R. v. Ladouceur: Can Police Stop Your Car at Random?

In R. v. Hufsky (1988) and R. v. Ladouceur (1990), the Supreme Court of Canada considered random traffic stops.

What happened

In Hufsky, police stopped a driver at a fixed spot check. In Ladouceur, police stopped a driver at random while on patrol, and found he was driving while suspended.

What the court decided

• A random stop is a detention and, without grounds, an arbitrary one under section 9 of the Charter.
• But it is a reasonable limit under section 1, because random stops help keep unlicensed, uninsured and impaired drivers off the road.

The limits

• The stop must be for traffic safety purposes, such as licence, registration, insurance, mechanical fitness and sobriety.
• Police need proper grounds to search you or your vehicle beyond those checks.
• Your rights on detention, including the right to a lawyer when it applies, still matter.

Mandatory alcohol screening

Since 2018, the Criminal Code allows police who have lawfully stopped a driver to demand a roadside breath sample, even without suspicion.

What it means for you

Stay calm, provide your licence, ownership and insurance, and know your rights. If you think a stop went too far, write down what happened and get advice.

Sources

• R. v. Ladouceur, 1990 CanLII 108 (SCC)
• R. v. Hufsky, 1988 CanLII 72 (SCC)
• Highway Traffic Act, s. 48 and s. 216

Read next: Lévis v. Tétreault: 'Nobody Told Me' Isn't a Defence

General Ontario legal information, not legal advice for your matter, and reading it does not create a retainer. Sources checked 15 October 2026: check the current law, forms and dates before you act.

Photos from Pexels: Driving down a tree-lined road at dusk · A car dashboard on an open road.

This article is general information for people in Ontario, not legal advice. Rules, forms and deadlines change, and every situation is different. Check the current rule or speak to a licensed legal professional before you act.