Case Law

Driving related decisions by the courts.

CASE LAW - R v Kaiser

BC Courts Coat of ArmsRichard Kaiser was ticketed for failing to slow while passing a police car while that car’s emergency lights were activated. He disputed that ticket on two grounds, the regulation offended the Charter by being too vague and that the officer was merely making notes concerning a previous violator at the time and so had entrapped Mr. Kaiser. Judge Takahashi convicted Mr. Kaiser.

CASE LAW - Basi v The Superintendent of Motor Vehicles

BC Courts Coat of ArmsSpencer Basi was stopped while driving a motor vehicle under the influence of marihuana. A Standardized Field Sobriety Test was conducted after an initial questioning by the arresting officer. Mr. Basi showed symptoms consistent with marihuna impairment, was prohibited from driving for 24 hours and had his vehicle impounded for a similar time period.

CASE LAW - Regina v Dolson

BC Courts Coat of ArmsThis case is out of Kamloops, B.C. where Philip Dolson disputed a violation ticket for operating his Jeep without proper doors. In this instance he had replaced the OEM doors on his vehicle with Adventure Doors manufactured by Warrior Products. These are tube doors described by the manufacturer as "Designed to replace the vehicle’s full or half doors, Adventure Doors provide additional protection to front seat occupants while off-roading."

CASE LAW - Felix v ICBC

BC Courts Coat of ArmsMarnetta Felix and her boyfriend Kevin Hearne attended a soccer tournament. Following his last game of the day Kevin went to the concession and started drinking beer. He consumed enough over the next two or more hours that he became quite intoxicated. At one point he saw Marnette with her arm around another man and became angry. When they left the tournament, Marnetta driving and Kevin as passenger the two began to argue.

CASE LAW - Tataryn v Browne

BC Courts Coat of ArmsThe incident that gave rise to this case occurred on November 17, 2006 at Kamloops and the court proceedings determining liability ended last week. Adrianna Browne was driving a pickup truck carrying temporary farm workers from a Knutsford farm to the New Life Mission downtown. The trip ended on Long Lake Road when the truck went down an embankment, rolling several times.

CASE LAW - Olchowy v Tomkulak

BC Courts Coat of ArmsThis is the story of a two vehicle collision that happened in the uncontrolled intersection of Jervis Street and Gordon Avenue in Port Coquitlam, B.C. Michelle Olchowy was travelling south on Jervis Street and Clifford Tomkulak was travelling east on Gordon Avenue. Ms. Olchowy entered the intersection within a second or fraction of a second of Mr. Tomkulak.

CASE LAW - R v Stein

BC Courts Coat of ArmsPaul Stein was convicted of failing to wear a seatbelt for an incident that occurred on Hillside Avenue in Victoria, B.C. He was observed by Sergeant LeBlanc who pulled him over and issued the ticket. Mr. Stein's argument was that he was a commercial vehicle driver engaged in frequent stops and was exempt from having to wear a seatbelt.

CASE LAW - Vance v Cartwright

BC Courts Coat of ArmsWilliam Vance was riding an unlicenced, uninsured off road motorcycle southbound on 198 Street in Langley, B.C. He was not wearing a helmet and was exceeding the speed limit. Cristine Cartwright was eastbound on 21 Avenue and had stopped at the stop sign before entering 198 Street intending to turn northbound. Vision was limited for drivers on 21 avenue looking northbound by roadside vegetation.