A Saskatchewan woman who refused to provide a breath sample after being stopped by police in Regina did not break the law – as the officer’s request was deemed not lawful given the circumstances.
On the crisp autumn morning of Sept. 20, 2023, Victoria Kopperud arrived at her workplace in north Regina after a long commute down Highway 6.
Pulling into her usual parking spot, she was quickly boxed in by an RCMP cruiser which had been following her.
The officer, Cst. Rinholm, was responding to a reported impaired driver and initiated a traffic stop.
He confirmed Kopperud’s name, vehicle registration and other details – ending off by demanding a breath sample.
According to court documents, when she questioned his authority, he responded bluntly, saying:
“So, in Saskatchewan, if I find you driving a vehicle, I can make a demand that you provide a breath sample – ok – I …