Impaired driving charges are being tossed out of court by the dozens because York Region police are apparently not following a judge's orders.
Police typically erase video footage taken from cameras throughout their detachments after 60 days.
However, those tapes are often used as evidence in impaired driving charges as the demeanor of the accused can often be seen on the tape as they walk through the halls. The tape could be used as evidence if the accused is seen either stumbling or appearing sober, The Globe and Mail reported.
Last April, a provincial court judge ruled that erasing the videotapes is a "systematic disregard for the prosecution's obligations of disclosure."
Peter Lindsay, a defence lawyer, told The Globe and Mail Tuesday he has had three impaired charges thrown out of court in the past eight days because of the lack of videotaped evidence. Lindsay said he's had dozens of cases thrown out in the past because of that same reason.
