NCJ Number
139851
Journal
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Gazette Volume: 54 Issue: 11 Pages: 18-21
Date Published
1992
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Guidelines are provided for collecting evidence in impaired driving cases and particularly where drug use is suspected.
Abstract
The successful prosecution of a case of impaired driving due to drugs calls for two elements to be present: evidence of drug use and a driving pattern and/or physical signs indicative of impairment. Such evidence is critical to obtaining a conviction. Section 254 of Canada's Criminal Code permits the collection of blood samples only if alcohol use is suspected. There are no provisions to obtain blood samples if drug use alone is suspected. Typically, blood samples for impaired driving cases are submitted to the Alcohol Section first but may be transferred to the Toxicology Section of Analysis if a specific drug is suspected or the alcohol results are below l00 mg percent. The most commonly encountered impairing drugs in Canada are identified along with signs of drug impairment.