Why are cops exempt from hands-free cell phone law? Don’t tell me it’s because; ” they are operating an authorized emergency vehicle”.
Multi-tasking police on a hand-held cell phone and using in-car police computers while driving through a busy intersection how safe is that? I can talk on a cell phone & drive with no problem, too, so the law shouldn’t apply to me either.
But I guess they are here to protect us. We should obey them. We should give in to them. Do what the police say. They know what is best for us. Just as the politicians know what is best for us. You feel safer already.
— I love bacon
This article appears in Sep 3-9, 2009.
I don’t think they aren’t exempt. Report them.
They most definitely aren’t excempt. You can try reporting them, but I doubt anything will happen. Very few cops give each other tickets.
That’s ridiculous. Some of the police around here think they can do whatever the hell they want, and they can’t.. but they do. Argh.
videotape what you see as proof, if you cant prove it happened…….it never did
Video it and send it to CTV news, plus post it on Y-Tube
I asked a couple of cops if they’re exempt from these laws/rules and they threw me in the tank for being nosey. Just got out now. All I did was go to the store for some OJ; that was 7 hours ago.
Cops are trained to drive at high speeds on city highways even though YOU’RE not permitted to do it. Maybe cops are also outfitted with some kind of training that makes them better able to cope with the stress of multi-tasking (use of wireless devices) in a mobile workplace.
That’s a good point kay. But I’d still feel a lot safer if, while driving at said high speeds, they weren’t subjected to any extra distractions.
Its still illegal, Kay. Cops are no exception.
I highly doubt the cell phones you see the police using are issued by the department or being used for official business. They have radios for that.
Exactly, Miles.
I bet if we cruised down the block with the driver on a lap-top that we’d be arrested and smacked around by the local troopers as well.
It’s highway traffic act, as far as I know. Cops are allowed to do what they want to get the job done. A real “nice” cop told me the way it was while handing me a speeding ticket. His own car was parked on the wrong side of the road (facing the wrong way) right underneath a no parking sign on a residential street with no other cars parked on the other side where parking was permitted. It was “easier” for him to do his job that way (speed trap). And I can’t imagine municipal bylaw dictating their jobs to them if the Highway Traffic Act cannot. I’m curious though. Personally, I want to see cops outfitted with all the tools and methods that make them proficient.
Police are issued cell phones to help them do their job. In regards to the legality of them using them whilst driving…still illegal, but it’s the way she goes…
Kay, regardless of what a cop does, they are obligated to do it within the perimeters of the LAW. Although they are agents of the law, they are not above it like you’re attempting to say they are.
No matter what they say or “how nice” they say it; they’re bound by the same laws as “ordinary citizens”.
You can stop trying to sound like a lawyer anytime.
“”Personally, I want to see cops outfitted with all the tools and methods that make them proficient.”‘
Good idea. Let’s start with IQ tests before they are admitted to the academy for that precious few months of highly specialized “training” that you feel makes them better able to handle stress and to multi-task…(snicker)
Them, we can move on to another type of test – one that police unions and the RCMP have fought against tooth and nail for decades, and that is a “drug test”.
Why is it that pharmacists, nurses and doctors can be asked, under special conditions where they have daily access to drug supplies, to take a drug test…and yet the police, who have as much or more access to illegal drugs as ANYONE in Canada, are almost always exempt!?
Even in the few American cities that HAVE introduced drug testing for their “finest”…the concessions to the unions have been, urine (a few days trace)instead of hair (trace after months)…AND they agreed to test all officers within “one month of their birthday”, thereby giving them 10 months to dip their fat fingers into the evidence lockers…
In addition, there is little or no need for a modern police force to “chase” vehicles at high speeds within city limits…technology and advanced communication including exact sat positions of back-up cruisers/computer routing etc, have made it much easier to safely “intercept” suspects wisely, rather than pull a streets of San Francisco down Agricola…
Many cities have banned deadly high-speed chases for things like “joyriding” or even “grand theft”…what’s the point? Do you want your car back after the suspension’s been thrashed and the engine redlined by some punk being chased…or do you want a new car on the insurance?
Most habitual car thieves are very well-known to police anyway, there is no need for dangerous high-speed chases…other than to stroke egos…
Talk to the courts …and get some of these punks placed into custody…AND (and this is a big AND) reform the “jails” so the little beggars come out with a trade or some sort of education…don’t just throw them in jail to grow meaner and “wiser”…
Frosty said
“(and this is a big AND) reform the “jails” so the little beggars come out with a trade or some sort of education…don’t just throw them in jail to grow meaner and “wiser”…”
And he hits it right on the head.
I would rather pay for them to get a degree, then have them apply the other “skills” they have learned on me.
I can’t tell if Frosty is being serious or not in that post of gobbledygook
Touché yorkke….not some of my finest prose, I agree.
Perhaps there should be those same tests for posters on here…?
I believe section 100d(2) exempts anyone reporting an emergency situation and would surely exempt police, fire truck and ambulance drivers when the call is part of their work duties when pulling over isn’t exactly an option:
100D (1) It is an offence for a person to use a hand-held cellular telephone or engage in text messaging on any communications device while operating a vehicle on a highway.
(2) This Section does not apply to a person who uses a hand-held cellular telephone or other communications device to report an immediate emergency situation.
If the lights aren’t flashing and/or the siren isn’t going then its not really an “emergency”.
There are many occasions where a cop would respond to an urgent situation without lights or siren, ie. trying to catch a person who is currently breaking into a property and the siren/lights could warn them of his arrival. Same goes for someone who is walking along the road or a parking lot checking out vehicles or looking in windows/outbuildings, trying to catch, thiefs, prostitutes or dealers without announcing “i’m coming for ya”. However a call to the spouse or non-urgent work related call can be taken on the side of the road.
VOR, exactly. Plus police Officers in high speed pursuits are also using their radios (which are not hands free) to make report on what street and direction the suspect is going. Since not all patrol cars have two officers that will mean one hand on the radio and one on the steering wheel and yes this is taught at the various academies.
There are exemptions in the MVA to emergency vehicles in some areas such as speed Sec 109, stopping, standing, parking Sec 157, and I’m sure in other areas, if one wants to look.
For those who think getting through a police academy is easy, think again.
Geeze, Fat. I told a TRUE story right from my own first-hand experience and I don’t even like cops (perfer to live in a world WITH cops, however). What d’hell are ya are you goin’ on about now? You’re a real piece of work. I’m sure I’ve met you. You seem to personify all the things I’ve noticed about this town. Are you a bouncer? I’ll bet you are.
As for high speed chases, whatever, cops are trained to drive at high speeds so they can get to their call ASAP. That’s what all the flashy lights are about.
Frosty, stick around. You’re refreshing.
“” I told a TRUE story right from my own first-hand experience…”
Which is apparently frowned upon here at the Coast forums, lol…
It seems to be preferred if you parrot what you’ve heard your mom and dad say…or what you’ve read on t’internet!
We may disagree, Kay, on the need for law enforcement “officials” to speed dangerously through our city streets to catch what is generally someone who has disobeyed them e.g. a ‘joy-rider’, but your input is valid.
I have to agree with Ng Phat though…if the lights aren’t on…it is an offense for coppers to speed. Keep in mind – if they are trying to “sneak up on a perp…as you posit…there’s no need for speed!
I’m familiar with backseat drivers, now we have the joy of backseat lawyers. What a thrill.
I also like the statement ‘I don’t like cops but prefer to live in a world with them.’ Doesn’t get much more asinine than that. Brilliant.
“Brilliant” AND common, asswipe
What a witty retort
It’s easy to have a dislike for a certain group of people, but prefer to live in a world with them. I don’t really like most fundamentalist christian preachers I meet, but if a fear of “god” is the only thing making christians behave, well…I prefer having them around I guess.
Personally, I think we will see a disbanding of the corrupt RCMP as we know them, in the next few years, and the creation of more regional forces. The RCMP can then become the “overseer” of these forces, and specialize in investigating abuse and corruption there.
They will be so bitter and pissed off, that they will make a very good overseer of regional police forces…
I think abortion doctors would prefer there weren’t any christian fundamentalists. As would the families of soldiers who have been killed. And funny you say christian fundamentalists…a certain other religion tends to be more dominant in world affairs.
We will not see break up of the RCMP. Yes there is corruption within the RCMP, but it is small, and compared to other forces across the world, the level of corruption is negligible. There is some small talk about BC not renewing its contract with the RCMP when it ends in 2012, but this is unlikely.