R. v. Mohns, (1977) 5 A.R. 98 (TD)

• Judge: Moshansky, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: March 03, 1977
• Citations: (1977), 5 A.R. 98 (TD)

R. v. Mohns (1977), 5 A.R. 98 (TD)

MLB headnote and full text

R. v. Mohns

Indexed As: R. v. Mohns

Alberta Supreme Court

Trial Division

Judicial District of Edmonton

Moshansky, J.

March 3, 1977.

Summary:

This headnote contains no summary.

Statutes - Topic 6708

Operation - Commencement - Retrospective enactments - Procedural matters - In February, 1976, the accused was apprehended for impaired driving and submitted to a breathalyser test - Two tests were taken, but less than 15 minutes apart - In May, 1976, s. 237(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, was amended to provide that the results of two breathalyzer tests at least fifteen minutes apart were required in order for the Crown to proceed by way of proof by certificate - At the accused's trial in August, 1976, the provincial court dismissed the information against the accused on the ground that the Crown failed to comply with the amended s. 237(1)(c) - The Crown appealed by way of a stated case on the ground that the new provision should not be applied retrospectively - The Alberta Supreme Court, Trial Division, dismissed the appeal and held that the amendment was procedural in nature and was retrospective in effect.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Staiger, [1977] 1 W.W.R. 456; 2 A.R. 427, folld. [para. 4].

Boyer v. The King, 94 C.C.C. 260, consd. [para. 14].

Brown v. Administrator of Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Act (1969), 67 W.W.R.(N.S.) 122, appld. [para. 15].

Dixie v. Royal Columbian Hospital, [1914] 1 W.W.R. 389, appld. [para. 16].

R. v. Rivet, [1944] 2 W.W.R. 132, appld. [para. 17].

Republic of Costa Rica v. Erlanger (1876), 35 L.T.A., appld. [para. 19].

Gardner v. Lucas (1878), 3 A.C. 582, appld. [para. 19].

Sommers v. The Queen (1959), 124 C.C.C. 241, consd. [para. 20].

R. v. Chandra Dharma, [1905] 2 K.B. 335, refd to. [para. 20].

Howard Smith Paper Mills Ltd. v. R. (1957), 118 C.C.C. 321, appld. [para. 21].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, sect. 237(1)(c) [para. 3].

Interpretation Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. I-23, sect. 35, sect. 36(d) [para. 12]; sect. 36(b), sect. 36(c), sect. 36(h) [para. 13].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Phipson on Evidence (9th Ed.), p. 1 [para. 21].

Counsel:

J. Watson, for the Crown.

On March 3, 1977, MOSHANSKY, J., delivered the following judgment: