Hamilton Police: Distracted Driving Bad, Causing Distracted Driving "Peaceful"

The Fetal Gore Pron Gang are in Hamilton, Ontario, and up to their usual mischief.

A graphic anti-abortion banner that hung across an overpass on the Linc Tuesday evening snarled traffic and angered some Hamiltonians.

The Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (CCBR) draped a banner with a picture of a 10-week-old fetus and the slogan “abortion kills children” on the overpass by the Upper Wentworth exit on the Linc on Tuesday during rush hour.

Police reported an accident in that area at 4:20 p.m., and further traffic incidents shortly after.

Doesn't that sound like the banner caused or at least contributed to the accidents? One can certainly see how it might.

Bu then there's this.

Police spokesperson Const. Debbie McGreal-Dinning says that Hamilton police are aware the group is in the city and that they have been liaising with the Mountain police superintendent.

“We respect their role for peaceful demonstration,” she said. “It’s peaceful, they don’t infringe on traffic.”

So, "peaceful" except for the causing accidents part?

Wait.

When asked about the accident and traffic on the Linc about that time, [McGreal-Dinning] said, “I don’t know if we were aware of that location.”

"If there are infractions, we will respond to those," she said.
"When it comes to demonstrations we remain neutral, our role is to protect the public, including those participating in the protest."

How civilized! *eyeroll*

In Ontario we have laws on distracted driving, but the emphasis is on drivers.

Distracted driving is cited as a causal factor in 30 to 50 per cent of traffic collisions on Ontario, but is probably much higher due to under-reporting. Distracted Driving Kills! Using a cell phone or device capable of texting while driving can result in a fine of $155 under Section 78.1 of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA). Watching an entertainment device can result in a fine of $110 under Section 78 of the HTA.

Indeed, the Act mentions nothing about CAUSING distracted driving.

Maybe we should start by contacting Hamilton Police Services to ask why causing distractions and accidents is not an offence.

Cops and politicians are notorious wusses when it comes to facing down the whinging wingnuts. The good people of Kelowna, however, took them on and won. Hamilton can too.

As we've said here many times, your right to freedom of expression does NOT include the right to the audience of your choice.