R. v. Smith (K.M.), (1992) 131 A.R. 59 (CA)

• Judge: McClung, Stratton and Irving, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (Alberta)
• Case Date: May 14, 1992
• Citations: (1992), 131 A.R. 59 (CA);1992 ABCA 159;131 AR 59;13 CR (4th) 125;73 CCC (3d) 285;16 WCB (2d) 174;25 WAC 59;37 MVR (2d) 9

R. v. Smith (K.M.) (1992), 131 A.R. 59 (CA);

    25 W.A.C. 59

MLB headnote and full text

Her Majesty The Queen (respondent) v. Kevin Mark Smith (appellant)

(Appeal No. 12906)

Indexed As: R. v. Smith (K.M.)

Alberta Court of Appeal

McClung, Stratton and Irving, JJ.A.

May 14, 1992.

Summary:

The accused was convicted of impaired driving. He appealed.

The Alberta Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

Criminal Law - Topic 1362

Motor vehicles - Impaired driving - Evi­dence and proof - The Alberta Court of Appeal affirmed the "marked departure from the norm" test of impairment in R. v. McKenzie (1955), 111 C.C.C. 317; 20 C.R. 412; 14 W.W.R.(N.S.) 500.

Criminal Law - Topic 1362

Motor vehicles - Impaired driving - Evi­dence and proof - The accused showed a marked departure from the normal respect­ing his eyes, his coordination and unstead­iness on his feet - His speech was slurred - The vehicle he was operating made almost a complete circle and mounted a median in order to make a right-hand turn out of a parking lot - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench held that there was evidence on which a properly instructed jury or fact finder could reasonably con­clude that the accused was impaired - The Alberta Court of Appeal affirmed the decision.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. McKenzie (1955) 111 C.C.C. 317; 20 C.R. 412; 14 W.W.R.(N.S.) 500, affd. [para. 2].

R. v. Modeste (1960), 31 W.W.R.(N.S.) 84 (N.W.T. Terr. Ct.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Arnold (1961), 133 C.C.C. 218 (Sask. Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Miller (1963), 3 C.C.C. 176 (B.C. Co. Ct.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Weir (1978), 14 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 398; 33 A.P.R. 398 (P.E.I.S.C.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Jeancart (1983), 23 Sask.R. 76 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Marando (1981), 29 A.R. 210; 9 M.V.R. 277 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Hayton (1981), 62 C.C.C.(2d) 491 (B.C. Co. Ct.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Majore (1981), 60 C.C.C.(2d) 277 (Ont. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. MacDonald (1982), 36 A.R. 105 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Samra (1983), 24 M.V.R. 307 (B.C. Co. Ct.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Bralecki (1983), 29 Alta. L.R.(2d) 139 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Otto (1984), 29 M.V.R. 106 (B.C. Co. Ct.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Wintemute (1986), 46 Alta. L.R.(2d) 251, (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Gratt (1981), 45 N.R. 474 (Ont. C.A.), affd. (1982), 45 N.R. 451 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Anderson, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 265; 105 N.R. 143, refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Conlon (1977), 12 A.R. 267; 6 Alta. L.R.(2d) 97 (Dist. Ct.), refd to. [para. 7].

R. v. Winlaw (1988), 13 M.V.R.(2d) 112 (Ont. Co. Ct.), refd to. [para. 7].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Crankshaw's Criminal Code (8th Ed.), s. 237 [para. 6].

Counsel:

D. Oko, for the Crown;

M. Stephenson, for the accused.

This appeal was heard before McClung, Stratton and Irving, JJ.A., of the Alberta Court of Appeal. On May 14, 1992, Mc­Clung, J.A., delivered the following judg­ment for the court.