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Montreal adopts bylaw banning insults against police, municipal employees

80 points · 84 comments · MC995

  1. lokar · · focus · HN ↗
    This kind of thing is concerning, but I think there is a place for rules like this.

    You already see this in many public businesses. Front line workers should not have to endure abuse from the public.

    But, the standard for sworn officers should be much higher.

    1. tancop · · focus · HN ↗
      Abusing employees in a business is already banned. Harassment by verbal abuse and you can get criminal penalties if it's serious enough. Threats and false allegations are also illegal. There are existing laws for all the serious cases.

      Criminalizing an insult is not the same thing at all. This law could get people fined for saying some cop is racist or even things not aimed at a specific person like wearing a fuck the police shirt. And insults are subjective so it's all up to the prosecutor and judge, who might side with the police by default when the evidence is unclear.

      1. lokar · · focus · HN ↗
        Yeah, I don’t like what the article describes.

        It should not be criminalized. The first offense should just be getting kicked out of the DMV office or whatever. If you keep doing it then they should have some way to ban you until you pay a fine, or post a bond or something.

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