R. v. Weeden, (1982) 39 A.R. 1 (NWTSC)

• Judge: de Weerdt, J.
• Court: Supreme Court of Northwest Territories (Canada)
• Case Date: August 04, 1982
• Jurisdiction: Northwest Territories
• Citations: (1982), 39 A.R. 1 (NWTSC)

R. v. Weeden (1982), 39 A.R. 1 (NWTSC)

MLB headnote and full text

R. v. Weeden

(S.C. 2565)

Indexed As: R. v. Weeden

Northwest Territories Supreme Court

de Weerdt, J.

August 4, 1982

Summary:

The Crown appealed the acquittal of the accused on a charge of refusing to comply with a breathalyzer demand, contrary to s. 235(2) of the Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34.

The Northwest Territories Supreme Court allowed the appeal and entered a conviction.

Criminal Law - Topic 1378

Motor vehicle - Impaired driving - Breathalyzer - Excuse for refusal to provide breath sample - The Northwest Territories Supreme Court held that the fact that a police officer did not have reasonable and probable grounds to believe that the accused was impaired when he stopped the accused vehicle was not a reasonable excuse for the accused's refusal to provide a breath sample on demand - See paragraphs 1, 6 to 8, 12 to 14.

Criminal Law - Topic 1372

Motor vehicle - Impaired driving - Breathalyzer - Demand - Reasonable grounds - The Northwest Territories Supreme Court held that a police officer did not have to have reasonable and probable grounds that an accused was impaired before stopping the accused's vehicle - The court held that the officer must have reasonable and probable grounds before making the demand under s. 235(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34 - See paragraphs 6 and 12 to 14.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Warford (1981), 32 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 211; 91 A.P.R. 211; 61 C.C.C.(2d) 489; 11 M.V.R. 198, folld. [para. 5].

R. v. Dedman (1981), 32 O.R.(2d) 641; 59 C.C.C.(2d) 97; 10 M.V.R. 59, cons. [para. 5].

R. v. Chromiak, [1980] 1 S.C.R. 471; 24 A.R. 206; 3 M.V.R. 69, 12 C.R.(3d) 300; 14 C.R.(3d) 393; 11 Alta. L.R.(2d) 295, 49 C.C.C.(2d) 257, 102 D.L.R.(3d) 368, consd. [para. 13].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Bill of Rights, R.S.C. 1970, App. III, sect. 2(a) [para. 13].

Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, sect. 235(1), sect. 235(2) [para. 2].

Vehicles Ordinance, R.O.N.W.T. 1974, c. V-2, sect. 196, sect. 197, sect. 170, sect. 172 [para. 11].

Counsel:

M. Zigayer, for the appellant.