Police say I have a Problem Riding Quebec on Austraian plates

[branners]

I'm riding Canada and USA on my Australian Reg bike. Today in Quebec the police stopped me and told me it was illegal in Quebec to ride my bike. They let me go but fined me $350.
They told me to check USA States ... I've ridden in 200 countries and never has this happened

Is this just ignorant cops or do I have problem...appreciate comments

[Tony LEE]

What was the wording on the citation? Anything to do with not being properly insured? Did they ask for any import documentation?

Maybe RHD vehicles are illegal in Canada

[branners]

Hi Tony

They said my Australian Registion is not legal in Quebec and therefore the bike should not be ridden Quebec. My licence and insurance were ok. My registration is current and valid in Vitoria

The fine which I thought harsh was because I was dodging traffic jam so I can't grumble about that... It's more the issue that they say my Aust Rego is not legal in Quebec and probably illegal in some other Canadian and US States

As said, I've travelled RTW just about without ever hitting this issue.

I presume it's ignorant cops but very worrying... They delayed me two hours...5 cars!

[Bucket1960]

If your paperwork is in order, you have just got an ill informed officer

[Tony LEE]

They delayed me two hours...5 cars!

What was it your mother used to tell you? More haste, less speed - to which you can add - less money. Bad luck, but at least you are philosophical about it.



By the sound of it, if they could have pinged you for riding without valid rego and insurance they would have, so you could likely keep on riding and just avoid the temptation to ride on median strips or footpaths or filtering too fast or whatever you were doing to merit a 350 dollar fine.

They let me go but fined me $350.

Not exactly what I'd call being let go. Few thousand miles south and you could probably bargain that down a fair bit.

[branners]

They were emphatic that foreign rego isn't valid in Quebec and advised me to check each state rules for my journey in USA

I assume they are wrong but when you have 5 cars full of Police ( they kept arriving... It was bizarre) telling you you're riding illegally because you're on Australian plates it's rather disconcerting

Is it normal also to insist on Immediate payment? They wouldn't give my passport back till I paid them. Again I was surprised

By the way, I was my charming and humble self so it wasn't in any way my reaction that caused a counter reaction

I'm very confused and a bit concerned this will happen again as I have a long journey ahead

[Tony LEE]

If you have a receipt that is properly filled out and signed by an identified officer then it might be they are able to insist on immediate payment. I've heard of French police insisting on immediate payment by foreigners and insisting they walk to the nearest ATM if they don't have cash.

I'm curious about the high fine. What was the 9 digit driving offence or file number.

Quebec does not list a beat policeman as one of the collecting entities. Can't find any reference to them being able to collect money on the side of the road but could be. If you haven't got an official receipt, you've probably been had.

Suggest you go to a local courthouse and speak to the clerk of the court or equivalent and check up on the traffic infraction and means of collection.

CONTACT
The municipal courthouse concerned
Their contact information appears on the
Driving Record – Offences and Penalties
document issued by the SAAQ with the penalty notice

They may also be able to get information from a government department re legality of driving a foreign registered vehicle imported under a temporary vehicle Import Permit or whatever they gave you at customs when you imported the bike.

Or just drive on and chalk it up to experience.

[PanEuropean]

Canada is a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. Basically, this means that as long as your foreign country plate is valid (so far as your home country is concerned) and as long as you are insured, you can drive in Canada with your foreign vehicle.

You do need to have a white oval sticker with your country code (probably AUS) on the back.

It is unheard of for police in Canada to collect a fine on the spot - absolutely unheard of. I think you have been scammed by the police who stopped you.

Michael
(Toronto, Canada)

PS: FWIW, I helped a UK traveller get his UK plated bike out of customs at the Toronto airport about 8 years ago - he was stopped within 15 minutes of getting on the road. The Ontario police officer insisted that the UK plate was not valid, but I insisted that it was. After about 30 minutes of conversation with headquarters, the police realized that it was valid.

The problem, I guess, is that Canada doesn't see many foreign-plated vehicles, other than USA vehicles.

[PanEuropean]

Here's a link to how the process for traffic offences (or, alleged traffic offenses) in the province of Quebec works. Note that the motorist is ALWAYS given a ticket, and can ALWAYS appear in court to contest the charge.

Contesting a Ticket - Quebec

Here is another link that might be useful for you: Code of ethics of Québec police officers

Finally, here's a link to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic that I referred to: 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic

[branners]

Thanks for this. If it happens again I'll really infuriate them by quoting the 1949 International convention!

One doesn't like to think the Canadian Police resort to scamming foreigners

You expect that in 3rd world countries not Canada so I hope you're wrong!!

[Tony LEE]

Hmmmm!

I really can't see 5 carloads of Canadian police pulling a stunt like this. I would have thought that most experienced travellers would know that in two similar countries such as Canada and Australia - almost identical politically legally and culturally in fact - the behavior of the police force would also be similar.

One corrupt cop - sure. Happens too often. Two corrupt cops - yes, of course. But ten corrupt cops driving around at random all getting together at one place at the same time.

as I said - Hmmmmmm!!!!!!

[PatOnTrip]

Hi Branners,

I'm sorry about your incident with the cops. I guess they are just not used to travelers on foreign vehicles besides the ones from USA. I guess that since they could not verify your motorcycle registration in their database, they considered you illegal.

If you are still in Quebec and need any French translation or help, let me know.

Patrick

[mollydog]

Was curious how you entered the country?

If by Air, then you must have some sort of TVIP or stamp in your passport connecting you with bike? And your bike must be in the Canadian system?

If you crossed from USA into Canada by land border ....then why would Canadian authorities allow you entry if your bike were illegal? Once again, if you entered, then you are in the system ... and legal for ALL of Canada.

Unless the Quebecois separatist's have succeeded, I don't believe Quebec can pick and choose who is allowed in and who is not and make law above the federal government.

So either by Air, Sea or Land, if you were illegal, immigration/customs would likely have informed you and NOT let you into Canada in the first place.

I smell a RAT here. I've ridden all over Canada ... including Quebec, on USA registered bikes. Seen many foreign plated bikes in BC as well. (foreign travelers at HU travelers meeting)

I can tell you one thing, those Quebec cops are full of crap about USA ... for USA, as long as you have some sort of insurance, you are OK in ALL 50 US states on an Oz plate or any foreign plated bike that is road legal and registered.

A friend rode his German registered BMW into USA via Mexico border. No problems on entry or from any local Police in US. Dozens I know of have followed suit without problems here.

USA cops pretty much give foreign travelers a break (even when they've done something wrong), as long as they are not wanted, illegal and bike paperwork matches up. All good for the most part.

What exactly were you doing to get fined?

[markharf]

I'd be interested in seeing a scan or photo of the written infraction they gave you. As others have said, there's no provision for a fine based on your Australian registration. Plus if it were really illegal they'd never have let you drive away, with or without ticketing or payment. I think they were just hassling you of plain old commonplace pigheaded ignorance.

On the other hand, there is lots of expensive stuff they could charge you with if you were filtering or in other respects driving illegally. Best check the rules carefully wherever you go--that includes the USA, where filtering of any sort is legal only under certain circumstances and only in California. Driving on the shoulder (verge) to get around traffic is illegal, too. There are specific regulations about all of that, with specific fines attached. If they want, they can always step you up to "driving to endanger" or "reckless driving," or other defined offenses which carry larger and larger fines.

I'd also be interested in seeing the documentation given when you paid $350 cash on the spot. As far as I know that's not kosher anyplace in North America. If it's legal, there's got to be a paper trail accompanying its occurrence.

I'm curious about your experiences riding in "200 countries." I've been riding in only 70 or so, and attempts to extract roadside "fines" are commonplace in many of them. Is this really the first time for you?

Mark

[chris]

Originally Posted by branners

I've ridden in 200 countries and never has this happened

Wow, more than in the entire United Nations.