Trial on drug charges. Vehicle stop. Accused appeared very nervous upon speaking to police, provided odd information regarding his destination, and was driving a rental car that appeared to the officer to be “staged”. Officer then conducted an investigative detention, and a subsequent dog sniff search resulted in the finding of drugs.
Held: No breach of ss. 8 or 9.
The traffic stop (“while not made because of a clear traffic violation”) was lawful as it was conducted pursuant to the Traffic Safety Act. The constellation of factors observed by police justified the investigative detention: MacKenzie, 2013 SCC 50. Further, only a reasonable suspicion is required to justify the use of a dog: Chehil, 2013 SCC 49.
J. Jevning – Defence Counsel