R. v. Wearmouth (S.), (1998) 215 A.R. 112 (PC)

• Judge: Daniel, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: January 22, 1998
• Citations: (1998), 215 A.R. 112 (PC)

R. v. Wearmouth (S.) (1998), 215 A.R. 112 (PC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1998] A.R. TBEd. FE.020

Her Majesty The Queen v. Scott Wearmouth

(Docket No. 61755468P10101-0102)

Indexed As: R. v. Wearmouth (S.)

Alberta Provincial Court

Daniel, P.C.J.

January 22, 1998.

Summary:

An accused was charged with driving while impaired and driving with an excess­ive blood-alcohol level. At issue was whether or not statements made by the accused to the arresting officer and the test results of the roadside screening device were admissible.

The Alberta Provincial Court held that the evidence was admissible.

Civil Rights - Topic 3604

Detention and imprisonment - Detention - What constitutes detention - A police officer noted the smell of alcohol on the accused driver's breath and asked him to come to the police car - In response to questioning, the accused stated that he had three or four drinks and his last was a couple of hours earlier - While in the police car, the officer engaged the accused in further conversation - Thereafter, the officer made a roadside demand - The accused failed and was arrested - The accused asserted that the officer contra­vened his s. 10(b) Charter rights by de­taining and questioning him for investiga­tive purposes without providing a Charter warning or an opportunity to consult counsel - The Alberta Provincial Court rejected the assertion - The investigation was lawful and conducted in good faith - Although detained, the accused's s. 10(b) rights were reasonably limited by s. 1 of the Charter.

Civil Rights - Topic 4604

Right to counsel - General - Denial of or interference with - What constitutes - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3604 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 4608

Right to counsel - General - Right to be advised of - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3604 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 4610

Right to counsel - General - Impaired driving - Demand for breath or blood sample - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3604 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Gilroy (1987), 79 A.R. 318; 3 M.V.R.(2d) 123 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Hebb (1985), 66 N.S.R.(2d) 91; 152 A.P.R. 91; 33 M.V.R. 174; 17 C.C.C.(3d) 545 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Talbourdet (1984), 32 Sask.R. 5; 12 C.C.C.(3d) 173 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Altsheimer (1982), 1 C.C.C.(3d) 7 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Thomsen, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 640; 84 N.R. 347; 27 O.A.C. 85; 63 C.R.(3d) 1; 40 C.C.C.(3d) 411; 4 M.V.R.(2d) 185; 32 C.R.R. 257, refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Saunders (1988), 27 O.A.C. 184; 41 C.C.C.(3d) 532 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Ouellette (A.) (1996), 182 N.B.R.(2d) 306; 463 A.P.R. 306; 111 C.C.C. 336 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Boucher (L.J.) (1990), 112 N.B.R.(2d) 1; 281 A.P.R. 1; 26 M.V.R. 48 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Gallant (1989), 95 A.R. 101; 14 M.V.R.(2d) 270 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. MacLennan (1995), 138 N.S.R.(2d) 369; 394 A.P.R. 369; 11 M.V.R.(3d) 42 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Smith (J.M.) (1996), 88 O.A.C. 374; 105 C.C.C.(3d) 58 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Housley (R.) (1996), 88 O.A.C. 394; 105 C.C.C.(3d) 83 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Oldham (S.F.) (1996), 181 N.B.R.(2d) 321; 460 A.P.R. 321; 21 M.V.R.(3d) 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Leclair and Ross, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 3; 91 N.R. 81; 31 O.A.C. 321; 46 C.C.C.(3d) 129; 67 C.R.(3d) 209; 37 C.R.R. 369, refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Stillman (W.W.D.), [1997] 1 S.C.R. 607; 209 N.R. 81; 185 N.B.R.(2d) 1; 472 A.P.R. 1; 113 C.C.C.(3d) 321, refd to. [para. 10].

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; 35 C.R.(4th) 201; 95 C.C.C.(3d) 193; [1995] 3 W.W.R. 457; 8 M.V.R.(3d) 75, refd to. [para. 16].

Counsel:

S. Bhola, for the Crown;

T. Sturgeon, for Scott Wearmouth.

This matter was heard before Daniel, P.C.J., of the Alberta Provincial Court, who delivered the following judgment on January 22, 1998.