Printable View
Police may ask any questions they need to when investigating an incident. There's several ways to accomplish that without violating civil rights. Things get difficult when questions are asked of someone who knows their rights and decides to exercise them.Quote:
Originally Posted by yellow dog
Thanks for the info trimmer21.Quote:
Originally Posted by trimmer21
Yes, they are trained in and conduct online investigation.Quote:
Originally Posted by GW11
CO's can, cops can't. I had the same thing happen to me in 1998. Went for a walk on an old rail bed. Upon returning to my vehicle I had the white CO truck behind me. I pulled over and was asked if I was hunting. Then I was asked if I had any guns in the vehicle. Even though I said I wasn't hunting or had guns, I asked them if they would like to look inside my vehicle. We both walked around to the back of the my car, I opened the trunk...spotless. The CO just glazed over and didn't say a thing. The silence was deafening. He still wasn't satisfied so he asked me for my 'hunting licence'. He did a background check. That came back clear and I was on my way. The way they acted they were sure they had their man, me. I think it was a case of I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.Quote:
Originally Posted by yellow dog
Keep in mind that there is a difference between inspection and search. Inspection is to ensure compliance. Search is to look for evidence if there is reason to believe an offense has been committed.
The authority comes from the law, not which badge they're wearing. The FWCA grants specific authority to inspect vehicles. Since COs enforce the FWCA and OPP normally don't, cops would rarely if ever exercise that power.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondroid
But I have had my fishing licence checked by an OPP officer, so you never know.
Been a while, but I believe OPP and CO's are designated "Peace Officers" while regular constables are designated "Police Officers". That designation gives them the authority what laws can be enforced by them.
I've yet to ever see a CO in my 20+ years of hunting. I have been in Marlborough forest lately for some rabbit hunting and plan on it again this weekend. Maybe I will pop my CO cherry this weekend? People who obey the law shouldn't have much to worry about, I would gladly allow them to search my vehicle because I know they would never find anything incriminating.
Any police officer has the powers of a CO under the FWCA. So the law gives an OPP officer the same power to stop and inspect a vehicle for FWCA compliance as given a CO. They don't because they have other fish to fry, and they are probably not really up to speed on FWCA questions anyway. But the point remains: the search power comes from the law, not which badge the officer wears.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blutck
Had an OPP check my license a few years ago, he couldn't even figure out where the date of expiry was. If your going to enforce the law it should be a requirement that you know what your looking for. He tried to claim it was expired but it was good for 3 years turned out he didn't hunt or fish and didn't really know the regulations. Essentially he stopped to just try and bug me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by welsh