Inventory Searches: Difference between revisions

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


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</ref>
</ref>
This also applies where a vehicle is being seized due to being parked in an unsafe location.<ref>
This also applies where a vehicle is being seized due to being parked in an unsafe location.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Russell|h07hj|2017 BCPC 60 (CanLII)}}{{perBCPC|Koturbash J}} - re s. 188 of BC Motor Vehicle Act<br>
{{CanLIIRx|Russell|h07hj|2017 BCPC 60 (CanLII)}}{{perBCPC|Koturbash J}} - re s. 188 of BC Motor Vehicle Act<br>
</ref>
</ref>


; Rationale
; 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>
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>
{{CanLIIR|Cooper|gt566|2016 BCPC 259 (CanLII)}}{{perBCPC|Cutler J}}{{atL|gt566|16}}<br>
{{CanLIIRx|Cooper|gt566|2016 BCPC 259 (CanLII)}}{{perBCPC|Cutler J}}{{atL|gt566|16}}<br>
''R v Wint'', (2009) [http://canlii.ca/t/225zz 2009 ONCA 52] (CanLII), 93 O.R. 514 (Ont.C.A.){{TheCourt}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Wint|225zz|2009 ONCA 52 (CanLII)|93 OR 514}}{{TheCourt}}<br>
''R v Nicolosi'' (1998) [http://canlii.ca/t/6h03 1998 CanLII 2006] (ON CA), 127 CCC (3d) 176 (Ont.C.A.){{perONCA|Doherty JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Nicolosi|6h03|1998 CanLII 2006 (ON CA)|127 CCC (3d) 176}}{{perONCA-H|Doherty JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Ellis|fwm5b|2013 ONSC 1494 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Cambpell J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Ellis|fwm5b|2013 ONSC 1494 (CanLII)|278 CRR (2d) 324}}{{perONSC|Cambpell J}}<br>
</ref>
</ref>
* person who owns the property and wishes the police to safeguard the property while it is in police custody;
* person who owns the property and wishes the police to safeguard the property while it is in police custody;
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; Towing Vehicle
; Towing Vehicle
A decision on the part of police to have a vehicle towed does not necessarily always justify an inventory search.<ref>
A decision on the part of police to have a vehicle towed does not necessarily always justify an inventory search.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Harflett|gp6lb|2016 ONCA 248 (CanLII)}}{{perONCA|Lauwers JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Harflett|gp6lb|2016 ONCA 248 (CanLII)|336 CCC (3d) 102}}{{perONCA|Lauwers JA}}<br>
</ref>
</ref>
The police should turn their mind to other options besides impounding the vehicle.<ref>
The police should turn their mind to other options besides impounding the vehicle.<ref>
e.g. ''R v Martin'', 2012 ONSC 2298{{NOCANLII}}
e.g. {{CanLIIR-N|Martin|2012 ONSC 2298}}
</ref>
</ref>


; Contents of Bags
; 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>
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>
''R v Wint'', [http://canlii.ca/t/225zz 2009 ONCA 52] (CanLII) (leave to appeal to the SCC denied 2009 CanLII 31959){{TheCourtONCA}}{{PCite|244 OAC 324}}
{{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>
</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>
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>
{{CanLIIR|Stevens|fm7rk|2011 ONCA 504 (CanLII)}}{{perONCA|Armstrong JA}}
{{CanLIIRP|Stevens|fm7rk|2011 ONCA 504 (CanLII)|274 CCC (3d) 353}}{{perONCA|Armstrong JA}}
</ref>
</ref>


; Use of Evidence Discovered on Inventory Search
; 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>
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>
{{CanLIIR|Ahmed|j0sp0|2019 SKCA 47 (CanLII)}}{{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|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>
{{CanLIIR|Nolet|2b8jp|2010 SCC 24 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|Binnie J}}{{atL|2b8jp|53}}{{PCite|[2010] 1 SCR 851}}<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>
{{CanLIIR|Caslake|1fqww|1998 CanLII 838 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|Lamer CJ}}{{atL|1fqww|30}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Caslake|1fqww|1998 CanLII 838 (SCC)|[1998] 1 SCR 51}}{{perSCC|Lamer CJ}}{{atL|1fqww|30}}<br>
</ref>  
</ref>  
However, some authority suggests a statutory power to impound includes a power to tender the fruits of search.<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|Russell|htngc|2018 BCCA 330 (CanLII)|365 CCC (3d) 481}}{{perBCCA|D Smith JA}}<br>
''R v Nicolosi'' (1998), [http://canlii.ca/t/6h03 1998 CanLII 2006] (ON CA), 110 OAC 189 (CA){{perONCA|Doherty JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Nicolosi|6h03|1998 CanLII 2006 (ON CA)|, 110 OAC 189 (CA)}}{{perONCA-H|Doherty JA}}<br>
{{supra1|Wint}}<br>
{{supra1|Wint}}<br>
</ref>
</ref>

Latest revision as of 07:05, 23 July 2024

This page was last substantively updated or reviewed January 2020. (Rev. # 95702)

General Principles

See also: Ancillary Powers Doctrine

Certain provincial vehicle Acts permit an officer to conduct an inventory search of a vehicle that is being impounded.[1] This also applies where a vehicle is being seized due to being parked in an unsafe location.[2]

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:[3]

  • 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.[4] The police should turn their mind to other options besides impounding the vehicle.[5]

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.[6]

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.[7]

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."[8] However, some authority suggests a statutory power to impound includes a power to tender the fruits of search.[9]

  1. ↑ e.g. Highway Traffic Act (ON), s. 172
  2. ↑ R v Russell, 2017 BCPC 60 (CanLII), per Koturbash J - re s. 188 of BC Motor Vehicle Act
  3. ↑ R v Cooper, 2016 BCPC 259 (CanLII), per Cutler J, at para 16
    R v Wint, 2009 ONCA 52 (CanLII), 93 OR 514, per curiam
    R v Nicolosi, 1998 CanLII 2006 (ON CA), 127 CCC (3d) 176, per Doherty JA
    R v Ellis, 2013 ONSC 1494 (CanLII), 278 CRR (2d) 324, per Cambpell J
  4. ↑ R v Harflett, 2016 ONCA 248 (CanLII), 336 CCC (3d) 102, per Lauwers JA
  5. ↑ e.g. R v Martin2012 ONSC 2298(*no CanLII links)
  6. ↑ R v Wint, 2009 ONCA 52 (CanLII), 184 CRR (2d) 57 (leave to appeal to the SCC denied 2009 CanLII 31959), per curiam
  7. ↑ R v Stevens, 2011 ONCA 504 (CanLII), 274 CCC (3d) 353, per Armstrong JA
  8. ↑ R v Ahmed, 2019 SKCA 47 (CanLII), 10 WWR 99, per Barrington-Foote JA, at para 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: ...")
    R v Nolet, 2010 SCC 24 (CanLII), [2010] 1 SCR 851, per Binnie J, at para 53
    R v Caslake, 1998 CanLII 838 (SCC), [1998] 1 SCR 51, per Lamer CJ, at para 30
  9. ↑ R v Russell, 2018 BCCA 330 (CanLII), 365 CCC (3d) 481, per D Smith JA
    R v Nicolosi, 1998 CanLII 2006 (ON CA), , 110 OAC 189 (CA), per Doherty JA
    Wint, supra

See Also

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