A new tactic being deployed by RCMP officers in the Halifax area is creating some debate.
Police said they’ve been piloting a new traffic enforcement strategy, in which officers disguise themselves as panhandlers at intersections in order to catch distracted drivers.
According to RCMP, the operation on March 18 at an intersection in Lower Sackville resulted in 46 tickets issued that day.
“We had a traffic spotter. He was walking amongst the traffic. He was posing as a panhandler with a sign,” said Cpl. Bobby Bambury with the RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment Traffic Unit.
“And he was walking among the traffic, seeing into people’s vehicles to see them committing some of these offences.”
He said officers stopped 33 vehicles in Lower Sackville that morning, before moving on to Cole Harbour.
Bambury said the tactic works because officers have trouble seeing into some vehicles when on patrol but having someone on the street level gives them an advantage.
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“We’ve seen a number of people committing traffic offences: they were not wearing seatbelts, they were texting and driving. And then we also caught some revoked drivers,” he said.
To the officers’ surprise, the undercover traffic spotter was actually approached by people who wanted to offer money, clothing and food.
“And in all instances, he told the people, ‘I’m a police officer. I’m out here, I am doing a traffic initiative,'” Bambury added.
All this has some questioning the police’s methods.
“For the police to kind of use that as a costume to catch people using their phones while driving is not, is not great,” said Fabina Germain-Bajowa.
Others call it insensitive.
“It’s kind of offensive to choose to be a panhandler for a day when that’s someone’s everyday life,” said Charlene Kankunda.
In response to the criticisms, Bambury said the “only thing they have to do is obey the traffic laws and they will have no problems with us whatsoever.”
While the method may be new in the Halifax area, he said it’s a tactic used by police in the past in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
As for other Maritime police departments, Halifax Regional Police told Global News they use a “variety of methods” to spot traffic infractions, including “putting officers in plain clothes.”
Meanwhile, the Fredericton Police Force said while their officers do not pose as panhandlers, “we have used plainclothes officers holding a sign such as ‘have a nice day,’ which allows for observation of driver behaviour.”
Deceiving – we have speed detectors, there must be another way of detecting violators of the driving laws. Stop checks wouldn’t help – any violations would be put away before the RCMP made it to the car. There’s more Important CRIME out there to spend time on than checking what’s in someone’s car. Get away from imitating the poor or anyone (whether they are or not). That is appalling and low. Who ever came up with that idea and what was the big result? Someone on their phone??
It is sad because I am a panhandler at the end of Windsor going towards dartmouth andi have been told more than once >{ sorry I don’t give any more cause of the officer that uses that at there advantage} so that means I get way less people giving out to me and who ever as to do it to survive it’s not ok what they did not only it’s some one else every day life but it as affect us by getting way less having to stay longer will create more conflicts between the panhandlers it’s not good just wanted you guys to se my side to!
I think that is the best way to get distracted drivers . And alot of vehicles now have illegal tint on them . I think that’s a great idea . Good on the RCMP
I guess one could say well panhandler officer i was just “pretending” to break the law just like your “pretending” to be someone your not.
Don’t break the law then you’ll have nothing to complain about. Nothing wrong with what HRP did to CATCH lawbreakers.
The police should not be seen as Sneaky.
This is disgusting behaviour and misrepresentation to the public. Covert and reprehensible. Let’s all just start posing as other people in schools and hospitals then! How about the legitimate panhandlers start posing as police officers!! Stand in your uniform and do your job legitimately because you are no more than a paid thug running a con!
Mutts
“obey the traffic laws and they will have no problems with us whatsoever”
Sounds good 🙂
This feels like a strange enforcement priority given the bigger safety issues many cities are facing right now. In places like Halifax, there’s growing concern about traffic safety, pedestrians and cyclists are being seriously injured or killed far too often, largely due to reckless or inattentive driving.
Focusing resources on officers posing as panhandlers to issue tickets doesn’t seem aligned with those risks. It can come across as performative rather than preventative. If the goal is public safety, more visible enforcement at crosswalks, stricter monitoring of speeding, and holding drivers accountable for failing to yield would likely have a far greater impact.
A strategy that targets dangerous driving behaviours—especially at intersections and pedestrian crossings would do more to address the real, everyday risks people face.
Good for the RCMP. Actually a good and brilliant way of getting those drivers off the streets or from killing someone in a crosswalk. WE have witnessed so many people talking on their telephones while driving. We have seen a number of people without seatbelts and when we report them, it is only a thank you, we are doing what we can at this time.
Now hopefully when you see a panhandler on the streets, people will slow down because they will not know who is who. But, please give to a legitimate panhandler. Good job guys. 46 losers got caught.
I am entirely comfortable with this innovative policing technique. The enduring objective is to dissuade careless or inattentive driving. Individuals who willing ignore the law and safe driving practices need to be intercepted by any lawful means possible.
My though is, instead of trying to impersonate a panhandle, why not spend more time trying to locate missing children in this province.
What did the cop do with the money he collected?
No more money for the poor (real pan handler) thanks to the big guys. They have to sneak and lye and cheat to get there work done.Pan handlers don’t!
If the officer is walking amongst traffic on a street. He is jay walking and its a chargable offence.
DISGRACEFUL BEHAVIOUR
I think it’s great. Maybe it will have an effect on some of our many distracted drivers. Keep it up.
With all the technology in cars, being on a phone is strange to single out. Further, the laws are not clear. Is touching your phone while it is mounted on the dash illegal? But the touch screen next to it is fine? If a car is driving recklessly, an intervention by police is warranted. Otherwise leave the public alone and actually do police work.
I think the police need to follow traffic laws. Yes, it is often illegal. Many Canadian provinces and cities have laws—such as the Safe Streets Act or local traffic bylaws—that prohibit soliciting people in vehicles or standing on roadways in ways that create safety risks or distractions. Two wrongs dont make a right.
Great job RCMP. If people are obeying the law then they shouldn’t be upset or complain as they have nothing to fear. The police should be able to use any tools to catch offenders.
This is nothing new . There’s also One
At Tim Hortons in Halifax by the Supreme Court’s .
Cops have no self control, they are not your friend and will do anything, I mean anything to get their ticket written.
I saw the undercover police doing his job that day. Great work. The police have “dressed up” to catch criminals for a long time, this is not new, just very clever.
I guess if people are obeying the law, like the cop said, it will soon be OK to walk into your house.
I have no problem with the tactic. Anything to stop texting drivers is fine by me. Same goes for people who don’t do up seat belts. They get hurt far worse than belted people and put a strain on health care, costing a great deal to taxpayers.
It starts with ghost cars, it continues with plain-clothes officers now it is dress up. Enough! We pay police to keep the streets safe from bad guys. When they have to go under-cover to annoy regular drivers, while complaining they do not have enough funds to patrol for car thefts and robberies.
Imagine, not wearing seat belts. Such an ‘important crime’.
BTW: Police do not have privileged allowance to see into people’s vehicles. They are only allowed to see what the average person sees. Not to approach the vehicle for a better/closer look.