Case Law

Driving related decisions by the courts.

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.

CASE LAW - Lewis v British Columbia (Public Safety and Solicitor General)

BC Courts Coat of ArmsDelores Lewis was required to take the computer based version of the DriveABLE test and failed. The Superintendent of Motor Vehicles directed ICBC to cancel her driver's licence. Reconsideration of this decision was possible if she was able to provide a report from her doctor indicating that she was medically fit to drive. This was provided and Ms. Lewis took the test a second time. The result of the second test indicated that her abilities had declined. Her licence remained cancelled.

CASE LAW - R v Thandi

BC Courts Coat of ArmsThe officer was mistaken your worship, I was talking on my wallet, not a cell phone! This was the defense advanced before Judicial Justice of the Peace H. W. Gordon by Bhavjit Thandi after being ticketed by Cst. LeBlanc, a member of the Capital Regional District Integrated Road Safety Unit. Cst. LeBlanc had watched Mr.