National

Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Case Dealing With How To Spot Drug-Impaired Drivers

The Canadian Press, 28 Jan, 2016 12:50 PM

OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to look at the role of drug recognition experts in a case of impaired driving involving drugs.

The case involves an Ontario man who was charged in 2009 and twice acquitted, only to see both acquittals overturned by higher courts.

The key issue deals with the role of drug recognition experts — police officers trained to identify drivers impaired by drugs, or the combination of drugs and alcohol.

One of the trial judges found that the Crown had not proved that the science behind the drug recognition training was reliable and refused to certify the police officer as an expert.

A higher court and then the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that the expert testimony is legitimate and admissible and ordered a third trial.

The issue takes on greater significance in light of the new Liberal government's plan to legalize marijuana, which some critics have warned will increase the number of drivers impaired by drugs.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Woman Dead Falling From Party Bus In Vancouver

Sgt. Randy Fincham says police received a report around 9:30 Saturday evening that a woman had fallen from a moving party bus at Burrard and West Hastings Street.

Woman Dead Falling From Party Bus In Vancouver

Alberta's Rachel Notley Says Document Shredding Ban Continues At Environment Department

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says a ban on document shredding will continue in the Environment Department until she is sure no more documents are improperly destroyed.

Alberta's Rachel Notley Says Document Shredding Ban Continues At Environment Department

Firefighting Funds Depleted: Record Number Of Wildfires In National Parks

Wildfires scorched a record amount of Canada's national parks last year — the latest in a number of long, hot summers that have almost entirely depleted Parks Canada's firefighting reserve.

Firefighting Funds Depleted: Record Number Of Wildfires In National Parks

Premier Kathleen Wynne Says Ontario Is Preparing Protocols For Physician-Assisted Death

The top court is holding an oral hearing today on the Trudeau government's request for a six-month extension to deal with the issue.

Premier Kathleen Wynne Says Ontario Is Preparing Protocols For Physician-Assisted Death

Somali-Canadian Woman Fights Revocation Of Security Clearance That Cost Her Airline Job

Ayaan Farah, 31, says Ottawa unfairly revoked her Transportation Security Clearance a year ago, leading to her firing from her full-time job of eight years.

Somali-Canadian Woman Fights Revocation Of Security Clearance That Cost Her Airline Job

Justin Trudeau Makes The Tabloids For His Family Vacation On Small Caribbean Island

The visit to Nevis, a small island that is part of the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, was billed as a private family vacation, but it has become fodder for celebrity gossip website TMZ.