View source for Causing a Disturbance (Offence)

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{{OffenceBox |OffenceTitle=Causing a Disturbance|OffencePage=Causing a Disturbance|Section=175|Act={{OBCCC}} |CrownElection={{OBSummaryElection}} |Jurisdiction={{OBJurisdictionSumm}} |Bail={{OBBailAll}}|SummaryDisp= {{OBDispAll}} |SummaryMin= {{OBMinNone}}  |SummaryMax= {{OBSConviction}} }}

==Overview==
{{OverviewV|causing a disturbance}}

; Pleadings
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{{PleadingsSummaryList|s. 175 {{DescrSec|175}} | {{NA}} | No }}
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{{PleadingsSummary|s. 175 {{DescrSec|175}}}}

; Release
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|s. 175 {{DescrSec|175}}|| {{ReleaseProfileNoID}} 
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{{ReleaseAllOptions|s. 175 {{DescrSec|175}}}}

; Publication Bans
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; Offence Designations
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|s. 175 {{DescrSec|175}}|| {{XMark}} <!--wire--> || {{XMark}} <!--DO-->||{{XMark}} <!--SPIO--> || {{XMark}} <!--consent-->
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{{SeeBelowForAncillary}}

==Offence Wording==
{{quotation1|
; Causing disturbance, indecent exhibition, loitering, etc.
175. (1) Every one who
::(a) not being in a dwelling-house, causes a disturbance in or near a public place,
:::(i) by fighting, screaming, shouting, swearing, singing or using insulting or obscene language,
:::(ii) by being drunk, or
:::(iii) by impeding or molesting other persons,
::(b) openly exposes or exhibits an indecent exhibition in a public place,
::(c) loiters in a public place and in any way obstructs persons who are in that place, or
::(d) disturbs the peace and quiet of the occupants of a dwelling-house by discharging firearms or by other disorderly conduct in a public place or who, not being an occupant of a dwelling-house comprised in a particular building or structure, disturbs the peace and quiet of the occupants of a dwelling-house comprised in the building or structure by discharging firearms or by other disorderly conduct in any part of a building or structure to which, at the time of such conduct, the occupants of two or more dwelling-houses comprised in the building or structure have access as of right or by invitation, express or implied,<br>
is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

; Evidence of peace officer
:(2) In the absence of other evidence, or by way of corroboration of other evidence, a summary conviction court may infer from the evidence of a peace officer relating to the conduct of a person or persons, whether ascertained or not, that a disturbance described in paragraph (1)(a) or (d) or an obstruction described in paragraph (1)(c) {{AnnSec1|175(1)(c)}} was caused or occurred.

R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. C-46}}, s. 175; 
{{LegHistory90s|1997, c. 18}}, s. 6.
{{Annotation}}
|[{{CCCSec|175}} CCC]
}}

===Draft Form of Charges===
{{seealso|Draft Form of Charges}}

{{DraftHeader}}
|-
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| 
|"..., contrary to section XX of the ''Criminal Code''.
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==Proof of the Offence==
{{ElementHeader}}
{{ElementLeft}}
{{Proving|causing a disturbance|175(a)}}
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the commission of one of the enumerated acts: 
## {{box}} fighting, 
## {{box}} screaming, 
## {{box}} shouting, 
## {{box}} swearing, 
## {{box}} singing,
## {{box}} using insulting or obscene language, 
## {{box}} being drunk, or 
## {{box}} impeding or molesting other persons
# {{box}} the act causes a disturbance 
# {{box}} the disturbance is in or near a public place.<ref>
''R v Lohnes'', [1992] 1 SCR 167 [http://canlii.ca/t/1fsfw 1992 CanLII 112] (SCC){{perSCC|McLachlin J}}</ref>

{{ElementRight}}

{{Proving|causing a disturbance|175(b)}}
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the culprit "loiters" in a "public place" and 
# {{box}} in any way obstructs persons who are in that place

{{ElementEnd}}

{{Reflist|2}}

==Interpretation of the Offence==
A disturbance must be more than mere emotional upset or annoyance. The disturbance must be foreseeable as a consequence from the act. <ref>
''R v Lohnes'', [1992] 1 SCR 167, [http://canlii.ca/t/1fsfw 1992 CanLII 112] (SCC){{perSCC|McLachlin J}}</ref>

Disturbance can include any "interference with ordinary and customary conduct". It can be something as small as "being distracted from work, but … Must be present and must be extremely manifested."<ref> {{ibid1|Lohnes}}
</ref>

The ''actus reus'' of the offence involving obscene language requires that the obscene language cause an externally manifested disturbance.<ref>
''R v Swinkels'', [http://canlii.ca/t/2d619 2010 ONCA 742] (CanLII){{perONCA|LaForme JA}}{{atsL|2d619|10|}}, {{atsL-np|2d619|29|}}, {{atsL-np|2d619|32}}</ref>

Shouting does not include amplification by a device such as a megaphone.<ref> 
''R v Reed'', [http://canlii.ca/t/2327w 1992 CanLII 6005] (BC CA), (1992) 76 CCC 204 (BCCA){{perBCCA|Hutcheon JA}}</ref>

Swearing includes the use of bad, obscene or offensive language.<ref> 
''R v Clothier'', (1975) 13 NSR 141 (NSCA){{NOCANLII}}</ref>

Disturbance requires more than merely an observing crowd or a crowd shouting anti-police sentiment as officers make arrests.<ref>
{{supra1|Swinkels}}{{atL|2d619|28}}<br>
''R v Osbourne'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1w8nf 2008 ONCJ 134] (CanLII){{perONCJ|Brewer J}}<br>
</ref>

An officer's belief that the accused's language directed at them was vulgar, aggressive and inappropriate alone is insufficient.<ref>
{{supra1|Swinkels}}{{atL|2d619|28}}<br>
{{supra1|Osbourne}}<br>
</ref>

Cursing and swearing at the police officer, in certain circumstances, will not amount to an offence of causing a disturbance nor will it amount to a breach of a condition to "keep the peace and be of good behavior".<ref> 
''R v Shea'', [http://canlii.ca/t/2dz2l 2010 NSPC 70] (CanLII){{perNSPC|Derrick J}}
</ref>

; Constitutionality
But if it's under section 175 violates section 2 (B) of the charter protecting freedom of expression, but is saved as a reasonable limit and is valid.<ref>
''R v Lawrence'', [http://canlii.ca/t/28nn6 1992 CanLII 6136] (AB QB), (1992), 74 CCC (3d) 495{{perABQB|Cooke J}}
</ref>

; Terminology
"Loitering" must be an action or inaction without purpose. Simply standing around is not sufficient.<ref>
''R v Munroe'', Munroe, [http://canlii.ca/t/g18vc 1983 CanLII 1830] (ON CA), [1983] 148 DLR (3d) 166{{perONCA|Cory JA}}<br>
''R v Hudson'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1qstj 2007 SKQB 23] (CanLII){{perSKQB|Gabrielson J}}
</ref>

"Public place" is defined in s. 150 as "includ[ing] any place to which the public have access as of right or by invitation, express or implied;"

"Access" means the "right or opportunity to reach or use or visit".<ref>
''R v Clark'', [2005] 1 SCR 6, [http://canlii.ca/t/1jmfj 2005 SCC 2] (CanLII){{perSCC|Fish J}}{{atL|1jmfj|13}}<br>
</ref>

A place that is ''only'' "exposed to the public view" and not accessible is ''not'' a "public place".<ref>
{{supra1|Clark}}
</ref>

{{Reflist|2}}

==Participation of Third Parties==
{{seealso|Role of the Victim and Third Parties|Testimonial Aids for Young, Disabled or Vulnerable Witnesses}}

; Testimonial Aids
{{3rdPTestimonyAids}}

; On Finding of Guilt
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==Sentencing Principles and Ranges==
{{seealsoSentencing}}

; Maximum Penalties
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{{SProfileMax|s. 175 {{DescrSec|175}} | {{NA}} | {{summaryconviction}} }}
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{{MaxPenaltySummary|s. 175 {{DescrSec|175}}|'''{{summaryconviction}}'''}}

; Minimum Penalties
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; Available Dispositions
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|s. 175 {{DescrSec|175}} || {{NA}} || {{SProfileAll}}
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; Consecutive Sentences
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===Principles===

===Ranges===
{{seealsoRanges|Causing a Disturbance}}

==Ancillary Sentencing Orders==
{{seealso|Ancillary Orders}}
	
; Offence-specific Orders
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; General Sentencing Orders
{{GeneralSentencingOrders(S)‏}}

; General Forfeiture Orders
{{GeneralForfeitureOrders(S)}}

==Record Suspensions and Pardons== 
{{RecordSuspension|s. 175 {{DescrSec|175}} }}

==See Also==
; References
* [[Pre-Trial and Trial Motions Checklist]]

[[Category:Straight Summary Offences]]
[[Category:Offences Punishable on Summary Conviction]]