[zulutango]

[i'm sure more then a few of us have heard rumors of officers taking radar detecting units form speed offenders.


Ah yes...rumours. Why would Police want to "take" a Radar detector? Unless it was stolen property and they were recovering it from you, hey would ahve no reason to take it.




b) 2. on this topic is intimidation even legal to be used by the police in ordinary situations?


in the above case i'm using "intimidation" to mean
~an overly authoritarian voice



Like...drop the weapon, get out of the car, stop where you are, move back, do it now ! , ...instead of..."please sir if it would not be too much trouble for you, would you consider dropping that weapon that you just used to hurt someone with, or could possibly end up accidentally injuring somneone?"

~condesending language

Oops...the latter part above is using condesending language isn't it?

~the stare down


"But mummy he looked at me that way...make him stop!"


all of which fit into the definition:

"Intimidation (also called cowing) is intentional behavior "which would cause a person of ordinary sensibilities" fear of injury or harm. It's not necessary to prove that the behavior was so violent as to cause terror or that the victim was actually frightened."[/QUOTE]


I can't see how someone being condesending can cause you fear of injury or harm, nor looking at someone?

Police work often requires them to take charge of situations that would cause anyone "fear of injury or harm". Try stopping a vehicle in a remote area and those in the vehicle don't want to be stopped. You have to take charge of the situation and compliance requires that you maybe even have to raise your voice at someone..or, shudder...look at them in a stern way. It may take them fearing for their safety, to protect your own. Telling someone to drop a weapon or get on the ground doesn't work if they don't have a respect for the consequences if they don't. It's a sad comment on today's civilization that the tone of someone's voice or the way they look at you, cause "fear of injury or harm".


Different scenario: You're a suspect in a murder. Cops come up and take you down at gun point. One cop is holding a gun to your head asking if you killed whoever. You answer "YES". Now intimidation is a factor, especially because it led to a confession


You watch waaaaayyyyy too much TV. I'm sure a confession given at gunpoint would be admitted in court in Canada as a voluntary admission of guilt.


In short, in BC Police don't seize Radar detectors unles they are stolen property. Other provinces where they are illegal and prohibited in a vehicle, they are normally seized to prevent continuation and for court purposes.