In this episode of Driving Law, Kyla Lee and Paul Doroshenko examine a major Toronto police corruption scandal, a new BC Court of Appeal ruling on cellphone use while driving, and what both reveal about accountability, discretion, and the rule of law in Canada.
The episode begins with a discussion of allegations against multiple Toronto police officers accused of abusing police databases, working with organized crime, and participating in serious criminal activity. Kyla and Paul explain how unrestricted access to driver and insurance databases creates opportunities for misconduct, and why meaningful oversight is essential to maintaining public trust in policing.
They then turn to a recent BC Court of Appeal decision confirming that holding a cellphone while driving constitutes “use” under the Motor Vehicle Act. The court rejected the argument that briefly picking up a phone is harmless, while leaving open a narrow possibility that a necessity defence could succeed on very different facts. The discussion highlights how difficult it is for self represented drivers to navigate traffic court and appeal processes.
The episode closes with a Ridiculous Driver of the Week involving mechanics caught driving customers’ vehicles at extreme speeds on Highway 1, resulting in vehicle impoundments and serious consequences for drivers who were not even behind the wheel.
Stream the full episode for the complete discussion and practical takeaways.
