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Montreal police ask city to make insults illegal

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/577637

quote:

Montreal police ask city to make insults illegal Jan 26, 2009 06:38 PM ANDY BLATCHFORD THE CANADIAN PRESS MONTREAL � Montreal police have asked the city to empower local officers to crack down on insult-hurling citizens � likely with a blow to their pocketbooks. Mayor Gerald Tremblay said today his public security committee is mulling the request to slap offenders with fines, a suggestion first brought forward by Montreal's police brotherhood. The union wants Tremblay to make it illegal for members of the public to call cops profanity-laced nicknames, or to call them names like ``pig" and "doughnut-eater." "It's something that will be addressed � we know that other cities have passed some bylaws considering that subject," said Tremblay, stressing the city has not made any concrete decisions about banning indignities directed at police. Chief-Insp. Paul Chablo, communications director for Montreal's police force, said lawyers from the department and the city are examining the feasibility of such a rule. "The key factor is ensuring that it becomes a useful tool for the officers involved, but at the same time it doesn't infringe on anybody's rights," he said. Chablo said several municipalities across Quebec � including Quebec City � have some variation of a law that prohibits citizens from spewing slurs at police officers. The 28-year veteran of the force said the law could keep police interventions involving violent citizens from getting out of hand. "There are cases where people are either intoxicated, or for other reasons extremely aggressive and very injurious," he said. "In these cases, this tool might be something that's practical." But while city council digests the demand to prevent civilians from mouthing off at cops, some experts question whether punishing Montrealers for launching jeers infringes on one's right to expression. "There are an awful lot of words that are borderline and it's highly subjective � it's too vague," Ronald Sklar, a McGill University law professor, said of the police union's proposal . "I don't think the police should be any different than anybody else as far as insults go because it doesn't affect their ability to do their duty. "It's questionable policy." Sklar said words can be punishable, but they must threaten bodily harm or incite disorder. Montreal was also expected to pass a motion Monday night to meet another police request. The city is considering a bylaw amendment that would prohibit protesters from covering their faces during demonstrations. Claude Dauphin, Montreal's executive member in charge of public security, said there would be exceptions to the rule. For example, demonstrators would have the right to don headgear resembling a particular politician whose position is the target of a rally, or slip on a ski mask when the temperature dips to -25 C. "But when you're in the month of July, and you wear a ski mask or a gas mask, there might be a problem," he said. "Maybe their intention is not to have a peaceful demonstration." Chablo said police would use common sense in applying the law. "Whenever there's a protest where people cover their faces with masks or any type of cloth, usually it results in violence or there's an intention to commit violence," he said. "It will be applied where there is a high-risk factor." But Sklar said citizens have a right to wear a mask during protests, regardless of what the weather's like. "At a political demonstration, I think there's a right of privacy � I have a right to cover my face if I don't want to be seen," he said.

LOL @ calling a cop "doughnut eater" becoming a punishable offense.

(the 'no covered faces at protests' issue is a semi-interesting debate though)

frenchies..

it would never happen because it would conflict with our fundamental freedom of expression.

I forget where in the states exactly, but some guy wants to make profane language illegal in his town.

There's already a language police there, so what's the diff? Qu'ils s'en vont chier ces ostie de boeufs.

quote:

Originally posted by rT19 frenchies..

squarehead

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Originally posted by Abercrombie There's already a language police there, so what's the diff? Qu'ils s'en vont chier ces ostie de boeufs.

yeah keep spreading bullshit, there's no language police...

I don't see what's the problem, when was the last time anyone of you insulted a policeman???

It's for those punks who need a beating anyways. I really support this idea. Policemen are not animals, they deserve respect like anyone else.

quote:

Originally posted by malek yeah keep spreading bullshit, there's no language police...

Of course there is... I'll give you an example. Lets say you print up an event poster and decide to pin it up on a shop's glass window (where pedestrians can see it). If the flyer isn't perfectly bilingual they are allowed to fine the shop. True story.

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Originally posted by ostrich Of course there is... I'll give you an example. Lets say you print up an event poster and decide to pin it up on a shop's glass window (where pedestrians can see it). If the flyer isn't perfectly bilingual they are allowed to fine the shop. True story.

What he is trying to say, is that sovereigntists don't like the term "Language Police" because it may give the impression that there are people in uniform with guns and batons and arrest people for language infractions, which is wrong, and thus propaganda.

However, it is an socially acceptable term in Quebec, between people and popular media for OQLF inspectors, who indeed are not in uniform, but have the ability to fine businesses who do not follow the language laws. If you search wikipedia for "language police", you get a link to the OQLF.

does this mean I better start posting in french and english in the Montreal Forum.....le crap...time to freshen up on the french I haven't used in 10 years.

quote:

Originally posted by malek Policemen are not animals

what about policewomen?

quote:

Originally posted by malek I don't see what's the problem, when was the last time anyone of you insulted a policeman??? It's for those punks who need a beating anyways. I really support this idea. Policemen are not animals, they deserve respect like anyone else.

Well then I want protection from being called names too. As you've pointed out, police shouldn't be treated any different from a regular human, since, you know, they ARE only human. If they get protection from name-calling, I want it!

quote:

Originally posted by ostrich Of course there is... I'll give you an example. Lets say you print up an event poster and decide to pin it up on a shop's glass window (where pedestrians can see it). If the flyer isn't perfectly bilingual they are allowed to fine the shop. True story.

ignorance is bliss, no one will come to your shop as long as no one complains about it... if a client of yours bitches to the OLF, then someone will call you and let you know about the law, 99% of times people make amend and that's it. Those who keep breaking the law will get fined, nothing surprising there.

quote:

Originally posted by Abercrombie What he is trying to say, is that sovereigntists don't like the term "Language Police" because it may give the impression that there are people in uniform with guns and batons and arrest people for language infractions, which is wrong, and thus propaganda. However, it is an socially acceptable term in Quebec, between people and popular media for OQLF inspectors, who indeed are not in uniform, but have the ability to fine businesses who do not follow the language laws. If you search wikipedia for "language police", you get a link to the OQLF.

Of course wikipedia is now reknown to be an objective source of information.

There's not enough inspectors to begin with for them to just walk around. It is, and has always been, on a complaint basis system.

quote:

Originally posted by Spam Well then I want protection from being called names too. As you've pointed out, police shouldn't be treated any different from a regular human, since, you know, they ARE only human. If they get protection from name-calling, I want it!

well you have it already, search it up.

so, if i see a cop eating a donut, and i call him a donut eater, will i get in trouble?

Re: Montreal police ask city to make insults illegal

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Originally posted by MarkT LOL @ calling a cop "doughnut eater" becoming a punishable offense. (the 'no covered faces at protests' issue is a semi-interesting debate though)

The entire thing is retarded.

You should be able to say what you want, and be subject to existing slander/abuse laws.

If the cops can wear face masks, the protesters should be able to as well. You should be able to protest anonymously for a cause, without having to worry that your boss, or neighbour seeing you, and discriminating against you.

quote:

Originally posted by malek I don't see what's the problem, when was the last time anyone of you insulted a policeman??? It's for those punks who need a beating anyways. I really support this idea. Policemen are not animals, they deserve respect like anyone else.

Agreed, they should have respect, but only if they earn it. If I see a friend acting like a moron, that is what I will call them. If I see a cop acting like a moron, that is what I will call them.

Cops bring on this sort of attention half the time.

we have had a few riots lately where some punks wait for something to happen in the city to break and steal everything... 99% of them are masked and its the same people over and over, cops have a hard time find and arresting them.

I'm sure this bylaw is just an excuse to fine those punks on sight...

quote:

Originally posted by malek we have had a few riots lately where some punks wait for something to happen in the city to break and steal everything... 99% of them are masked and its the same people over and over, cops have a hard time find and arresting them. I'm sure this bylaw is just an excuse to fine those punks on sight...

mtl should just declare martial law and shoot looters on sight

(tongue in cheek)

quote:

Originally posted by Yohan mtl should just declare martial law and shoot looters on sight (tongue in cheek)

they should

Toronto should declare martial law next time there's a snow storm.

Haha this is hilarious that both of these bylaws are issues. Just ridiculous. I'm gonna cover my face and call a cop a donut-eater next time I'm outside

To conform to the OQLF... I think that all insults can be yelled at cops in both English and French, with the French version acceptable if TWICE AS LOUD.

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