para. 9]. R. v. Grafe (1987), 22 O.A.C. 280; 36 C.C.C.(3d) 267 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 9]. R. v. Lenihan (O.E.) (1997), 158 N.S.R.(2d) 216; 466 A.P.R. 216 (C.A.), refd to. [para. R. v. Fitzpatrick (B.), [1995] 4 S.C.R. 154; 188 N.R. 248; 65 B.C.A.C. 1; 106 W.A.C. 1; 102 C.C.C......
  • Richardson v. Payne et al., (1998) 204 N.B.R.(2d) 203 (TD)
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
    • 13 Marzo 1997
    ...v. Picard and Minister of Justice (1984), 53 N.B.R.(2d) 169; 138 A.P.R. 169 (T.D.), folld. [para. 14]. R. v. Lenihan (O.E.) (1997), 158 N.S.R.(2d) 216; 466 A.P.R. 216 (C.A.), consd. [para. 25]. R. v. Wholesale Travel Group Inc. and Chedore, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 154; 130 N.R. 1; 49 O.A.C. 161; 84......
  • Broad v. Woodstock (Town), (2010) 365 N.B.R.(2d) 291 (TD)
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
    • 9 Enero 2010
    ...48]. R. v. M.R.M., [1998] 3 S.C.R. 393; 233 N.R. 1; 171 N.S.R.(2d) 125; 519 A.P.R. 125, consd. [para. 50]. R. v. Lenihan (O.E.) (1997), 158 N.S.R.(2d) 216; 466 A.P.R. 216; 115 C.C.C.(3d) 246 (C.A.), consd. [para. Statutes Noticed: Intoxicated Persons Detention Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. I-14, s......
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