Charter Rights to Timely Trial Applies to Traffic Court, Judge Rules

A judge has ruled that Canadians’ charter right to a timely trial applies in traffic court, thereby dismissing the case of a man charged with running a red light after prosecutors waited too long to bring the case to trial. “This is a red light camera charge before the Court. It is not a complex matter,” Justice of the Peace Milena Commisso wrote in a July 16 decision. An Oakville, Ont., driver was captured on camera running a red light at an intersection on June 8, 2022, and the driver pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors set the case down for trial on May 23, 2024. Justice Commisso ruled that the delay of more than 23 months had violated section 11.b. of the Charter of Rights that states, “Any person charged with an offence has the right to be tried within a reasonable amount of time.”...