Customs Act

Marginal note:Powers of designated officers

• 163.5 (1) In addition to the powers conferred on an officer for the enforcement of this Act, a designated officer who is at a customs office and is performing the normal duties of an officer or is acting in accordance with section 99.1 has, in relation to a criminal offence under any other Act of Parliament, the powers and obligations of a peace officer under sections 495 to 497 of the Criminal Code, and subsections 495(3) and 497(3) of that Act apply to the designated officer as if he or she were a peace officer.

• Marginal note:Impaired driving offences

  (2) A designated officer who is at a customs office and is performing the normal duties of an officer or is acting in accordance with section 99.1 has the powers and obligations of a peace officer under sections 254 and 256 of the Criminal Code and may, on demanding samples of a person’s blood or breath under subsection 254(3) of that Act, require that the person accompany the officer, or a peace officer referred to in paragraph (c) of the definition peace officer in section 2 of that Act, for the purpose of taking the samples.

• Marginal note:Power to detain

  (3) A designated officer who arrests a person in the exercise of the powers conferred under subsection (1) may detain the person until the person can be placed in the custody of a peace officer referred to in paragraph (c) of the definition peace officer in section 2 of the Criminal Code.

• Marginal note:Limitation on powers

  (4) A designated officer may not use any power conferred on the officer for the enforcement of this Act for the sole purpose of looking for evidence of a criminal offence under any other Act of Parliament.