Rich Driver = Poor Driver, Beggarman = Cop

From our hideous neighbors to the north, an amusing/horrifying
example of some mighty trifling police work,
the “hobocop” campaign, as explained in the Toronto
Sun:

Const. Brian Kellar, a one time officer of the month, was
dressed as a homeless person — complete with hat, hood and
cardboard sign — who appeared to be begging for money.

But what he and another officer were really doing this week was
approaching motorists to determine if they were on, or touching,
their smart phones.

Slick manoeuvre. Innovative.

On one side of the sign, it read: “I’ve got High Hopes — Frank
Sinatra.”

On the other was written the more ominous “Hello I am a Police
Officer: If you are reading this you are about to get a cellphone
ticket.”…

It’s also quite a ding to the offenders and a windfall for
government. Thanks to one stroke of the pen of a judge, the fine as
of March 18 went from $155 to $280.

We should remember that what starts as simple tickets can turn
into some serious problems in people’s lives, especially those
lacking a fair amount of disposable cash or those who just don’t
have their shit together about getting things in the mail on time.
See my earlier Reason article, “Petty
Law Enforcement vs. The Poor.”