There are three important IRP appeals now winding their way through the courts that have the prospect of changing the Immediate Roadside Prohibition scheme in a significant manner. Last week the BC Court of Appeal heard arguments on one of the appeals dealing with the IRP scheme as it was used in BC between September […]
IRP appeals now before the courts Continue Reading »
In our office we’ve made our predictions on the IRP appeal. We have ideas on what we think should happen, and what we think will happen. We were surprised when the lawyers opposing the IRP scheme abandoned some arguments. Nevertheless, we’ve made our predictions and now we’ve stopped taking bets. The IRP appeal is underway.
Predictions on the IRP appeal Continue Reading »
(UPDATE) Apparently there was an issue with respect to who was a party to the litigation and which lawyers could make submissions on the appeal. One of the litigants has died and another decided against proceeding. So the issue was who should be there to make submissions. We have now been told that the matter
The IRP appeal has been adjourned – UPDATED Continue Reading »
It’s a bad system to be punishing people on the basis of roadside breath testers. That’s the message that we’ve been trying to get out ever since the Immediate Roadside Prohibition / IRP scheme was introduced. Last week it hit the newspapers that a huge number of the IRPs that were revoked in December 2012
The IRP appeal Continue Reading »
We have been unusually busy in our office for the last few weeks and consequently there have been fewer blog posts. Sorry about that. Thanks for sticking with us. There have been a number of interesting developments concerning Immediate Roadside Prohibitions in the last week. First, about the interlock: Interlock and “Remedial” Programs: As expected
News on the IRP front Continue Reading »
Breath-analysis machines used by police forces across B.C. are incapable of differentiating between mouth and blood alcohol, are prone to human error and should not be used to issue immediate roadside driving suspensions, according to a leading forensic scientist. Those findings are outlined in an affidavit prepared by Nizar Shajani, a Burnaby-based forensic scientist who
Breathalyzer machines used by police are error-prone Continue Reading »
As we’ve noted before, the police are always the first to advocate for a police state. And as we’ve noted before, the IRP scheme is a long step down that slippery slope toward a society governed by the police rather than governed by law. Emboldened by their power to issue IRPs (on crappy evidence) and
BC becoming a police state Continue Reading »
This is a great title for an editorial: Clark’s B.C. Liberals are circling the drain. Poll numbers show that the BC Liberals have fallen well behind the NDP even before the recent ethnic strategy scandal. And as a result many pundits are predicting the end of the Government, i.e. the BC Liberal Government. At the
The BC Liberals have fallen and they can’t get up Continue Reading »
10. Judge, jury, executioner. Although this is a common complaint, the police have no discretion under the law. So in a sense there is no judge or jury. 9. Punishment long before any hearing. Most people are prohibited for 21 days or thereabouts before they get a decision from the tribunal. So in essence you
Top 10 reasons people dislike BC’s IRP laws Continue Reading »
In May 2012 when the legislation was introduced we told you about the new traffic ticket process in BC and some of our concerns. We’re worried about it. It appears to us the BC Government is trying to legislate out your Charter Rights, remove your right to face your accuser, and take away their obligation
Keep an eye on this: new traffic ticket process Continue Reading »
