cannabisnews.com: RCMP Reach Settlement With Off-Duty Policeman
RCMP Reach Settlement With Off-Duty Policeman
Posted by CN Staff on January 29, 2005 at 07:44:38 PT
By Rod Mickleburgh
Source: Globe and Mail
Vancouver -- The long arm of a Texas state trooper is long, indeed. Just how long an off-duty Vancouver police officer discovered last summer when he was driving along the highway just beyond Hope, 150 kilometres east of here.Who should wave him over and ask to see his driver's licence and vehicle registration but a tall man with a thick Texan accent?
Yep. Sure as shootin', it was a state trooper from Texas, all right. Constable David Laing, a 10-year veteran with the Vancouver police force, was taken aback. "He thought he'd taken a wrong turn somewhere," his lawyer, Marilyn Sandford, said yesterday, confirming an out-of-court settlement with the RCMP of Constable Laing's claim that his constitutional rights were breached. The amount of the settlement has not been made public. "He was completely astonished."When Constable Laing asked who he was, the Texan trooper, in plain clothes and wearing a traffic vest, said he was "with them," pointing to a group of RCMP officers down the road.Asked whether he was an American, the trooper replied: "Yes, sir," according to Ms. Sandford. Although the RCMP then took over the situation, the Vancouver policeman was aggrieved. He did not identify himself as a police officer and refused to allow his car to be searched. Thirty seconds down the road, Constable Laing was stopped a second time, and yet another trooper from the Longhorn State appeared, again in the company of the RCMP. This time, matters took a more serious turn. The RCMP officer accused him of driving under the influence of marijuana and proceeded to do a thorough search of his car. The state trooper kept Constable Laing at the front of the car while the interior was searched with his two-year-old son inside. No marijuana was found and Constable Laing finally drove off, fuming at the way he was treated and the involvement of Texas troopers on a Canadian highway."As a Canadian I have a different policing style than a Texas trooper," he told CBC News. "We have different freedoms than they do down there. You don't want your police meshing to the point where we start taking on the policies of another police jurisdiction."The two troopers were in B.C. last year as part of an exchange with the RCMP's "pipeline convoy" program that targets criminals using the highway to transport illegal products."We lead the nation in highway drug seizures," said Texas Highway Patrol spokesman Tom Vinger. "[The RCMP] came down here last year to examine our highway patrol drug apprehension program."RCMP spokesman Sergeant John Ward rejected Constable Laing's contention that the state troopers played any role in his roadside incident."They have no authority. They're not in uniform. They don't carry guns and they work under our supervision," he said. He said there would have been no trouble if Constable Laing had not been evasive. Note: Man stopped by Texas trooper in Canada.Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Author: Rod MickleburghPublished: Saturday, January 29, 2005 - Page A6 Copyright: 2005 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.com/CannabisNews Canada Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/Canada.shtml
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Comment #33 posted by FoM on February 03, 2005 at 13:53:09 PT
Oh Canada!
Canadian Drug-Sniffing Dog Will Make House Calls
Thursday, February 03, 2005 By Astrid PoeiTORONTO (Reuters) - A Canadian couple has launched a business offering worried parents or concerned employers private drug-detection services that will search homes and offices for everything from marijuana to heroin.Russ Rathy of Pense, Saskatchewan, started the home-based business, Crusader Resources, along with his wife, after buying a young German shepherd trained to sniff out drugs.The dog, named Alis Vicona, cost C$20,000 ($16,000) and can detect drugs or the residue of drugs in buildings or on clothing, even after 30 days.So far, the couple has had clients that range from concerned parents to curious employers."If you suspect your kids of drug use, this is one way to make sure there's no drugs in the house," Russ Rathy, 39, told Reuters from his home near the western province's capital of Regina."Obviously it gives you a little more leeway rather than waiting for them to become an addict and put them in rehabilitation -- or being picked up by the police and now they have a criminal record and their future is pretty much shot with that."Once the dog detects drugs, Rathy said it is up to the client to decide what the consequences should be."Whether they contact police or flush it down the toilet, it's left up to them," he said. "We'll obviously make recommendations to call authorities."Rathy, who says they started the business more out of parental concerns than a bid to make money, charges only C$20 ($16) for the search of a private home or vehicle.For businesses it costs a bit more, depending on the frequency of searches and the length of the contract.He uses a portion of the business income to fund free drug awareness presentations at schools and non-profit organizations.Copyright: Reuters 2005 http://www.metronews.ca/reuters_national.asp?id=54312
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Comment #32 posted by FoM on January 31, 2005 at 15:53:36 PT
Hiya Hempity!
It's good to see you. Isn't it all a big mess? Things sure have changed since we met many years ago on Ron's board.
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Comment #31 posted by hempity on January 31, 2005 at 15:39:49 PT
Oh CA N A BA
Well after all we are america jr., and will follow the yanks lead, no matter what we have to do.I don't know enough about CARP, I am sure it exists and will find out more....Big Howdy to all you cannabinauts...............mitaoyate,
hempity
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Comment #30 posted by mayan on January 31, 2005 at 03:45:52 PT
What???
"They have no authority. They're not in uniform. They don't carry guns and they work under our supervision," he said.Just what in the hell is going on? The U.S. military is already flexing their muscles up north. Canada will soon be annexed. Too much of what we want up there.
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Comment #29 posted by afterburner on January 30, 2005 at 20:34:26 PT
Prohibition Creates Another Community Hazard
CN BC: Pot Bylaw Beacon For Break-ins: Lawyer.
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n175/a03.html?397
Pubdate: Fri, 28 Jan 2005
Source: Chilliwack Progress (CN BC)
Excerpt:{The city's recently-passed Nuisance, Noxious or Offensive Trades, Health and Safety bylaw says a building inspector "may post a notice .. in a conspicuous place at the entrances" of a property where controlled substances have been found. ...{Ms. Paterson suggests that neighbours living near the homes where notices have been posted are also at risk.{If the criminals don't find what they want in the vacant home, she says, "they can always go next door." {"They ( city officials ) don't care whether they create a hazard in the neighbourhood or not," she says.}
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Comment #28 posted by ekim on January 30, 2005 at 14:59:34 PT
Bali is on the Axis of Evil list right?
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n168/a01.htmlTEARFUL CORBY IN BALI COURT AUSTRALIAN Schapelle Corby wept today when she appeared in a Bali court for the first time on drug smuggling charges, saying she was glad she now had the chance to fight allegations that could lead to the death penalty. Ms Corby, 27, arrived at the Denpasar District Court in a caged police bus. Ms Corby was arrested last October after customs officers at Bali's Denpasar Ngurah Rai Airport found a plastic zip-lock bag containing 4.1kg of cannabis leaf and heads in her unlocked boogie-board bag. She has consistently maintained her innocence, claiming somebody must have planted the pillowcase-sized stash in her luggage between Brisbane and Denpasar airports.
http://www.leap.cc/events
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Comment #27 posted by afterburner on January 30, 2005 at 07:16:59 PT
Cakewalk to Baghdad
Funny song, even funnier than the title. It nicely encapsulates the naive hubris that started the war and the terrible results of that decision. It captures in song the concerns I had, and many here had, in the days leading up to the so-called "shock and awe" spectacle.
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on January 29, 2005 at 18:00:02 PT
The Sounds of Silence
I just want to say something about the voting in Iraq which will start soon. This is very serious. I don't wish for any particular outcome but I know how bad it could go. Our news is slow so we are watching the news on tv and keeping as informed as possible. The sounds of silence are almost deafening as we wait to see what happens. I just hope that we might listen a little to Senator Kennedy and start bringing our troops home as soon as we can after this election is complete. I'll keep looking for news to post but there might not be anymore tonight. Let's hope this day wakes up the world and we can figure out how not to go in deeper then we are already.
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Comment #25 posted by The GCW on January 29, 2005 at 15:52:44 PT
Give the cops 2 guard dogs each...
We do need police dogs...Sometimes I wonder if the dog should be held responsible for failing to control the officer.Let's teach the dog to stop the cop, when the cop goes past Our rights; they see a breach and go for the arm... Society forces the criminals to be the cops and then they are all tagged with a dog that guards them. (The thick Texas talking troopers in Cannada get 2) Think about it... How do We lovingly treat criminals that really do harm innocent people? Every case may be different, but in some instances, making them police officers, really serving and protecting citizens could change many thugs...But seriously, change the dog's curriculum.420 or so,US FL: Ocala Man Mistakenly Attacked By Police DogPubdate: Sat, 29 Jan 2005 Source: Star-Banner, The (FL)Man Says Officer Didn't Control Dog OCALA - A man was mistakenly bitten by an Ocala Police dog Friday, an attack he says was caused by poor training and a lack of professionalism. ......It is unclear if officers did anything wrong. http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n164/a09.html?397This is the second investigation Buchbinder has been involved in. In March 2002, he, along with Cpl. Roger Wissinger, were investigated for wrongly entering a West Ocala home and pepper spraying a family. The investigation concluded that Buchbinder's use of pepper spray against the three angry family members was justified, while Wissinger was told he improperly entered the home without a warrant. ???(Is that all; he was told???)???Children's schools will be hawked by sharks & court dates, sniffing for more of this as the germ grows.Gang green and You will pay.The Green Collar Worker
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Comment #24 posted by FoM on January 29, 2005 at 13:35:03 PT
afterburner
You will enjoy it. It's a good song. Have a nice day at work!
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Comment #23 posted by afterburner on January 29, 2005 at 13:28:50 PT
Cakewalk to Baghdad Funny Funny LOL FoM
I'll listen later. I have to go to work soon.
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on January 29, 2005 at 13:17:41 PT
Off Topic: Because of Iraq Being in The News
Cakewalk to Baghdadhttp://www.countryjoe.com/cakewalk.ramhttp://www.countryjoe.com/cjb.htm#cakewalk
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on January 29, 2005 at 12:49:44 PT
afterburner
Your post made me stop and listen to Be The Rain. Music is good for us.
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Comment #20 posted by afterburner on January 29, 2005 at 12:33:59 PT
I'm So Mad I Could Sing!!!
IN A BIG COUNTRY http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/i/inabigcountry.shtmlYoung Rascals - People Got To Be Free LYRICS
http://www.lyricsdownload.com/young-rascals-people-got-to-be-free-lyrics.htmlNEIL YOUNG LYRICS - Southern Man
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/neilyoung/southernman.html
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Comment #19 posted by Hope on January 29, 2005 at 12:24:15 PT
Thank you, FoM
I appreciate that.
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Comment #18 posted by drfistusa on January 29, 2005 at 11:54:00 PT
The Canadian Cop should of arrested the Texan
impresonating an officer, illegal search and purgery for claiming to smell the evil weed. Also threats and interference with a valid police officer.
Western Buddhism = Scythien Buddhism
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on January 29, 2005 at 10:50:37 PT
Hope
I want you to know that our fear of Texas has no reflection on you. I don't want you to take it personally. Because of how my state voted we now have 4 more years of Bush and it really bums me out. I only live here but don't think like a red state. Where we live is not who we are. I hope you understand that it isn't personal and you are appreciated here.
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on January 29, 2005 at 10:40:59 PT
Sam
I looked but couldn't find it on my channels but I'll pay attention because I am totally involved in anything concerning ancient history. I have watched The Da Vinci Code about 4 times so far. What is true and what is not? History helps us to put it in order.
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on January 29, 2005 at 10:33:11 PT
The GCW and Everyone
Here's the link to the mentioned web site.http://www.notinourname.net/index.html
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on January 29, 2005 at 10:14:00 PT
Truth
Thank you. I went ahead and archived the article.http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread20177.shtml
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Comment #13 posted by The GCW on January 29, 2005 at 10:11:39 PT
Effects.
Anti-war ad goes “missing” NEW YORK — An ad, confirmed by The New York Times and paid for by a well-known U.S. anti-war group, did not appear as scheduled on Jan. 21. According to the group Not In Our Name, their “statement of conscience” had been timed to appear the day after Pres. George W. Bush’s inauguration.The Times advertising department claimed to be “deeply surprised by this,” according to the group, and noted that it had never happened before. On the same day as the ad was to appear, The Times printed an editorial saying that now should be a time of acceptance for the U.S. president.Not In Our Name called it unacceptable that a paid ad, accepted and slotted to run, wasn’t published, adding that this is another way of “marginalizing and rendering relatively invisible the voices of conscience and dissent.”Posted January 28, 2005http://www.vermontguardian.com/dailies/0904/0128.shtml#article2
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Comment #12 posted by Sam Adams on January 29, 2005 at 10:05:53 PT
So primitive
Let's hope that Canadians are less apathetic than Americans, only civic involvement can stop us from turning Canada into another police state. Any Canadian should be horrified at US law enforcement up there. What a joke - America has the most crime of any civilized country! By a factor of 10! Why on Earth would Canada want a Texas cop up there? Texas is a murder capital.I was watching the "Medicci" story on PBS again last night. History is fascinating to me - this whole battle that we're in right now has roots in ancient tradition. For hundreds and hundreds of years, the Catholic Church was the ONLY source of "the truth". Men and women were ruled by blind dogma, not science or logic. We finally struggled out of the Dark Ages into the Renaissance, and the Pope was kicking and screaming and fighting to keep humanity primitive all the way!After watching this show, it's hard to believe any sane person would be a Catholic, or even stand for the Pope visiting this country. Galileo watched his other scientist friends burned alive by the Catholics for publishing the real truth. Galileo's career was ended by the Pope. One of the greatest minds ever produced by humanity ended his life in poverty and house arrest, imprisoned by the Pope.It's very similar to today. The scientific and natural truth of cannabis is being suppressed by the Government. To me it's shocking how much the feds have taken over the role of the Vatican. And I'm sure they'll be quite happy to lead us into another Dark Ages, probably this time through environmental armeggedeon.Nothing really changes - the Bush administration continues to try to change the truth about things like the greenhouse effect, cannabis, war in the Mideast. It's so primitive. This lying and hypocrisy is nothing new, this is an ancient story of human exploitation. Definitely try to catch the "Medicci" series on PBS if you can.
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Comment #11 posted by Truth on January 29, 2005 at 09:54:17 PT
off topic
Here's a good one....http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Jan-29-Sat-2005/news/25758576.html
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on January 29, 2005 at 09:47:59 PT
Why Are They Doing This
Texas is a scary state and I am so glad I don't live there. What gives them the right to invade another country with Texas cops? Oops sorry we are good at invading other countries.
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Comment #9 posted by Max Flowers on January 29, 2005 at 09:45:54 PT
Oops
I meant the second sentence.
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Comment #8 posted by Max Flowers on January 29, 2005 at 09:44:55 PT
A very interesting phrase
from the first sentence: "...just beyond Hope"There have to be Candian laws against police officers from other COUNTRIES operating in Canada, out of their jurisdiction. That was an illegal act.
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Comment #7 posted by goneposthole on January 29, 2005 at 09:36:35 PT
It's the freedom, stupid
The Vancouver police officer should have dropped his drawers and bent over for that Texas snooper.Actually, traveling in these United States is a risky business anymore. I travel once in a while to neighboring states and that's all. Canada is a much safer place to travel. Texas is out of the question.It's the end of freedom and the re-birth of tyranny. You can search some of the people all of the time. You can search all of the people some of the time, but you can't search all of the people all of the time.BC will have checkpoints like Baghdad, or maybe has them already.Police states are fun. And besides, it's for your own good. Stop your whining. Cheer up, things could get worse. So I cheered up and sho' nuff, things got worse.
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on January 29, 2005 at 09:01:02 PT
Keyword: WORK...he was working there!
"They have no authority. They're not in uniform. They don't carry guns and they work under our supervision," he said.
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on January 29, 2005 at 08:56:28 PT
Ride along
If this were just a situation of a trooper from Texas doing a "ride along" with an RCMP officer...why was his voice ever heard in the stops? Constable Liang should have never heard the troopers "twang" if the guy was just riding and observing.My ex-husband once went on a "ride along" with a Texas State Trooper friend of ours, years and years ago. He never spoke with anyone the trooper stopped. Why would he?The situation stinks to high heaven. What about all the non-leos that were stopped by this combination made in hell? I feel like anyone but a member of the law enforcement "community" would likely have been ignored had they complained about the "alien" "oppressing" them and their child.This isn't a "mole hill".
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Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on January 29, 2005 at 08:55:01 PT:
LOL It's a riot!
Hehehehehehe! I must have laughed a solid minute before I had to stop.But one thing needs to be made clear : the Boomer population is aging, and with that, come all the problems that cannabis can ameliorate. So the fictional T-Shirt Mr. Novelli was (not) wearing is no less true for being fiction. Most of the Boomers know the truth about cannabis. And they grew up during the 1960's and 70's, Viet nam, Watergate, Iran/Contra and all the scandals that have since taken place, and know Uncle lies for the practice. The time is approaching when cannabis derived meds will be commercially available, but like Marinol, will be too expensive for most. With Social Security and Medicare (let's face it) on their way out, the cost of prescription meds will skyrocket as the Republican's corporate backers want them to. Oldsters won't be able to afford what they need for their aches and pains, and pain specialists will be hounded to extinction in this country by the DEA.The obvious deduction that you could grow your own pain meds cheaper than buying them will become clearer. Push will come to shove when the middle aged demand to know why they have to pay so much for something that would be dirt cheap if legal. The answer will force either relegalization or a change in the form of government we presently have. Because one thing we Boomers aren't known for is patience.
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on January 29, 2005 at 08:32:26 PT
Please, Canadians.
Raise every kind of hell you can raise over this. Please!I feel like an abused child trying to save another child from my abusive "Uncle".Please, please scream bloody murder about this invasion. Please.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on January 29, 2005 at 08:31:50 PT
For a Good Laugh!
AARP Throws Support to Legalized Marijuana
Written by Phil Maggitti WASHINGTON - The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) will sponsor a smoke-in to promote the group’s campaign to legalize marijuana. The weekend event, called the Great American Pot Luck Festival, will be held at Daytona International Speedway in Florida, February 25-27. Sponsors include Grecian Formula, Cialis, Fixodent, Beano, Depends, and Correctol with Stool Softener.AARP’s chief executive officer, William Novelli, held a press conference in the group’s Washington, D.C., office yesterday to publicize the event. Wearing a T-shirt that read “We Smoke and We Vote,” Novelli told reporters, "People who think the AARP is a haven for old windbags that sit around comparing HMOs or discussing their bowel movements are in for a surprise. According to a recent survey, nearly three-quarters of our members use marijuana on a regular basis not only to alleviate pain from a variety of ailments but also to relax after the grandkids go home. We can no longer afford to sit around stoned while the government makes criminals out our members."Country music legend Willie Nelson will headline the festival, which will be hosted by Woody Harrelson. Among the other performers scheduled to appear are Bette Midler, Santana, Chicago, David Crosby and Graham Nash, Rod Stewart, The New Jefferson Starship, Tony Orlando, Ringo Starr, the Fire House Polka Brigade, and Close to You, a Carpenters tribute band.In addition to the stellar entertainment lineup, the festival will feature arts-and-crafts workshops, bingo tents, lottery and term life insurance machines, and vendors offering the finest in gluten-free rolling papers, marijuana suppositories, pressure-free roach clips, and other paraphernalia.AARP is also sponsoring a pot luck cooking contest open to anyone attending the festival. Entries will be judged on their creative use of marijuana in a casserole, stew, or dessert. A lifetime subscription to AARP Magazine, formerly known as Modern Maturity, will be awarded to the winner. The contest will be judged by Tommy Chong, Snoop Dogg, Ricky Williams, and Robert Downey Jr.Novelli said he expects more than 50,000 people to attend the festival. The campground will open Monday February 21 at noon. Advanced life support and Medivac units will be available through the weekend, as will free blood-pressure monitoring and diabetes screening. Concerts will begin promptly at 4:20 each afternoon. All activities and rest rooms at the festival will be wheel chair accessible. http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s2i7319
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on January 29, 2005 at 08:22:28 PT:
O, Ca-na-da! Do you smell something familiar?
Say...the smell of someone's civil rights burning? Used to be you only smelled such things wafting up occasionally from the South. Happens here all the time. But now? The wind isn't blowing from the South, but you still smell rights burning. (Sniff, sniff) Hmmm. Must be awfully close, eh?More proof of the eventual anschluss that will envelop Canada in Uncle's corrupt grasp:*Although the RCMP then took over the situation, the Vancouver policeman was aggrieved. He did not identify himself as a police officer and refused to allow his car to be searched.*So...he is within his rights - as we used to be, before this damnable dog business happened with the Supremes - to refuse a search. All well and good. But then?*Thirty seconds down the road, Constable Laing was stopped a second time, and yet another trooper from the Longhorn State appeared, again in the company of the RCMP. This time, matters took a more serious turn. The RCMP officer accused him of driving under the influence of marijuana and proceeded to do a thorough search of his car.*On what basis? His nervous shock at being accosted by a Texan acting as if he were legally entitled to act as a policemen in Canada? I think you'd have to pick my jaw up off the road before someone ran over it if a Mountie stopped me on the DC Beltway and tried to do the same thing. I'd be just as flabbergasted.But then, it gets worse:*RCMP spokesman Sergeant John Ward...said there would have been no trouble if Constable Laing had not been evasive.**Evasive*. Standing on your rights to reject an unwarranted search is 'evasive'. Not being a 'good citizen'. Not rolling over and wetting yourself on command is not showing proper civic responsibility. THIS IS THE MINDSET OF AMERICAN POLICING AT WORK!. (Only zee kilty need fear! Jawohl!) Canada, you've been warned. Fail to heed the warning, fail to demand an inquiry, fail to muzzle your police, and you may as well take down that pretty red and white flag RIGHT NOW.
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