4 ms·

Can you find where they said that? Because their press release says otherwise: https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?page=2&newsId=1bc1b5ab-51e3-4

by rpeden 5y ago

Can you find where they said that? Because their press release says otherwise: https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?page=2&newsId=1bc1b5ab-51e3-4860-8937-b181d4475989 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?page=2&n... As noted in the release, blocking a public road the way they've been doing seems to be a violation of section 423(g) of the Criminal Code: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-423.html https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-423.ht... Note that the Criminal Code defines "highway" as "a road to which the public has the right of access, and includes bridges over which or tunnels through which a road passes." There's also mischief - section 430(1)(c): https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-430.html https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-430.ht... They've certainly interfered with Centretown residents' lawful enjoyment of their property. Not to mention Highway Traffic Act violations. Plus other Criminal Code violations for the train horns (and while we're at it, even by-law violations). The reality is that the Ottawa Police have had plenty of tools at their disposal but have chosen not to. I don't mean to blame the individual officers - I've seen quite a few of them on the live streams trying their best. I see it more as a failure of leadership. And I get that during a protest, it's better for police to err on the side of not nailing people for every infraction they can. But it seems like they have the tools to do a lot of than they've done - and have had these tools available since the beginning. Also, in fairness - it could be they have intel about weapons like the ones the RCMP seized at the Alberta blockade today. That would explain their reluctance, and would mean they are really stuck between a rock and a hard place because if they step up enforcement and kick off an armed conflict, they'll get blamed for that, too. So it might be a bit of a no-win situation. But if that's the case, it's not very visible from the outside - making the whole situation understandably frustrating for citizens who feel like they are paying $350mil a year and not getting enough protection in return.

6nf 5y ago
The roads are not blocked, the truckers have kept lanes open for emergency vehicles etc. The police have begged repeatedly for people to report lawbreaking to them so they can arrest more people.
- slothtrop 5y ago
  Scapegoated you mean. There's been no shortage of pleading and complaints from residents, police refuse to comply. To call it "begging" on the police's behalf is a farce.
  - 6nf 5y ago
    Police have limited powers to act on public complaints. You can't arrest people that have not broken any laws. Begin annoying is not illegal.
    - slothtrop 5y ago
      > You can't arrest people that have not broken any laws. Train horns in residential areas, let alone at night, are against the law. Harassment is against the law. Parking vehicles in intersections is against the law. Do I need to go on? Stop pretending this isn't what residents are taking issue with, no one gives a fuck about protesting in and of itself.
      - 6nf 5y ago
        I'm not pretending anything. All I'm saying is that honking horns is not an arrestable offense. Parking in intersections is not an arrestable offense. These are tickets and fines.
        AnimalMuppet 5y ago
        Refusing to move out of the intersection, for weeks, probably is arrestable. They'll find something to charge you with. Refusal to disperse, if nothing else.
        rpeden 5y ago
        It probably requires less than weeks to qualify for an intimidation charge per section 423(1)(g): https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-423.html https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-423.ht... Highway, in this context, means any public road. Early on, you could maybe argue you came to protest and there was really nowhere else to park. But after a few days, given the convoy's stated intent was to shut down Ottawa, it's difficult to argue that you're not trying to make residents abstain from their lawful right to drive down Kent St. or Wellington St if you're still blocking the roads when there are plenty of other places you could park and then walk or bus to the hill to protest.

by rpeden 5y ago

6nf 5y ago

The roads are not blocked, the truckers have kept lanes open for emergency vehicles etc. The police have begged repeatedly for people to report lawbreaking to them so they can arrest more people.

slothtrop 5y ago
Scapegoated you mean. There's been no shortage of pleading and complaints from residents, police refuse to comply. To call it "begging" on the police's behalf is a farce.
- 6nf 5y ago
  Police have limited powers to act on public complaints. You can't arrest people that have not broken any laws. Begin annoying is not illegal.
  - slothtrop 5y ago
    > You can't arrest people that have not broken any laws. Train horns in residential areas, let alone at night, are against the law. Harassment is against the law. Parking vehicles in intersections is against the law. Do I need to go on? Stop pretending this isn't what residents are taking issue with, no one gives a fuck about protesting in and of itself.
    - 6nf 5y ago
      I'm not pretending anything. All I'm saying is that honking horns is not an arrestable offense. Parking in intersections is not an arrestable offense. These are tickets and fines.
      - AnimalMuppet 5y ago
        Refusing to move out of the intersection, for weeks, probably is arrestable. They'll find something to charge you with. Refusal to disperse, if nothing else.
        rpeden 5y ago
        It probably requires less than weeks to qualify for an intimidation charge per section 423(1)(g): https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-423.html https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-423.ht... Highway, in this context, means any public road. Early on, you could maybe argue you came to protest and there was really nowhere else to park. But after a few days, given the convoy's stated intent was to shut down Ottawa, it's difficult to argue that you're not trying to make residents abstain from their lawful right to drive down Kent St. or Wellington St if you're still blocking the roads when there are plenty of other places you could park and then walk or bus to the hill to protest.