Pubdate: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 Source: Chronicle Herald (CN NS) Copyright: 2009 The Halifax Herald Limited Contact: http://thechronicleherald.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180 Author: Robert M. Tuttle ILLOGICAL LAWS Interpretation of the law sometimes defies logic or explanation. So, a couple, apparently under the influence of alcohol, gets stopped and during the search, an illegal quantity of an addictive drug is discovered. That possession charge is thrown out because the search was for booze. What if a body had been found? Would a murder charge get thrown out because the search was only for open alcohol? This is not a stretch; they are both criminal offences. The officer was lucky enough to nail an offender this time and take some drugs off the street. Except, the offender probably got them back with the blessing of the court. I suggest that a nice pamphlet, listing every criminal offence known to mankind, should be handed out the next time a search is necessary anywhere. Then people could not get away with such blatant disregard for the law. Alternatively, the applicable laws could be amended so that the justice system does not look so stupid. The Charter has failed decent, law-abiding people once again. Robert M. Tuttle, Pugwash Junction - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom