R. v. Little (S.D.), (1994) 154 A.R. 112 (ProvCt)

• Judge: Fradsham, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: July 20, 1994
• Citations: (1994), 154 A.R. 112 (ProvCt)

R. v. Little (S.D.) (1994), 154 A.R. 112 (ProvCt)

MLB headnote and full text

Her Majesty The Queen v. Shelley Dawn Little

(No. 31445679P10101-02)

Indexed As: R. v. Little (S.D.)

Alberta Provincial Court

Fradsham, P.C.J.

July 20, 1994.

Summary:

The accused was charged with operating a vehicle with an excessive blood-alcohol level and impaired driving. The accused objected to the admission of the certificate of analy­ses on the grounds that the officer did not have reasonable and probable grounds to make a breath demand and the accused's ss. 8 and 10(b) Charter rights were violated.

The Alberta Provincial Court held that the accused's right to counsel under s. 10(b) of the Charter was not violated. The court held that the officer did not have reasonable and probable grounds to make a breathalyzer demand and, as a result, the accused's s. 8 Charter right was violated. The court refused to admit the certificate of analyses.

Civil Rights - Topic 1217

Security of the person - Lawful or reason­able search - What constitutes unreason­able search and seizure - A police officer requested a breath sample from the accused soley on the ground that he smelled the odour of alcohol - The accused was charged with operating a motor vehicle with an excessive blood­alcohol level - The Alberta Provincial Court held that the smell of alcohol alone could not provide reasonable and probable grounds for a breathalyzer demand - The court held that a demand without the nec­essary reasonable and prob­able grounds was unreasonable and viol­ated the ac­cused's s. 8 Charter right - The court excluded the certificate of analyses under s. 24(2) of the Charter.

Civil Rights - Topic 1404.1

Security of the person - Law enforcement - Breath samples - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1217 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8368

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Exclusion of evidence - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1217 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 1372

Motor vehicles - Impaired driving - Breathalyzer or blood sample - Demand - Reasonable grounds - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1217 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 1374

Motor vehicles - Impaired driving - Breathalyzer - Evidence and certificate evidence - Admissibility - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1217 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Lee (1980), 3 M.V.R. 125 (Alta. Dist. Ct.), refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Hitchner (1989), 92 A.R. 395 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Plank (1986), 15 O.A.C. 21 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Jackson (D.R.) (1994), 152 A.R. 272 (Prov. Ct.), folld. [para. 11].

R. v. Wills (1992), 52 O.A.C. 321 (C.A.), folld. [para. 11].

R. v. Rilling, [1976] 2 S.C.R. 183; 5 N.R. 327, not folld. [para. 13].

R. v. Dixon (P.W.) (1993), 144 A.R. 110 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Collins, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 265; 74 N.R. 276; 56 C.R.(3d) 193; [1987] 3 W.W.R. 699; 38 D.L.R.(4th) 508; 33 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 28 C.R.R. 122; 13 B.C.L.R.(2d) 1, appld. [para. 14].

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; 38 C.R.R. 252; 18 C.E.R. 227; 55 D.L.R.(4th) 673; 67 O.R.(2d) 63n, appld. [para. 14].

R. v. Covell (S.L.) (1993), 138 A.R. 220 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Elshaw, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 24; 128 N.R. 241; 3 B.C.A.C. 81; 7 W.A.C. 81; 67 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 59 B.C.L.R.(2d) 143, refd to. [para. 16].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 8, sect. 10(b), sect. 24(2) [para. 2 et seq.].

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 253(a), sect. 253(b) [para. 1]; sect. 254(3) [para. 2]; sect. 258(1)(a) [para. 9].

Counsel:

D.L. McFarlane, for the Crown;

M.N. Starr, for the accused.

This case was heard by Fradsham, P.C.J., of the Alberta Provincial Court, who delivered the following decision on July 20, 1994.