Punished for singing in the car

Photo Antoine Lacroix
Taoufil Moalla intends to contest a citation of$ 149 which he says have been sentenced for having sung in his vehicle.

Antoine Lacroix

Saturday, 21 October, 2017 22:23

UPDATE
Saturday, 21 October, 2017 22:23

Look at this article

Both surprised and shocked by the attitude of the police, a Montreal intends to vigorously defend itself against a breach of $ 149, of which he is said to have been sentenced simply for having sung in his vehicle.

“I’ve just sung the chorus of one of my favorite songs and they come back to me with a report very expensive. It is certain that I’m going to challenge that, ” says Taoufik Moalla, a resident of the borough of Saint-Laurent.

On the 27th of September while we lived in an episode of extreme heat, the 38-year-old has decided to go and buy bottles of water.

It is on the road to the grocery store, he was intercepted by agents of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), not far from his home.

“Nothing wrong “

“They made me stop on the side of the road, I didn’t understand why. After they inspected my vehicle and found that I was alone. They asked me if I had shouted, and I replied that no, I was singing Everybody Dance Now, argues Mr Moalla. I was driven by the music, but I wasn’t singing very loudly. “

The officers asked him to hand over his licence and registration papers of the vehicle.

They are finally back with a fine of $ 149 to have ” shouted from the public domain “.

Challenge

“I wasn’t doing anything wrong ! Since when is singing in his car is it a crime ? Since when is my car considered the public domain ? If one follows this logic, the people who celebrate in the streets after a victory of the Canadian should all have tickets, ” complains the father of the family, who works in a retirement home.

“One of the police officers told me that it was because I had disturbed with my “cry”. I can understand that the agents have me arrested if they thought that I was screaming against somebody or that I threatened. But once they saw that this was not the case, they would have had to stop the procedure and let me go. It is a lack of judgment, ” says Taoufik Moalla, disappointed with the turn of events.

For its part, the SPVM has stated that it ” does not comment on the findings to the room.”

“If a citizen feels aggrieved by the determination issued, it may proceed with its challenge to the municipal Court,” added the communications Department of the SPVM in an e-mail sent to the Newspaper.