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Canadian pepper sprayed at border after asking for politeness
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by car1edb | March 4, 2009 at 05:38 pm
383 views | 22 Recommendations | 13 comments
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Yes sir, No sir, 3 bags full sir...
A Canadian who demanded courtesy from a U.S. border security guard says he was pepper sprayed and held in custody for three hours for asking the disrespectful officer to "say please" when ordering him to turn his car off during a search.
When they ask you to jump - make sure you ask how high!
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (13)
at 17:50 on March 4th, 2009
What an idiot!
at 17:55 on March 4th, 2009
haha, maybe -but its good to make a point, way too many jobworths around these days. Just look at the Canadian news. Every other story is the police beat/tazered/killed/abused someone. Seriously getting out of control.
Good job all our taxes are paying for high flying lawers to keep those officers out of jail and on the payrole!
One day, when you've been pushed too far, maybe you'll stand up too...
at 18:01 on March 4th, 2009
But ya have to realize, officers have to do this hundreds if not thousands of times a day to request info, anyone who is behind Mr. Muffin waiting to cross after idling their car for one to three hours, would most likely not appreciate someone playing Politeness Man with Customs. We live in volatile times with Drug smuggling and Terrorism on the forefront since the late 1970s, times unfortunately many long for the good old days when a smile and wave was enough to get across both our borders before people started flying planes into office towers or killing our children with drugs.
at 18:06 on March 4th, 2009
I understand, and if he did have to back down and say please, would be a sign of weakness. But not as if politeness costs anything, and he could still has the power to shoot him in the head if he tried any funny business- like asking the time of day or commenting on the weather ;)
at 18:19 on March 4th, 2009
True Car, but the guy (Politenessman) should also realise, as I am sure he does as he regularly crosses the border that with a hundred cars behind him of a dozen, the customs guy may have taken Politenessguys request after the third time as a challenge, as I am sure he gets lots of challenges and just wants the guy to comply so the next guy can pass thru.
at 18:08 on March 4th, 2009
Ya. He sure taught that border guard a lesson! Ha ha!
at 18:02 on March 4th, 2009
What a Putz! Guess next time Mr. Dancers Legs may have to reconsider his next move when he approaches the next Border Guard. Though he is perfectly within his rights to ask the Officer to say please, the officer is well within his rights to pepper spray him after requesting him to turn off his engine three times to no avail.
at 18:15 on March 4th, 2009
I agree Esta and Eastvan, the guy should have complied and AFTER write a letter of complaint requesting their officers show some common courtesy, not make a stand with hundreds of testy drivers behind you wondering WTF the holdup is?
at 18:17 on March 4th, 2009
hah, have been few cases like this, where people try it on with the "guard". You have to remember they're not there to play, stray from the book or smile and will knock you on your a$$ at any opportunity for not following their rules.
The nicest guy I had once was at sumas, he did make a joke asking if we had snow in Canada as we were heading for baker. And still you have to play it cold cool back, as you never know what the game is.
at 18:24 on March 4th, 2009
When gas prices in BC were insane, I would pop over to fill up when I was in White Rock or Point Roberts, the US guys response was "But doesn't paying more for Canadian Gas help with your free medicare? My response back to him, perhaps! But you should know the gas in your country (USA) comes from Canada, from our Oil sands and is heavily subsidized by our country so you can have cheaper gas, hence why Canadians pay more in Canada at the pump. That shut him up! He smiled and waved me through.
at 19:03 on March 4th, 2009
I'm not surprised - and that's all I'm going to say.
at 19:13 on March 4th, 2009
Barry actually mentioned Politeness Man! In fact, I hadn't noticed his great cartoon of Politeness Man on Feb, the 4th.
at 22:25 on March 4th, 2009
Strange decision by the Coquitlam resident although I'm sure with his many trips across the border he's become tired of how rude many of the guards can be. I bite my lip every time I go through the border because I get so agitated by behaviour of the guards. Two recent experiences bear this out. One guard yelled at me to be louder but I was the one with my head out the window while he sat in his 4x4 chamber of charm. The second incident involved a guard gruffly implying that I was stupid to be going to Miami because of the weather at the time.
Many of these guards seem to become consumed by the authority they have been assigned. The sad thing is that most of them have failed in their efforts to become police officers and they are more than willing to share their bitterness with the world, one care at a time:-)