Screening for Drugs or Alcohol

This page was last substantively updated or reviewed January 2021. (Rev. # 95941)

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General Principles

Testing for presence of alcohol or drug

320.27 (1) If a peace officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that a person has alcohol or a drug in their body and that the person has, within the preceding three hours, operated a conveyance, the peace officer may, by demand, require the person to comply with the requirements of either or both of paragraphs (a) and (b) in the case of alcohol or with the requirements of either or both of paragraphs (a) and (c) in the case of a drug:

(a) to immediately perform the physical coordination tests prescribed by regulation and to accompany the peace officer for that purpose;

(b) to immediately provide the samples of breath that, in the peace officer’s opinion, are necessary to enable a proper analysis to be made by means of an approved screening device and to accompany the peace officer for that purpose;

(c) to immediately provide the samples of a bodily substance that, in the peace officer’s opinion, are necessary to enable a proper analysis to be made by means of approved drug screening equipment and to accompany the peace officer for that purpose.

[omitted (2)]
2018, c. 21, s. 15.

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

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No Obligation

Screening tools are optional to the officer based on the circumstances of the observations. Where the officer is sufficiently satisfied there are grounds without use of screening devices, they do not need to use them.

Mandatory Alcohol Screening

320.27 (1)
[omitted (1)]

Mandatory alcohol screening

(2) If a peace officer has in his or her possession an approved screening device, the peace officer may, in the course of the lawful exercise of powers under an Act of Parliament or an Act of a provincial legislature or arising at common law, by demand, require the person who is operating a motor vehicle to immediately provide the samples of breath that, in the peace officer’s opinion, are necessary to enable a proper analysis to be made by means of that device and to accompany the peace officer for that purpose.

2018, c. 21, s. 15.

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

---

The officer may make an MAS demand where:

1. they are in "possession of an approved screening device"
2. they are "in the course of the lawful exercise of [police] powers", whether federal, provincial or common law;
3. the suspect "is operating a motor vehicle"

The satisfaction of these requirements means that they must "accompany the peace officer" for the purpose of "immediately provid[ing] the samples of breath" that are "necessary to enable a proper analysis"

Constitutionality

The authorization for detention is arbitrary under s. 9 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms but saved under s. 1 and so is constitutional.

The mandatory screening under s. 320.27(2) breaches s. 8 of the Charter as it allows for search without reasonable suspicion. It is saved under s. 1 as so is upheld.

Observational evidence

It is not unusual that the formation of an opinion of impairment can be made in less than a minute.

Compelled Admissions

A person compelled by statute to make admissions with respect to the operation of a motor vehicle cannot be used as grounds to administer a roadside test, or arrest.

An investigator who is investigating an accident and possible criminal offence at the same time must "delineate clearly" the end point of the accident investigation in order to negate the belief that a statement must be given.

A statement compelled by statute must be proven on a balance of probabilities that:

1. That he was in fact compelled by statute to provide a report.
2. That the statements he made were a “report” within the meaning of the compelling statute.
3. That he gave his report with the honest and reasonable belief he was compelled by the statute to do so.

Short and straightforward questions by the police about alcohol consumption for the purpose of screening without giving access to a lawyer is a reasonable limitation to a persons s. 10(b) Charter right.

If a police officer arrests a suspect for impaired driving he no longer has any authority to make a screening demand under s. 254(2) for a breath sample.

Also, if the officer has formed reasonable and probable grounds to believe that an offence has occurred under s. 253, he has no authority to make a demand under s. 254(2) for a roadside screening breath sample.

Physical Signs of Impairment

It is not usually sufficient to observe signs of alcohol consumption. However, cases have that the smell of alcohol on a person’s breath alone is enough to create a reasonable suspicion.

The smell of alcohol on a driver's breath alone can be sufficient to create a reasonable suspicion.

Where an officer states there is a sign of slurred speech but fails to provide details on what words were slurred, this can be used against the reliability of the evidence.

Determination of impairment is on an objective standard of “an ordinary citizen” or a “reasonable person”. Observations to consider include:

1. evidence of improper or abnormal driving by the accused;
2. presence of bloodshot or watery eyes;
3. presence of a flushed face;
4. odour of an alcohol beverage;
5. slurred speech;
6. lack of coordination and inability to perform physical tests;
7. lack of comprehension; and
8. inappropriate behaviour.

The odour of alcohol originates from the non-alcoholic content of the drink. There is no relationship between the amount of alcohol consumed and the odour. A stronger odour tends to show more recent consumption.

Limitation on evidence collected during roadside test

The right to retain counsel under s. 10(b) is effectively suspended during the roadside demand. The trade-off of this is that the test results can only be used to provide grounds of arrest and demand under s.254(3). Alternatively, where the tests and statements constitute the actus reus of the offence. Otherwise, the evidence is inadmissible. This includes for the use of credibility.

Screening Demand

A typical screening request will go as follows:

Approved screening Device Demand

"I demand that you forthwith provide me with a sample of your breath, suitable for analysis by an approved screening device, and to accompany me to <location of ASD> for the purpose of obtaining a sample of your breath. Should you refuse this demand, you will be charged with the offence of refusal.

Do you understand?"

– {{{2}}}

A proper screening demand engages "an immediate response by the person to whom that demand is addressed."

The demand does not have to be given by the officer first on scene. It can be an officer who arrives later on and is informed of the investigation.

The person who makes the demand must be the person who forms the reasonable suspicion.

For discussion on the requirements of a valid demand, see: Breath Sample Demand

Access to Counsel

The right to retain counsel under s. 10(b) is effectively suspended during the roadside demand.Consequently, the is no right to counsel before or during the administration of the screening device so long as it is being properly administered.

However, if any of the requirements for a valid screening demand are not met, such as a failure to use the screening device "forthwith", will render the demand invalid and so will revoke the s. 10(b) rights suspension and consequently result in a breach of 10(b).

Depending on the jurisdiction, a person cannot be required to do a "field sobriety test" without first being informed of the right to counsel.

See Right to Counsel

Approved Screening Device

The key requirement is that the officer had a subjective belief that the device was an approved screening device. A description of the device as listed in the Code will usually suffice and a statement of belief.

The reasonableness in the officer's belief of the character of the device must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The crown must present at least some evidence establishing that the device used was an "approved screening device". It cannot simply be assumed. Nevertheless, assertion by the officer can be sufficient. It will often be conclusive where the issue is not challenged on cross-examination or evidence to the contrary. Details about the make, model and similar do not need to be completely accurate for the judge to accept the evidence. It is only necessary that the officer reasonably believed it was an approved device.

If there is some evidence establishing that the device is an approved screening device, it is for the defence to prove on a balance of probabilities that the device was not reliable.

Factors relating to the functioning of the machine:

• whether the device booted up normally
• whether machine appeared to be working (the machine would likely signal if it wasn't working)
• the expiry date of the machine (i.e. when it was due for re-calibration)
• if past expiry, the number of days past expiry
• if past expiry, whether there was access to another machine readily

Calibration

Calibration of an ASD is done by applying a solution with a known alcohol concentration level to the ASD. The calibration is adjusted until the readings are correctly measured two times in a row.

The frequency of calibration of the machine varies on police policies. A typical frequency is 14 days.

The list of Approved Screening Devices can be found in the Approved Screening Devices Order, Regulation SI/85-200.

Listed Approved Screening Devices

The list of approved screening devices is found in the Approved Screening Devices Order, SI/85-200:

Approved Screening Devices

2 The following devices, each being a device of a kind that is designed to ascertain the presence of alcohol in the blood of a person, are hereby approved for the purposes of section 254 of the Criminal Code:

(a) Alcolmeter S-L2;

(b) Alco-Sûr;

(c) Alcotest® 7410 PA3;

(d) Alcotest® 7410 GLC;

(e) Alco-Sensor IV DWF;

(f) Alco-Sensor IV PWF;

(g) Intoxilyzer 400D;

(h) Alco-Sensor FST; and

(i) Dräger Alcotest 6810.

SI/88-136, s. 1; SOR/93-263, s. 2; SOR/94-193, s. 1; SOR/94-423, s. 1; SOR/96-81, s. 1; SOR/97-116, s. 1; SOR/2009-239, s. 1; SOR/2011-313, s. 1; SOR/2012-61, s. 1.

– ASDO

Administering the ASD Test

The officer should be able to give evidence describing how he operated the device, how the test was administered, and whether the device appeared to operate properly.

The person administering the test does not need to be a qualified technician, s. 254(2) only requires that he be a peace officer.

An officer may only give an opinion on the proper functioning of the device where they have had training in that regard.

Adequacy of the Sample

The officer giving the demand must be the same officer to formulate the opinion of the adequacy of the samples provided. However, the person forming the opinion does not need to be the person administering the test itself.

Factors Affecting Reliability

Mouth Alcohol

A failure to consider evidence of mouth alcohol may undermine the reasonableness of reliance on the ASD readings. Officer should have waited.

Results

An ASD will show a result of "pass", "warning" or "fail." The results will assist the officer to determine if further investigation, including further testing, is required. A “failed” test of an Approved Screening Device will be considered along with other indicia of impairment as forming reasonable grounds to demand a breath sample. Normally, a “fail” alone is sufficient to form the grounds for the demand.

The crown should prove a part of its case that a failed ASD test was accurately recorded. To prove this the officer must have had an honest basis to believe that the machine was accurate and the belief was reasonable. There is no burden, however, to prove that the machine was in fact measuring accurately.