R. v. Robertson (C.L.), (2007) 255 N.S.R.(2d) 239 (PC)

• Judge: Williams, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
• Case Date: March 05, 2007
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: (2007), 255 N.S.R.(2d) 239 (PC);2007 NSPC 32

R. v. Robertson (C.L.) (2007), 255 N.S.R.(2d) 239 (PC);

    814 A.P.R. 239

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2007] N.S.R.(2d) TBEd. JN.049

Her Majesty The Queen v. Christopher Lee Robertson

(1676875; 2007 NSPC 32)

Indexed As: R. v. Robertson (C.L.)

Nova Scotia Provincial Court

Williams, P.C.J.

May 3, 2007.

Summary:

The accused was charged with refusing to provide a breath sample into an approved roadside screening device. The demand was made 30 minutes after the officer detained the accused on the basis of a reasonable suspicion that he had been drinking.

The Nova Scotia Provincial Court acquitted the accused on the ground that the screening device demand was not made, and the sample was not provided, "forthwith" as required by s. 254(2) of the Criminal Code.

Criminal Law - Topic 1386.1

Motor vehicles - Impaired driving - Roadside screening test - Demand - Section 254(2) of the Criminal Code required that where an officer suspected an accused had alcohol in his body, he "may then, by demand, made to that person, require the person to provide forthwith a sample of their breath" - The accused was not given a demand to provide a sample of his breath into an approved roadside screening device until 30 minutes after the officer detained him on reasonable suspicion of drinking - The Nova Scotia Provincial Court acquitted the accused of refusing to provide a breath sample - The demand was not made forthwith (as soon as reasonably possible in the circumstances) - There was no compelling reason for the delay in giving the demand - Accordingly, the demand was not a valid demand.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Swietorzecki (S.) (1995), 80 O.A.C. 149; 97 C.C.C.(3d) 285 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Letkeman (1983), 28 Sask.R. 307 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Cassidy (1987), 80 N.B.R.(2d) 85; 202 A.P.R. 85; 2 M.V.R.(2d) 136 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Grant, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 139; 130 N.R. 250; 93 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 181; 292 A.P.R. 181, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Bernshaw (N.), [1995] 1 S.C.R. 254; 176 N.R. 81; 53 B.C.A.C. 1; 87 W.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Latour (P.) (1997), 101 O.A.C. 108 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Snow, [1998] N.S.J. No. 220 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Ritchie (N.W.) (2004), 241 Sask.R. 155; 313 W.A.C. 155 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Janzen (K.) (2006), 285 Sask.R. 296; 378 W.A.C. 296 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Simmons (R.C.) (2007), 253 N.S.R.(2d) 43; 807 A.P.R. 43 (S.C.), affing. (2006), 249 N.S.R.(2d) 31; 792 A.P.R. 31 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Woods (J.C.), [2005] 2 S.C.R. 205; 336 N.R. 1; 195 Man.R.(2d) 131; 351 W.A.C. 131, refd to. [para. 16].

Counsel:

Richard Hartlen, for the Crown;

Robert Cragg, for the accused.

This matter was heard on March 5, 2007, at Shubenacadie, N.S., before Williams, P.C.J., of the Nova Scotia Provincial Court, who delivered the following judgment orally on May 3, 2007.