Canvasback's expansion of some things that can happen is true, and I've read of similar abuse of authority incidents in the USA. There are three additional points, however, that can also be highly useful.
1. The vast majority of these incidents have failed to stand in court, establishing a growing list of precedents.
2. Many of these incidents should have been followed up with a formal complaint to Police Services. I know from personal discussions with an officer who had just a frivolous complaint filed against him that the officers do not like these complaints at all, and there is always an investigation.
3. A civil suit can be filed that can really send a message. Your chances in a civil suit are high and made higher if the Police Services rules that the officer should not have laid the charge.
It helps if one has a copy of the Criminal Code for, say, storage laws, shows it to the officer and asks where the violation has occurred. He may have no reply and lay the charge anyway, but the repercussions from Police Services and in a civil court will be ramped up accordingly.
Last edited by KirkD; 02/28/12 05:20 PM.
