Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada Ignorance of the law?

I am wondering how Americans coming into Canada study up on some of our crazy laws so they don't end up fined for doing something illegal?? A lot of laws you could come afoul of are not even hunting related...and claiming ignorance of the law is NO excuse in Canada. For example, ride your atv in the ditch alongside the highway in some jurisdictions and you could be heavily fined....

That is a good question, a hard question, but good.
It does seem that people that behave well one place tend to behave most all places. Your point about different laws is well taken.

When in doubt, ask someone who knows -- MNR, PD, etc. Most of the Outfitters in our area are knowledgable in the Liquor Laws as well as game and fish laws and ATV type stuff.

For Ontario laws, I would be glad to try to answer your questions. Spent 30.5 years in enforcement and now nearly 12 years in prosecutions. I know 'some' of the more frequently abused laws, anyway.

When in doubt, ask someone who knows -- MNR, PD, etc.

The only problem with that, especially with our gun laws is even a large number of police officers & MNR don't know the laws themselves! There's a number of cases where officers have demanded a standard long gun be cased & trigger locked when simply being transported! We know it's not required as long as you don't leave your vehicle unattended but try to explain that to a rooky officer fresh from metro-ville

Never had a problem with that, but I live in the sticks where most places you can safely discharge a firearm, so. . . . . .

Well since all of hunt us hunting there need to have a guide, some of us ask a lot of dumb questions just to make sure. Then again some don't, you can't help stupid. Thank you for sharing it with me though, I have met some wonderful people while in Canada.

Did you know that if you build a campfire in BC it cannot exceed 18" x 18" ????? AND, if you do and get caught everyone around the fire gets fined several hundred dollars!!!!

Just try to keep your fire 18x18....good luck. At least now you know if your in BC and the fire flared up a bit, run like hell if the CO comes around. ;-)

"is not an excuse. And I'm quoting a New York city judge on this one". Ron White

I know in our case, when we go up north we just behave impeccably( seriously) and kind of do all the things ( like seat belt wearing and speed limits and no guns...) that the liberals in the states would like to see us doing...

Whoever the DUMB [bleep] is that came up with this.... should be kicked in the nuts
We had the Parks guys come around and leave us a little pamphlet on the proper size of fire..made great fire starter material

I live here and didn't know that, I wish you hadn't told me then I could plead ignorance of the law, never had a fire that small. Probably never will.

Some laws are like that. Hardly anyone pays any attention , but it's on the books.

Not paying attention could get pretty expensive.

""Failure to comply with the new rules will result in a $345 fine. An additional $345 fine will be levied for campfires lit during a ban.""

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/06/24/bc-smaller-campfire-rules.html

I don't believe we are in disagreement. Consider laws on speeding, and passing on yellow lines. Ever see that done?
Fines for those offences can be stiff as well. The consequences might include bodily harm, or death.

I don't believe a trigger lock is ever required for non-restricted firearms. Here we go again but I believe non-restricted just need to be unloaded. If unattended then in the trunk, if no trunk - vehicle locked and firearm out of sight. I have also had friends told different things by RCMP at highway stops. I carry the law enforcement guide to the transportation and storage rules in all of my vehicles.

During hunting season in October and November every campfire I have ever been part of or witnessed has exceeded those dimensions, so if they want to bust people and fine them $345 they wouldn't have to go far to find plenty of culprits.

I had a game warden questioning me about why my rifle was in the front of the truck [regular cab w/canopy], he wanted to know why it was up there. I told him it was up there because I had over $2000 invested in it, and I chose not to have it bouncing around in the back of the truck. What a bonehead question to ask.

Thank you Liberal govt.....now we have a province full of law breakers. ;-)

I've been guiding fishermen for more than 40 years on Lake Nipigon.
We have special rules governing this Lake--calling the Ministry of Natural Resources for clarification on any of the regulations is a complete waste of time.

You are stuck with the Man in a $300 uniform and a sidearm who just put $400 worth of gas in a custom built aluminum boat with a 300hp Yamaha on it. If he has the time to fill out the paperwork and the inclination you are going to get a ticket. Live with it.

Our fishing group has learned differences in the laws the hard way - a couple of guys were stopped at the border and had their backgrounds checked. Both were denied entry because they had misdemeanor crimes (OWI)on their record. OWI is a felony in Canada and felons are not admitted without jumping through a few hoops. One guy has spent considerable time and money trying to get paperwork cleared so he can come fishing with us again.