West Island resident fined $162 for pointing out police officer’s illegal turn

PIERREFONDS – Michael Reilley describes himself as someone who speaks up when he sees something wrong.

This past weekend that cost him dearly: a $162 fine.

He says it’s unfair – and a form of payback – because the person he was speaking up to was a Montreal police officer.

On Saturday morning, he was driving on Victoria Avenue in Cote-des-Neiges when he noticed a squad car make an illegal left turn onto St. Kevin Avenue.

Reilley followed the police car, flashing his high beams and “gently” tapping his horn to get the officer’s attention.

Once face-to-face, the retired schoolteacher says he advised the officer that she should have put her dome lights on.

After a brief discussion, he was issued a ticket for honking his horn unnecessarily.

“They told me ‘you don’t pull us over, we pull you over!'” says 69-year-old Reilley.

He calls it an “abuse of authority” and plans to contest the fine and is even considering suing the Montreal Police in Small Claims Court.

“I think I’m making a statement,” says Reilley.

“I just don’t like to see civil servants taking advantage.”

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Legal analyst Philip Schneider admits Montreal Police were “a bit overzealous.”

He believes Reilley has a good case if he decides to fight the ticket.

By law, he has 30 days to file notice to the Municipal Court of Montreal.

Montreal Police spokesperson Sgt. Laurent Gingras says at times, when responding to emergency calls, police officers sometimes do not follow the Highway Code.