Canadian Cops Make Montreal Man Show ID, and Ticket Him for Singing in His Car

[SeaBreeze]

I saw a bit about this on a morning TV show today, and couldn't believe it. This man was singing along to a song in his car, and he was singing loudly. The cops forced him to show his ID and ticketed him for "screaming" in public, even though his was in his own vehicle. I hope he wins when he fights this ticket, what are your thoughts? More HERE. I was telling my husband about it later on, and singing the popular song (the 6 words I know ), he was just laughing about the whole thing and shaking his head.

A Montreal man who got a $149 ticket for belting out a song in his car says he’s shocked and upset.

Taoufik Moalla, 38, says Montreal police have no business punishing him for doing nothing more than singing along to one of his favourite songs — in his own car.

Moalla, a father of two, was a few metres from his St-Laurent home on Sept. 27 when he saw a police car pull up behind him on Ste-Croix Ave. He was driving to the grocery story to buy water and had popped a 1990s dance track — C+C Music Factory’s Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) — into his CD player.

“They asked me if I was screaming. I said, ‘No, I was singing,’ ” Moalla said. “I was singing the refrain ‘Everybody Dance Now,’ but it wasn’t loud enough to disturb anyone.”


A few minutes later, Moalla said the police gave him back his driver’s licence, car registration, plus a $149 ticket for “screaming in a public place.”


As far as Moalla is concerned, a private car is not the same as a public space. It’s one thing to verify that nothing is amiss with a driver, Moalla said. “But to give me a ticket for that is a bit strange. I wasn’t screaming, I was singing. In my car.”


Moalla says he has contested the ticket and is waiting to hear back.


Montreal police were not commenting on the incident Sunday.

 

[Camper6]

I don't think the police would have stopped him for just singing. I think they were investigating screaming which I think is normal procedure. It could have been someone in the trunk.

He probably will win his case. One mans singing is another mans screaming.

It kind of bothers me when cars are playing their music so loud that it disturbs others.

I didn't bother playing the song back. Is it that bad?

 

[Shalimar]

It seems funny, but I will be interested to hear the rationale according to the Montreal police. Quebec can be racist. The province has just passed a law banning the niqab under certain circumstances. Already it is causing an uproar re civil liberties. This ban is likely to be struck down in the courts, and our federal gov't does not support it.

 

[Camper6]

It seems funny, but I will be interested to hear the rationale according to the Montreal Surete. (Police.) Quebec can be racist. The province has just passed a law banning the niqab under certain circumstances. Already it is causing an uproar re civil liberties. This ban is likely to be struck down in the courts, and our federal gov't does not support it.

The law applies to giving and receiving public services and forbids face coverings while doing so. I think that's reasonable. It doesn't affect private services.

 

[SeaBreeze]

I don't think the police would have stopped him for just singing. I think they were investigating screaming which I think is normal procedure. It could have been someone in the trunk.

He probably will win his case. One mans singing is another mans screaming.

It kind of bothers me when cars are playing their music so loud that it disturbs others.

I didn't bother playing the song back. Is it that bad?

I agree Camper, one man's singing is another man's screaming, LOL. I don't like excessively loud music in cars either, even when i was young I would listen to some songs and sing along, but I don't think it was ever loud enough for others to hear me. The main chorus on the song is like screaming "everybody dance now", so it's not that strange even when you sing along to have a high pitch for that main line. That's probably why my husband was laughing so much when I was singing and referring to the song in question. layful:

 

[terry123]

I don't think the police would have stopped him for just singing. I think they were investigating screaming which I think is normal procedure. It could have been someone in the trunk.

He probably will win his case. One mans singing is another mans screaming.

It kind of bothers me when cars are playing their music so loud that it disturbs others.

I didn't bother playing the song back. Is it that bad?

I agree!

 

[Cap'nSacto]

I wonder if there's an argument for "Yes, but he's on a public road"?

In any case, if no one called in a complaint, I'll wager that the ticket will be dismissed.

Here in north-central California, a cop would have no qualms about asking point-blank, "Could I take a look inside your trunk to make sure it wasn't coming from in there?" (and a refusal would warrant a warrant).