Police Interaction

This information was collected from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association’s Know Your Rights Citizens guide When Dealing With Police

if stopped by the police i
have the right to...

• not allow police to search my belongings; if they insist, state loudly and repeatedly that you are not consenting to a search, but do not physically interfere.• not answer any questions posed by the police if detained.• be given an opportunity to speak to a lawyer if detained.• make more than one phone call in order to reach a lawyer, if necessary.• speak to a lawyer in private.• not be asked any questions until I have obtained a lawyer.

if stopped while driving the police can...

• stop cars at any time. If the police ask to see your driver’s license, car registration and insurance, you are required by law to produce these documents.• only search your car if they have reasonable and probable grounds to believe that there are illegal drugs or alcohol or evidence relating to the commission of a crime in the car.• I have the right to not be searched if the police check my sobriety, the mechanical condition of the car, my license, registration or insurance have stopped my car.

detainment, arrest and warrants...

• The police have the right to detain you if they are investigating a crime and have reasonable grounds to believe that you are connected to that crime.• If you are arrested, you have the right to be informed promptly of the reason of your arrest. If you are unsure, you should politely ask the police officer why you are being arrested.• If the police does not arrest you or if they do not have grounds to detain you, they MUST let you be on your way.

the police can only enter your home if...

• The police have a warrant to enter your home to arrest someone;• The police have a search warrant;• The police have permission from you or someone else in authority in your home;• There are urgent circumstances that require the police to enter your home.

the police can enter my home without permission if...

• When a 911 call has been made from your home, and the police believe that entry is necessary to prevent death or serious injury.• Where the police believe that someone in the home is in need of emergency services.• To help someone who has reported a domestic assault to safely remove their belongings.• To protect people from injury if the police suspect that there is a drug laboratory in the home.

Tenant Rights

All these points have been taken from the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) created by The Federation of Metro Tenants’ Association.