R. v. Sparkes (H.E.), (2001) 205 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 177 (NFPC)

• Judge: Gorman, P.C.J.
• Court: Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court (Canada)
• Case Date: July 26, 2001
• Jurisdiction: Newfoundland and Labrador
• Citations: (2001), 205 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 177 (NFPC)

R. v. Sparkes (H.E.) (2001), 205 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 177 (NFPC);

    615 A.P.R. 177

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2001] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. TBEd. OC.003

Her Majesty The Queen v. Hardy Elmer Sparkes

(No. 2001 #130200747707)

Indexed As: R. v. Sparkes (H.E.)

Newfoundland Provincial Court

Gorman, P.C.J.

September 27, 2001.

Summary:

The accused was charged with failing to yield the right of way contrary to s. 120 of the Highway Traffic Act.

The Newfoundland Provincial Court found the accused guilty.

Motor Vehicles - Topic 2405

Regulation of vehicles and traffic - Right of way - Yielding - On entering highway -The accused was charged with failing to yield the right of way contrary to s. 120 of the Highway Traffic Act - The accused exited a parking lot and struck a vehicle proceeding on the highway - The highway was straight and the other vehicle was there to be seen - There was no expert evidence to support the accused's assertion that the other vehicle was speeding - The Newfoundland Provincial Court held that the accused was guilty of failing to yield the right of way - See paragraphs 1 to 11.

Statutes - Topic 1845

Interpretation - Intrinsic aids - Titles, headings and section numbers - Headings and marginal notes - The Newfoundland Provincial Court stated that "headings should be considered part of the legislation and should be read and relied on like any other contextual feature" - See paragraph 3.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Davis (G.N.), [1999] 3 S.C.R. 759; 248 N.R. 44; 182 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 78; 554 A.P.R. 78, refd to. [para. 3].

R. v. Sault Ste. Marie (City) (1978), 21 N.R. 295; 40 C.C.C.(2d) 353 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 7].

R. v. Wholesale Travel Group Inc. and Chedore (1991), 130 N.R. 1; 49 O.A.C. 161; 67 C.C.C.(3d) 193 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 7].

R. v. Chapin (1979), 26 N.R. 289; 45 C.C.C.(2d) 333 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 7].

R. v. Pierce Fisheries Ltd., [1971] 5 C.C.C. 193 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 8].

Harris v. Yellow Cab Ltd., [1926] 3 D.L.R. 254 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 8].

R. v. Alexander (B.) (1999), 171 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 74; 525 A.P.R. 74 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Kurtzman (1991), 50 O.A.C. 20; 4 O.R.(3d) 41 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Jones (1985), 64 A.R. 112; 42 Alta. L.R.(2d) 41 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 10].

Krushelnicki v. Kelly's Excavating & Snow Removal Ltd. and Janke (1990), 82 Sask.R. 18; 22 M.V.R.(2d) 6 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 10].

Statutes Noticed:

Highway Traffic Act, R.S.N. 1990, c. H-3, sect. 120 [para. 2].

Counsel:

Scott Beazley, for the Crown;

Michael Monaghan, Q.C., for the accused.

This case was heard on July 26, 2001, before Gorman, P.C.J., of the Newfoundland Provincial Court, who delivered the follow­ing judgment on September 27, 2001.