Insulting Montreal Police Officers Soon To Become Illegal.
2 days ago, the Montreal City Council adopted a new by-law prohibiting anyone from intimidating, harassing, threatening, abusing or insulting a police officer or to display toward them an offensive, humiliating, abusive, violent or aggressive behavior.
Offenders face fines between $300 and $1,000 for a first offence. Subsequent offences could result in fines up to $2,000.
This new by-law doesn't just apply to police officers but to anyone working for the city.
Not only can the city fine you, but they could refuse to help you or eject you from city grounds.
So what is considered: intimidating, harassing, threatening, abusing or insulting?
We don't know because these terms are not defined in the by-law and that's a problem.
Quebec city has a similar bylaws and their municipal court judges could not agree on what constitutes an insult.
Yet police officers will soon have the power to issue tickets based on what they feel is an offence even though judges can't see to agree.
The truth is that police officers are supposed to enforce the law not interpret it based on their emotions.
How long do you think it's going to take before more cities in Canada start adopting these same bylaws?
I don't know for you but i'm not ok with this