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Difference between revisions of "Motor Vehicle Offences for Drugs and Alcohol (13:IX)"
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Motor Vehicle Offences for Drugs and Alcohol (13:IX) (view source)
Revision as of 03:13, 24 November 2019
, 03:13, 24 November 2019→D. Federal Alcohol and Drug Offences
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For a charge under s 253(1)(b), the Crown may prove a blood alcohol reading in excess of .08 by producing a valid certificate of analysis or providing ''vive voce'' testimony at trial from a registered analyst or breathalyser technician about the blood alcohol concentration at the time the accused provided a breath sample. | For a charge under s 253(1)(b), the Crown may prove a blood alcohol reading in excess of .08 by producing a valid certificate of analysis or providing ''vive voce'' testimony at trial from a registered analyst or breathalyser technician about the blood alcohol concentration at the time the accused provided a breath sample. | ||
Once a certificate has been prepared or the Crown has tendered ''vive voce'' evidence of the blood alcohol concentration, the Crown can rely on the presumption commonly known as the “presumption back” set out in ''Criminal Code'' s 258(1)(c). Under this section, where samples of breath are taken within two hours from the time the offence is alleged to have been committed, the concentration of alcohol in the blood reflected by those samples will be assumed to have been the concentration of alcohol in the blood at the time of the offence unless the accused raises evidence to the contrary (i.e. that he or she consumed more alcohol between being stopped and the time the sample was taken). Please note that the “presumption back” applies only to samples demanded pursuant to s 254(3) and not s 254(2), which is for screening purposes (see [[{{PAGENAME}}#2. Refusing to Provide a Sample | Section IX.2: Refusing to Provide a Sample]]). The “presumption back” also applies to a blood sample (s 258(1)(d)). | Once a certificate has been prepared or the Crown has tendered ''vive voce'' evidence of the blood alcohol concentration, the Crown can rely on the presumption commonly known as the “presumption back” set out in ''Criminal Code'' s 258(1)(c). Under this section, where samples of breath are taken within two hours from the time the offence is alleged to have been committed, the concentration of alcohol in the blood reflected by those samples will be assumed to have been the concentration of alcohol in the blood at the time of the offence unless the accused raises evidence to the contrary (i.e. that he or she consumed more alcohol between being stopped and the time the sample was taken). Please note that the “presumption back” applies only to samples demanded pursuant to s 254(3) and not s 254(2), which is for screening purposes (see [[{{PAGENAME}}#2. Refusing to Provide a Sample | Section IX.D.2: Refusing to Provide a Sample]]). The “presumption back” also applies to a blood sample (s 258(1)(d)). | ||
Note that this presumption pertaining to the evidence contained in the breathalyser certificate does not offend s 11(d) of the ''Charter'' which protects the presumption of innocence: ''R v Bateman'', [1987] BCJ No 253; 46 MVR 155 (BC Co Ct). | Note that this presumption pertaining to the evidence contained in the breathalyser certificate does not offend s 11(d) of the ''Charter'' which protects the presumption of innocence: ''R v Bateman'', [1987] BCJ No 253; 46 MVR 155 (BC Co Ct). | ||