R. v. Werhun, (1990) 67 Man.R.(2d) 59 (QB)

• Judge: De Graves, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba (Canada)
• Case Date: August 09, 1990
• Jurisdiction: Manitoba
• Citations: (1990), 67 Man.R.(2d) 59 (QB)

R. v. Werhun (1990), 67 Man.R.(2d) 59 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Diane Elaine Werhun (accused/applicant) v. Her Majesty The Queen (respondent)

(Suit No. CR 89-01-07430)

Indexed As: R. v. Werhun

Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench

Winnipeg Centre

De Graves, J.

August 9, 1990.

Summary:

The accused driver was stopped for operating her automobile without headlights. She admitted to the police that her driver's licence was suspended. Her automobile was then seized and impounded pursuant to s. 242.1 of the Highway Traffic Act. She was subsequently charged under s. 259 of the Criminal Code for driving while suspended. The driver brought the following application, challenging the constitutional validity of s. 242.1 on the ground that the section was ultra vires the province and inconsistent with ss. 7, 8 and 11(d) of the Charter. The charge against her under the Code remained pending.

The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench allowed the application and granted a declaration that s. 242.1 breached both ss. 7 and 8 of the Charter and could not be justified under s. 1.

Civil Rights - Topic 686

Liberty - Principles of fundamental justice - Deprivation of - What constitutes - Section 242.1 of the Highway Traffic Act authorized police to seize and impound vehicles where the officer had reason to believe the driver violated s. 225(1) of the Act or s. 259 of the Criminal Code - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench held that the deprivation of the use of the motor vehicle by the owner-driver or driver was a substantial interference with his or her right to liberty to use the roads, thereby s. 242.1 violated the right to liberty and security of the person in s. 7 of the Charter - The court found seven instances whereby the section violated the principles of fundamental justice and could not be justified under s. 1 - See paragraphs 22 to 36, 37 to 54, 76 to 78.

Civil Rights - Topic 726

Liberty - Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of liberty - What constitutes - [See Civil Rights - Topic 686].

Civil Rights - Topic 1530

Property - Personal property - Deprivation of property not in accordance with principles of fundamental justice - [See Civil Rights - Topic 686].

Civil Rights - Topic 1646

Property - Search and seizure - Unreasonable search and seizure defined - Section 242.1 of the Highway Traffic Act authorized police to seize and impound vehicles where the officer had reason to believe the driver violated s. 225(1) of the Act or s. 259 of the Criminal Code - The motor vehicle could be seized at a place other than a highway, wherever found, including the owner's or driver's private property - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench held that the seizure therefore intruded on a reasonable expectation of privacy, contravened s. 8 of the Charter and could not be justified under s. 1 - See paragraphs 55 to 61, 76 to 78.

Civil Rights - Topic 8348

Charter - Application - Exceptions - Reasonable limits prescribed by law - [See Civil Rights - Topic 686].

Civil Rights - Topic 8348

Charter - Application - Exceptions - Reasonable limits prescribed by law - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1646].

Civil Rights - Topic 8545

Charter - Interpretation - Charged with an offence - Section 242.1 of the Highway Traffic Act authorized police to seize and impound vehicles where the officer had reason to believe the driver violated s. 225(1) of the Act or s. 259 of the Criminal Code - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench held that s. 242.1 did not infringe s. 11(d) of the Charter, because the driver was not "charged with an offence" - See paragraphs 62 to 68.

Civil Rights - Topic 8546

Charter - Interpretation - Life, liberty and security of the person - [See Civil Rights - Topic 686].

Civil Rights - Topic 8547

Charter - Interpretation - Principles of fundamental justice - [See Civil Rights - Topic 686].

Civil Rights - Topic 8583

Charter - Practice - Who may raise Charter issues - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench stated that "it is now beyond question that an unconstitutional law can be attacked by any person either under s. 24(1) of the Charter or in criminal proceedings" - See paragraph 6.

Constitutional Law - Topic 2986

Determination of validity of statutes - Practice - Parties - [See Civil Rights - Topic 8583].

Constitutional Law - Topic 3614

Paramountcy of federal statutes - Overlapping legislation - Conflict - What constitutes - Section 242.1 of the Highway Traffic Act authorized police to seize and impound vehicles where the officer had reason to believe the driver violated s. 225(1) of the Act or s. 259 of the Criminal Code - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench held that s. 242.1 was intra vires the province under the property and civil rights power in s. 92(13) of the Constitution Act - The court held that s. 242.1 did not conflict with s. 259(4) and (5) of the Criminal Code, which provided for prosecution by indictment or on summary conviction for driving while disqualified - See paragraphs 17 to 21.

Constitutional Law - Topic 6495

Federal jurisdiction - Criminal law - Driving prohibition - Impounding vehicles for breach of - [See Constitutional Law - Topic 3614].

Constitutional Law - Topic 7295

Provincial jurisdiction - Property and civil rights - Regulatory statutes - Streets and traffic - Impounding vehicles for breach of driving prohibition - [See Constitutional Law - Topic 3614].

Criminal Law - Topic 3170

Power of seizure - Detention of things seized - Impounding vehicles for breach of driving prohibition - [See Civil Rights - Topic 686].

Criminal Law - Topic 3170

Power of seizure - Detention of things seized - Impounding vehicles for breach of driving prohibition - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1646].

Criminal Law - Topic 3170

Power of seizure - Detention of things seized - Impounding vehicles for breach of driving prohibition - [See Civil Rights - Topic 8545].

Criminal Law - Topic 3170

Power of seizure - Detention of things seized - Impounding vehicles for breach of driving prohibition - [See Constitutional Law - Topic 3614].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Big M Drug Mart Ltd., [1985] 1 S.C.R. 295; [1985] 3 W.W.R. 481; 58 N.R. 81; 60 A.R. 161; 18 D.L.R.(4th) 321; 37 Alta. L.R.(2d) 97; 85 C.L.L.C. 14,023; 13 C.R.R. 64; 18 C.C.C.(3d) 385, refd to. [para. 7].

Bedard v. Dawson, [1923] S.C.R. 681, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Corry, [1932] 4 D.L.R. 399 (Alta. S.C.), refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Jones, [1986] 6 W.W.R. 577; 69 N.R. 241 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 17].

Ginther v. Saskatchewan Government Insurance, [1988] 4 W.W.R. 738; 66 Sask.R. 109 (C.A.), reving. 61 Sask.R. 50; 33 C.R.R. 132 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Francis, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 1025; 85 N.R. 3, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Gray (1988), 54 Man.R.(2d) 240; 66 C.R.(3d) 378 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Hufsky, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 621; 84 N.R. 365; 27 O.A.C. 103, refd to. [para. 17].

Irwin Toy Ltd. v. Québec (Procureur général), [1989] 1 S.C.R. 927; 94 N.R. 167; 24 Q.A.C. 2; 58 D.L.R.(4th) 577, refd to. [para. 17].

Moysa v. Labour Relations Board (Alta.) Alberta Food and Commercial Workers, Local 401 and Hudson Bay Company, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1572; 96 N.R. 70; 97 A.R. 368, refd to. [para. 17].

Metropolitan Stores (MTS) Ltd. v. Manitoba Food and Commercial Workers, Local 832 and Labour Board (Man.), [1987] 1 S.C.R. 110; 73 N.R. 343; 46 Man.R.(2d) 241; 38 D.L.R.(4th) 321; [1987] 3 W.W.R. 1, refd to. [para. 17].

Multiple Access Ltd. v. McCutcheon, [1982] 2 S.C.R. 161; 44 N.R. 181, refd to. [para. 17].

Rosenbaum v. Law Society of Manitoba (1983), 22 Man.R.(2d) 260; 2 Admin. L.R. 210 (Q.B.), affd. [1984] 4 W.W.R. 95; 25 Man.R.(2d) 154 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 17].

Home Orderly Services Limited and Watson v. Manitoba (1988), 49 Man.R.(2d) 246, leave to appeal dismissed 87 N.R. 79; 54 Man.R.(2d) 160 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 23].

Isabey v. Health Services Commission (Man.) et al., [1986] 4 W.W.R. 310; 40 Man.R.(2d) 198 (C.A.), leave to appeal to S.C.C. dismissed 73 N.R. 397; 45 Man.R.(2d) 240, refd to. [para. 23].

Reference Re Criminal Code, ss. 193 and 195.1(1)(c), [1987] 6 W.W.R. 289; 49 Man.R.(2d) 1 (C.A.), refd to. [paras. 23, 31].

Gershman Produce Company Ltd. v. Motor Transport Board, [1986] 1 W.W.R. 303; 36 Man.R.(2d) 81 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].

Becker v. Alberta, Province of (1983), 45 A.R. 36; 148 D.L.R.(3d) 539 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Neale, [1986] 5 W.W.R. 577; 71 A.R. 337; 43 M.V.R. 194 (C.A.), leave to appeal dismissed 75 N.R. 160; 77 A.R. 239 (S.C.C.), refd to. [paras. 23, 29].

R. v. Zeolkowski, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1378; 95 N.R. 149; 58 Man.R.(2d) 63, refd to. [para. 23].

Porter v. Canada (1989), 26 F.T.R. 69, refd to. [para. 23].

Bertram S. Miller Ltd. v. Canada (1986), 69 N.R. 1; 31 D.L.R.(4th) 210 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Dedman, [1985] 2 S.C.R. 2; 60 N.R. 34; 11 O.A.C. 241, refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Waterfield, [1963] 3 All E.R. 659, refd to. [para. 28].

Reference Re ss. 193 and 195.1(1)(c) of the Criminal Code (1990), 109 N.R. 81 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Storrey, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 241; 105 N.R. 81; 37 O.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 49].

Dumbell v. Roberts, [1944] 1 All E.R. 326 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 50].

Reference Re s. 94(2) of the Motor Vehicle Act, [1985] 2 S.C.R. 486; 63 N.R. 266; 23 C.C.C.(3d) 289, refd to. [para. 53].

Re Lavers and Minister of Finance, 18 D.L.R.(4th) 477 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 64].

R. v. Shubley (1990), 104 N.R. 81; 37 O.A.C. 63; 65 D.L.R.(4th) 193, refd to. [para. 64].

R. v. Wigglesworth, [1987] 2 S.C.R. 541; 81 N.R. 161; 61 Sask.R. 105; 24 O.A.C. 321; 37 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 60 C.R.(3d) 193; 45 D.L.R.(4th) 235, refd to. [para. 64].

R. v. Seo (1986), 13 O.A.C. 359; 25 C.C.C.(3d) 385, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Thomsen, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 640; 84 N.R. 347, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Ladouceur (1990), 108 N.R. 171; 40 O.A.C. 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 72].

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. 73].

R. v. Collins, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 265; 74 N.R. 276, refd to. [para. 73].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 1 [paras. 1, 69, 73, 78]; sect. 7 [paras. 1, 22, 26, 30-31, 33-34, 37, 54, 75, 77-78]; sect. 8 [paras. 1, 55, 61, 75, 77-78]; sect. 11(d) [paras. 1, 62, 68]; sect. 24(1) [para. 6].

Constitution Act, 1867, sect. 92(13) [para. 17].

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 259 [paras. 39, 47, 65]; sect. 259(4), sect. 259(5) [paras. 18, 20].

Highway Traffic Act, S.M. 1985-86, c. 3; C.C.S.M., c. H-60, sect. 5(11), sect. 27(12), sect. 76, sect. 76.1 [para. 57]; sect. 225 [para. 39]; sect. 225(1) [paras. 19, 65]; sect. 242.1 [paras. 1, 3, 9, 17-18, 20-21, 23, 26, 34, 36, 38, 47, 53-54, 56-57, 61, 63, 65, 68, 75-76, 78]; sect. 242.1(1) [paras. 10, 59]; sect. 264 [para. 19].

Counsel:

John Skinner, for the applicant;

Vic Toews, for the respondent.

This case was heard before De Graves, J., of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench, Winnipeg Centre, whose decision was delivered on August 9, 1990.