R. v. Ruff-Dickinson (S.), (1994) 143 N.B.R.(2d) 217 (TD)

JudgeMcLellan, J.
CourtCourt of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
Case DateJanuary 04, 1994
JurisdictionNew Brunswick
Citations(1994), 143 N.B.R.(2d) 217 (TD)

R. v. Ruff-Dickinson (S.) (1994), 143 N.B.R.(2d) 217 (TD);

    143 R.N.-B.(2e) 217; 366 A.P.R. 217

MLB headnote and full text

[French language version follows English language version]

[La version française vient à la suite de la version anglaise]

....................

Her Majesty The Queen (appellant) v. Sheila Ruff-Dickinson (respondent)

(W/CM/89/93)

Indexed As: R. v. Ruff-Dickinson (S.)

New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench

Trial Division

Judicial District of Woodstock

McLellan, J.

January 17, 1994.

Summary:

The defendant was charged with failing to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights. At trial, the defendant's car was iden­tified but the driver of the car was not. The Crown attempted to rely on the reverse onus provisions in ss. 270 and 362 of the Motor Vehicle Act. The trial judge held that ss. 270 and 362 violated ss. 11(c) and 11(d) of the Charter and were not saved by s. 1 of the Charter. The Crown appealed.

The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, dismissed the appeal.

Civil Rights - Topic 4303

Protection against self-incrimination - Right to refuse to testify - Section 270 of the Motor Vehicle Act stated that the owner of a vehicle was guilty of any vio­lation under the Act, regulations or local bylaw involving that vehicle unless he established that the vehicle was being operated without his consent - Under s. 362 the owner of a vehicle was presumed to be operating the vehicle at the time of an alleged offence - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, affirmed that ss. 270 and 362 violated ss. 11(c) and 11(d) of the Charter and were not saved by s. 1 of the Charter.

Civil Rights - Topic 4945

Presumption of innocence - Evidence and proof - Reverse onus provisions - [See Civil Rights - Topic 4303 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8348

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Application - Exceptions - Reasonable limits prescribed by law - [See Civil Rights - Topic 4303 ].

Motor Vehicles - Topic 4124

Offences - Liability of owner - For of­fences of driver - [See Civil Rights - Topic 4303 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Crowdis (1990), 107 N.B.R.(2d) 271; 267 A.P.R. 271 (Prov. Ct.), folld. [para. 2].

R. v. Ferlatte (1983), 49 N.B.R.(2d) 246; 129 A.P.R. 246 (Q.B.), not folld. [para. 2].

Reference Re Section 94(2) of the Motor Vehicle Act (B.C.), [1985] 2 S.C.R. 486; 63 N.R. 266; 48 C.R.(3d) 289; 23 C.C.C.(3d) 289; [1986] 1 W.W.R. 481, refd to. [para. 3].

R. v. Vaillancourt, [1987] 2 S.C.R. 636; 81 N.R. 115; 10 Q.A.C. 161; 68 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 281; 209 A.P.R. 281; 60 C.R.(3d) 289, refd to. [para. 3].

R. v. Holmes, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 914; 85 N.R. 21; 27 O.A.C. 321; 41 C.C.C.(3d) 497; 50 D.L.R.(4th) 680; 65 O.R.(2d) 639, refd to. [para. 3].

R. v. Oakes, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 103; 65 N.R. 87; 14 O.A.C. 335; 26 D.L.R.(4th) 200; 50 C.R.(3d) 1; 24 C.C.C.(3d) 321; 19 C.R.R. 308, refd to. [para. 3].

R. v. Burt (1987), 60 Sask.R. 100; 7 M.V.R.(2d) 146 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 3].

R. v. Gray (1988), 54 Man.R.(2d) 240; 44 C.C.C.(3d) 222 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 3].

R. v. Pellerin (1989), 32 O.A.C. 146; 47 C.C.C.(3d) 35 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 3].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 1, sect. 11(c), sect. 11(d) [para. 6].

Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. M-17, sect. 270(1), sect. 362 [para. 5].

Counsel:

William Wister, for the appellant;

C. John Thompson, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard on January 4, 1994, by McLellan, J., of the New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, Judicial District of Woodstock, who deliv­ered the following judgment on January 17, 1994.

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2 practice notes
  • R. v. Wilson (R.), (1997) 191 N.B.R.(2d) 307 (CA)
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Appeal (New Brunswick)
    • 24 Septiembre 1997
    ...2 S.C.R. 486; 63 N.R. 266; 48 C.R.(3d) 289; 23 C.C.C.(3d) 289; [1986] 1 W.W.R. 481, refd to. [para. 7]. R. v. Ruff-Dickinson (S.) (1994), 143 N.B.R.(2d) 217; 366 A.P.R. 217 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 8]. R. v. Burt (1987), 60 Sask.R. 100 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 8]. R. v. Pellerin (1989), 32 O.......
  • R. v. Ruff-Dickinson (S.), (1994) 150 N.B.R.(2d) 157 (CA)
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Appeal (New Brunswick)
    • 8 Julio 1994
    ...not saved by s. 1 of the Charter. The Crown appealed. The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, in a decision reported 143 N.B.R.(2d) 217; 366 A.P.R. 217, dismissed the appeal. The Crown applied for leave to The New Brunswick Court of Appeal refused leave to appeal. Civil Ri......
2 cases
  • R. v. Wilson (R.), (1997) 191 N.B.R.(2d) 307 (CA)
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Appeal (New Brunswick)
    • 24 Septiembre 1997
    ...2 S.C.R. 486; 63 N.R. 266; 48 C.R.(3d) 289; 23 C.C.C.(3d) 289; [1986] 1 W.W.R. 481, refd to. [para. 7]. R. v. Ruff-Dickinson (S.) (1994), 143 N.B.R.(2d) 217; 366 A.P.R. 217 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 8]. R. v. Burt (1987), 60 Sask.R. 100 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 8]. R. v. Pellerin (1989), 32 O.......
  • R. v. Ruff-Dickinson (S.), (1994) 150 N.B.R.(2d) 157 (CA)
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Appeal (New Brunswick)
    • 8 Julio 1994
    ...not saved by s. 1 of the Charter. The Crown appealed. The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, in a decision reported 143 N.B.R.(2d) 217; 366 A.P.R. 217, dismissed the appeal. The Crown applied for leave to The New Brunswick Court of Appeal refused leave to appeal. Civil Ri......

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