View source for Inventory Searches

[[Fr:Recherches_d'inventaire]]
{{Currency2|January|2020}}
{{HeaderWarrantless}}

==General Principles==
{{seealso|Ancillary Powers Doctrine}}
Certain provincial vehicle Acts permit an officer to conduct an inventory search of a vehicle that is being impounded.<ref>
e.g. Highway Traffic Act (ON), s. 172<br>
</ref>
This also applies where a vehicle is being seized due to being parked in an unsafe location.<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Russell|h07hj|2017 BCPC 60 (CanLII)}}{{perBCPC|Koturbash J}} - re s. 188 of BC Motor Vehicle Act<br>
</ref>

; Rationale
The rationale for the power to do an inventory does not flow from the nature of the investigation but rather is based on the interests of:<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Cooper|gt566|2016 BCPC 259 (CanLII)}}{{perBCPC|Cutler J}}{{atL|gt566|16}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Wint|225zz|2009 ONCA 52 (CanLII)|93 OR 514}}{{TheCourt}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Nicolosi|6h03|1998 CanLII 2006 (ON CA)|127 CCC (3d) 176}}{{perONCA-H|Doherty JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Ellis|fwm5b|2013 ONSC 1494 (CanLII)|278 CRR (2d) 324}}{{perONSC|Cambpell J}}<br>
</ref>
* person who owns the property and wishes the police to safeguard the property while it is in police custody;
* public safety who are concerned contraband being held by police or in authorized storage facilities;
* police desire to protect against civil liability for loss or damage to property found in the vehicle.

; Towing Vehicle
A decision on the part of police to have a vehicle towed does not necessarily always justify an inventory search.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Harflett|gp6lb|2016 ONCA 248 (CanLII)|336 CCC (3d) 102}}{{perONCA|Lauwers JA}}<br>
</ref>
The police should turn their mind to other options besides impounding the vehicle.<ref>
e.g. {{CanLIIR-N|Martin|2012 ONSC 2298}}
</ref>

; Contents of Bags
The power to conduct inventory searches of vehicles may also permit the opening and examining of the contents of bags found within the vehicle.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Wint|225zz|2009 ONCA 52 (CanLII)|184 CRR (2d) 57}} (leave to appeal to the SCC denied 2009 CanLII 31959){{TheCourtONCA}}{{PCite|244 OAC 324}}
</ref>

Inventory searches do not extent to situations where an officer is assisting a sheriff's officer in executing an eviction order, such that bags are opened for examination.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Stevens|fm7rk|2011 ONCA 504 (CanLII)|274 CCC (3d) 353}}{{perONCA|Armstrong JA}}
</ref>

; Use of Evidence Discovered on Inventory Search
Where police are entitled to inventory the contents of a vehicle when impounded, the Crown may not be permitted to tender the fruits of the inventory search as it would not be "authorized by law."<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Ahmed|j0sp0|2019 SKCA 47 (CanLII)|10 WWR 99}}{{perSKCA|Barrington-Foote JA}}{{atL|j0sp0|18}}("Mr. Ahmed had possession of the vehicle with the permission of the owner. As such, he had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the vehicle: ...")<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Nolet|2b8jp|2010 SCC 24 (CanLII)|[2010] 1 SCR 851}}{{perSCC-H|Binnie J}}{{atL|2b8jp|53}}{{PCite|[2010] 1 SCR 851}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Caslake|1fqww|1998 CanLII 838 (SCC)|[1998] 1 SCR 51}}{{perSCC|Lamer CJ}}{{atL|1fqww|30}}<br>
</ref> 
However, some authority suggests a statutory power to impound includes a power to tender the fruits of search.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Russell|htngc|2018 BCCA 330 (CanLII)|365 CCC (3d) 481}}{{perBCCA|D Smith JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Nicolosi|6h03|1998 CanLII 2006 (ON CA)|, 110 OAC 189 (CA)}}{{perONCA-H|Doherty JA}}<br>
{{supra1|Wint}}<br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==See Also==
* [[Detention Order for Things Seized Under Section 489 or 487.11]]