Know your rights - and excercise them

[Vlad]

This is an American site, but I found it a very interesting source of information about your rights when dealing with the police, especially when it comes to searches of one's person or property:

Flex Your Rights

Very interesting comments and testimonials too.

[Rob MacLennan]

You'd be better off posting a Canadian site. No point in reinforcing the incorrect information from American TV.

http://www.settlement.org/sys/faqs_d...faq_id=4000663

[Vlad]

You'd be better off posting a Canadian site. No point in reinforcing the incorrect information from American TV.

http://www.settlement.org/sys/faqs_d...faq_id=4000663

I didn't know there was a Canadian site, thanks. Why is that American information incorrect? I supposed just saying "I do not consent..." cannot hurt in almost any civilized country.

[MarcosSantiago]

This is an American site, but I found it a very interesting source of information about your rights when dealing with the police, especially when it comes to searches of one's person or property:

Flex Your Rights

Very interesting comments and testimonials too.

Oh yeah, great site.

BTW, I posted the link to it a couple of years ago, when someone had an interesting chat with an OPP officer

http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum...4&postcount=44

[Rob MacLennan]

I didn't know there was a Canadian site, thanks. Why is that American information incorrect? I supposed just saying "I do not consent..." cannot hurt in almost any civilized country.

There are minor variations between Canada and Us law; frequently enough to cause difficulty when trying to be a roadside lawyer.

[Vlad]

There are minor variations between Canada and Us law; frequently enough to cause difficulty when trying to be a roadside lawyer.

Good to know. I found the general "respectful denial" approach advocated by the site harmless and universally applicable. Asking for a lawyer is not the same as playing one yourself. You can always ask the officer to confirm or deny your rights anyway ("Am I free to go now?"). Can't see anything wrong with asking whether I'm obliged by the law to allow them to enter, open or do something when they ask for it. "Do I have a legal obligation to allow you to search my car/bike/home/pockets officer?"

It's about not being bamboozled or intimidated into waving your rights. "I do not consent..." won't mean anything if my rights are not offended and the officer will face no physical threat or resistance from me in any event.

[tiger]

or its just a sales pitch to convince you to always call a lawyer, regardless of the situation. Not everybody has deep enough pockets to be able to have a lawyer on speed dial.

[eastcoast_gsx]

or its just a sales pitch to convince you to always call a lawyer, regardless of the situation. Not everybody has deep enough pockets to be able to have a lawyer on speed dial.

The law applies to everyone... not just lawyers... You simply have to know a little to make sure you don't get screwed or do... depending on how much you know.

[videosilva]

How is some one that is Paid to protect you end up being the one you need protection from ?

[eastcoast_gsx]

How is some one that is Paid to protect you end up being the one you need protection from ?

Paid by us to boot.... the world works in mysterious ways...

[Smokeandapancake]

How is some one that is Paid to protect you end up being the one you need protection from ?

The police are not paid to protect you.

[Smokeandapancake]

Paid by us to boot.... the world works in mysterious ways...

The best line.... `I pay your salary`. Usually said by somebody who is on welfare and lives in government housing.

[GooseYZF]

How is some one that is Paid to protect you end up being the one you need protection from ?

Protection from what?? Unlawful search and seizure of the guns or drugs you're carrying? I don't carry any so search away. If you do maybe that's the problem......

[Rob MacLennan]

Protection from what?? Unlawful search and seizure of the guns or drugs you're carrying? I don't carry any so search away. If you do maybe that's the problem......

A variation on, "If you've got nothing to hide, then why worry?" That's a poor substitute for being secure in your personal freedoms. It's also a primary reason for the erosion of personal liberty in the "Defender of Freedom" (tm) to the south. After all, why should you care if the government is bugging your phone, if you aren't a terrorist?

[motley]

The police are not paid to protect you.

Yep, they get paid to eat donuts and wrestle every nickle they can from the pockets of road users. B^D

Check the words on the banner here http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/

Your post has me a little confused now

[Vlad]

http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/2008/06/27.html#a2910

"Sometimes people say I shouldn't mind being searched if I have nothing to hide. I immediately accuse them of having a swastika tattooed on their genitalia -- if they have nothing to hide, then surely they shouldn't mind dropping their pants to prove me wrong."

[MarcosSantiago]

Vlad, as I said, it is a great site... it's a sure conversation-starter...

[ddusseld]

What are they paid to do? It seems to me the fundamental purpose of the police is to serve and protect? Has this changed?

The police are not paid to protect you.

[wykydtron]

The best line.... `I pay your salary`. Usually said by somebody who is on welfare and lives in government housing.

"Don't worry, this one is on me" should shut them right up.

[short stop]

Yep, they get paid to eat donuts and wrestle every nickle they can from the pockets of road users. B^D

Check the words on the banner here http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/

Your post has me a little confused now

You *do* realize that police do more than enforce the HTA? Or do you conveniently ignore that so that you can ***** about getting traffic tickets?