Police Lock Your Door For You

[WhiteTiger]

So this story came across my newsfeed, and it caught my eye:

http://www.baytoday.ca/content/news/...es=og.comments

Basically, the local police did a parking lot blitz where they went around and checked out parked vehicles to see if they were locked or if valuables were visible. If they found the car unlocked, they locked it and left a note for the driver. Of 200 vehicles checked, they found 9 unlocked.

I thought that was a pretty clever thing for them to do, as a reminder to folks to lock stuff up...then I read the comments (which is always an internet mistake, I know) and people were flipping out, with some going so far as to ask if the police were going to charged with "something".

Maybe it's just my own personal experience with hearing about so many unlocked vehicles broken into and/or stolen that is coloring my perception, but I still think that this was a good and 'neat' idea to catch people's memory, and make them realize that the next person who isn't them who opens their car door may have much more sinister motives.

[photon]

Leaving doors unlocked prevents having your car damaged by being broken into. Thief can just open the door, rummage around, and leave when they don't find anything.

[Canehdianman]

I think the outrage is predicated on people assuming that the Police are searching the vehicles.

Police can't search a vehicle without consent or a warrant. It being unlocked isn't a valid reason. That being said, I'd laugh my ass off if someone was charged with trafficking because a cop found a kilo of core in his unlocked car.

[Temporary_User]

Count me as one of the millions in the "police are in the wrong in this case" group

[#-3]

I knew a guy who's ignition was screwed up and he didn't need a key.
Just turned the plastic wing nut thing.
Didn't lock his doors, didn't have a key.

He would have been screwed.

[White Out 403]

Ya I read this and thought... uh, I like leaving my car unlocked. I don't drive a fancy car. For me having some homeless guy smash my window to steal some change or see if there's valuables is what I want to avoid. No one is stealing my crap box. and if someone wanted to steal your car by hotwiring it, a locked door isn't going to stop them.

[Arya Stark]

This is such a terrible idea. I leave my doors unlocked because I drive a pretty crappy car and don't care if it's stolen and I'd rather they not break my window to steal my change.

The police have zero right to touch my vehicle. It is my right to leave it unlocked. I always leave my vehicles unlocked because I keep zero valuables inside and in my experience they just rummage around and leave after not finding anything. Rather they do that than break my windows. They should do their jobs not go on a crusade invading people's privacy trying to play superhero for insurance companies.

[Hemi-Cuda]

What would happen if a cop opened a door and a bag of weed happened to fall out? Going down a slippery slope when they gain access to private property without a warrant no matter the intention

[WhiteTiger]

I guess my surprise stems from dealing with folks who report their car having been broken into or stolen after leaving it unlocked, and they are surprised/upset that it's happened.

[Arya Stark]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

I guess my surprise stems from dealing with folks who report their car having been broken into or stolen after leaving it unlocked, and they are surprised/upset that it's happened.

This makes a difference how? That's like giving experience how drugs killed your friend so cops should be allowed to illegally enter a residence to search for hard drugs. "but people are upset when someone OD's so we should break all rules to make sure no hard drugs are on the street" and we'll do anything possible to possibly prevent an OD.

Of course some people will be upset when their personal property is invaded...by intruders AND the police.

[taco.vidal]

I read the headline, not the whole article so forgive me if this isn't new.

Years ago I dated a girl that lived on the riv-sud when I lived in Montreal. Sometimes I would drive over and take the commuter bus in with her. The cops or bylaw there would regularly do blitzes such as this at the park and rides but give out tickets. Open door, write ticket, put ticket on dash, then lock door. Hard to argue how or why you got the ticket. Don't say I necessarily I agree with the law, only pointing out that this isn't new.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Arya Stark

Of course some people will be upset when their personal property is invaded...by intruders AND the police.

Guess I'm more cynical than most, then. I figure if I leave something of mine out in the public, unattended and insecure, I don't intend to see it again, and I wouldn't be surprised when this occured.

[driveway]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

I read the headline, not the whole article so forgive me if this isn't new.

Years ago I dated a girl that lived on the riv-sud when I lived in Montreal. Sometimes I would drive over and take the commuter bus in with her. The cops or bylaw there would regularly do blitzes such as this at the park and rides but give out tickets. Open door, write ticket, put ticket on dash, then lock door. Hard to argue how or why you got the ticket. Don't say I necessarily I agree with the law, only pointing out that this isn't new.

Wait ... there is a bylaw in Montreal requiring you to lock your vehicle? Wow ... I can't find the official statute anywhere, but a bunch of "Weird Law" websites claim that the law is that not only must your vehicle be locked, if it is in public, but the window must be down less than the width of a hand.

That's the dumbest law I've ever heard of. That's dumber than the law making it illegal to kill a Sasquatch in BC.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by photon

Leaving doors unlocked prevents having your car damaged by being broken into. Thief can just open the door, rummage around, and leave when they don't find anything.

Until they tear open your console because they are too stupid to open it properly.

[verda13]

I don't agree to this, as a former owner of a Jeep TJ I never locked the doors when the soft top was on. I'd rather thieves go through the door then slash the plastic windows.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by driveway

Wait ... there is a bylaw in Montreal requiring you to lock your vehicle? Wow ... I can't find the official statute anywhere, but a bunch of "Weird Law" websites claim that the law is that not only must your vehicle be locked, if it is in public, but the window must be down less than the width of a hand.

That's the dumbest law I've ever heard of. That's dumber than the law making it illegal to kill a Sasquatch in BC.

Yep. I got a ticket when I lived there. I still haven't paid it.

I'm guessing their rationale is that a vehicle can be stolen and then it takes substantial police resources to track it down...not to mention that the vehicle could be used to crash into stores/malls/banks to try to break in. It is the only rationale that I can really come up with to try to explain it.

[corporatejay]

Most cars now probably have far more sophisticated ignition systems than door locks. I would assume the door being locked for vehicle theft isn't a deterrent.

When I lived in downtown edmonton our parkade was broken into several times. Cops told us to roll down our windows and leave doors unlocked. They were there for valuables and cash.

[stampsx2]

I'm on the other side.

If you have nothing to hide you wouldn't get upset. If you have something to hide you should be investigated. It's simple, don't break the law.

[Yanda]

I lock my doors, im sure I have $20 of bottles and cans in my back seat. Hobo's Dream, thats my beer money!

[Dion]

I left my doors unlocked last week. Thieves took the spare change and a few CD's I had but left the pair of Oilers tickets that were on the dash.