Know your rights

Today there was an announcement that the Canadian government will be giving Thailand's police force seven million dollars. This really burns my ass. Meanwhile the national police force here at home doesn't even know Canadian law. I guess we can't afford to train the Thai police AND our own.

OK, yeah yeah, I got another speeding ticket recently. I asked the officer to show me some identification.  His first response was that he did not carry any and that officers on duty typically don't. ????  So I politely informed him that it is the law that he must carry picture ID and a badge and that it is my right to ask to see it. He goes back to his vehicle to prepare my ticket. After what seemed like about 20 times what it would take to write a ticket he returns to my vehicle to present me with my tax bill for driving over the posted limit. This time he brought a grouchy little friend with him.

I asked again to please see some ID and a badge. The grouchy fellow asks me why I think I have the right to make such a request. I let him know it's the law. I get the same answer I always do in this situation, "Uniform, stripe on the leg, gun on the hip, police car. What more identification do you need?" I always come back with same reply, "A badge with a number on it that matches your picture ID." Finally the first officer shows me his badge and ID. He says this is so " We can all go home having had a pleasant experience". ???? I'm sure he didn't want a report filed that he was negligent in his duty as a Peace Officer. That is a criminal offense. I won't bother with letting their superiors know what rude, lying bastards these officers were. I'm just satisfied with knowing that two more cops are aware that one more citizen knows his rights and will insist upon them being honored.

Please, please, always be courteous in these situations. I don't want anyone to get hurt. If things seem to be escalating, just back off. It's not worth getting beat by some cop. There's enough of that already. I do however urge everyone to learn what their rights are and start insisting on them. Our rights and freedoms are being taken away with alarming speed these days. We have to do what we can to ensure we keep them. Once they are gone, we will not be getting them back very easily.