The Ontario government is proposing legislation to allow police to stop and search vehicles without warrants to combat car theft, but this is raising serious concerns about the potential for abuse of power and violation of rights. Critics, including criminal lawyers, argue that the new powers may lead to increased racial profiling, particularly against marginalized communities. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association highlights the high rates of arrests among racialized individuals in roadside stops, emphasizing the dangers of implicit bias. The proposal risks overstepping legal boundaries while expanding police authority under the Highway Traffic Act.
"Wide discretionary authority by police, especially in the context of things like the Highway Traffic Act and traffic stops in general, are a breeding ground for racial profiling to occur."
"Every year across the country, police arrest thousands of racialized people during random roadside stops. Many of those targeted are Black or Indigenous as a result of unconscious biases or stereotypes."
Collection
[
|
...
]