Photos: Ed and Rach, unless otherwise specified or unknown.
With the troubles of Ontario motorists behind us it was time to hit La Belle Province!
Note: this article could appear overly negative, and it is not meant to be. Tone of voice can often be lost with text so I advise imagining that I’m telling you this down the pub with a jokey voice and a pint of beer in my hand.
With that said, let’s find out what happened in Quebec …
QUEBEC – ‘Je me Souviens’
We entered Quebec province from the South side of the river from Ottawa and rode into Montreal sans issues, where we found a very cheap B&B and did some touristy things for the next two days. We toured the city on foot, metro and bus, ate our own weight in poutine, and even went to the butterfly exhibition.
All was well, and as we left Montreal we thought our trouble were behind us. In five words; no, no, no, no, non!
We’d just made it off the island and over the bridge when my sat-nav suggested a route that involved 30 km of highway to avoid an extra 70 km detour through tiny backroads. Well I had run my new engine in by now, so I now had a minimum cruising speed of 80 km/h. In fact GPS indicated nearly 90! So 30 km of highway would be fine. Or so we thought.
It turns out that a SWAT team no less, travelling on the same highway saw two smaller motorcycles travelling in the same direction and phoned us in to the police. I guess when your job role is to treat the whole world as a threat and regularly deal with the lowest forms of life, you eventually start to hate everything, and today they hated us.
Now this wouldn’t be problem, because surely the police that turned up would be the same as the logical and friendly police we’d met in all the other English-speaking provinces? Oh no (x5) …
Canada is the 36th country that I’ve ridden through on my little 90, and the first 34 countries were all non-English speaking, so it’s safe to say that I’ve learnt how to deal with cops. Almost all of them are humans and as long as you act calm and massage their egos if required, all will be fine. But not in this case. Right from the word go he was very arrogant and hostile – not enough to allow you to make a complaint, but enough to assert all of his authority.
He immediately called for a tow truck to collect the bikes and take them off the highway in perfectly fluent English. However, the second that I — as tactfully as possible — told him that standard Quebec rules do not apply to us, and tried to explain why, he would promptly switch to French and start arguing with me.
Now this particularly annoyed me. My French is passable for everyday use, but my vocabulary is somewhat lacking when it comes to traffic law. And as one of us is paid to know traffic law and obviously was fluent in English, it just stank of arrogance. He would selectively switch to French whenever he wanted to ensure I couldn’t argue back.
Sure enough the tow truck arrived and we were forced to pay $200 for the truck to take us to the inspection centre, even though it was only 3km away and we were basically on the off-ramp. But that didn’t matter, anything I said would have just been met with a torrent of French. So on the truck we went.
At the inspection centre we were ordered to put the bikes through an inspection to pass the Quebec safety test. It’s worth noting that because of different country requirements, even a brand new UK bike won’t pass a Quebec test. But once again, let’s not apply logic here, let’s just bark French at the travellers who just love spending $170 on a test that no foreign bike will pass anyway.
Of course the bikes failed and then they were taken away on the same truck to an impound yard where, despite a now reduced rate of $100, we were still a total of $470 worse off, and trying to find out what we do now. The policeman had left by this point, which to be honest was a good thing as his mere presence made my faith in the human race lower.
So now I’ll do the helpful thing and explain Quebec traffic law, as there’s a chance it’ll help you if you decide to ride through there in future (it’s worth noting that I never will again out of principle).
The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic states that a vehicle must meet the technical requires of the home country (that’s the UK for us). Therefore the Quebec test does not apply to our vehicles. I do not need an original chain guard because not only do I have a rather large pannier covering the entire chain, but I also do not have rear footpegs therefore no pillion can accidentally put their foot in the chain. Likewise, I also do not require amber reflectors on the forks and loads of the other things they failed the bikes on, because they are not legally required in the UK!
Now the question should have been, what does apply to our bikes? Common sense really. A conversation would have been nice, for example: being asked to show him that all of our controls worked fine, brakes, steering and smooth throttle. Showing him that we both had working riding lights and brake lights.
And at the end of it maybe a stern warning that our bikes don’t “look” acceptable and we should avoid the highway, even if we are keeping up with traffic. I would have even understood an escort off the highway to the back roads (we were already at the off-ramp), or even to the inspection centre where the policeman could be satisfied that our vehicles were safe to proceed. And if there was a safety critical fault, he could even have said that we can’t leave until we fix it.
I’m a fair guy. Yes our bikes look daft and we draw attention, but we also meet everyone with a smile and this experience in Quebec is the worst I have ever had in any country – even Switzerland (it’s a long story, but they act the same).
I’m sure this experience will draw a lot of opinions, some that agree with me and some that don’t, but the thing that I think is inexcusable, is switching from perfect English to French, raising his voice whenever his authority was challenged, just so I couldn’t argue against his absolute power. It left a very sour taste in both our mouths.
To add insult to injury, we were told that our bike were now banned from Quebec roads and our number plates were on the database of banned vehicles. Technically I know that our bikes aren’t actually banned, but I’d had enough of dealing with arrogant police and didn’t fancy another arbitrary $500 fine that couldn’t be contested due to lengthy court battles.
So what happened next? Well we turned to Facebook of course. I put a post up saying that our bikes were now banned from Quebec roads and we needed help to leave Canada and get to the U.S.A. What followed was mostly Canadians saying “We’re so sorry about Quebec, we hate riding there too” and “please don’t leave Canada because of Quebec, go to the east coast , they’re much friendlier”.
These comments made us laugh and made us feel better at the time, but there was also quite a few comments from Quebecers saying “We hate the police too”. And that helped us get a different view of the situation and not hate the entire province. There were also some Quebecers who wanted to help us out. One guy called Gabriel even crammed our two C90’s into his car and took us all the way to Quebec City in the hope that’s we’d have a better experience there.
Once in Quebec City we were dropped off at a friend’s house. We’d met Alain at a bike show a few months previously and he’d asked us to stay. Alain and his family were amazing and they made us feel very welcome. The hospitality was awesome and due to being without transport he even dropped us into the city in the morning and picked us up in the evening to allow us to explore the sights ourselves.
Quebec city was beautiful and reminded us of European cities, plus we both agreed the food was the best we’d had on the trip so far. However, there was one thing that really, really bothered me about Quebec, this:
I was just about ready to accept that this province wasn’t for me, but every time I saw one of these signs, I wasn’t so sure. I eventually found out they’ve banned all bikes because of biker gang problems in the city around 30 years ago. And while there’s a particularly strange form of logic that can be drawn there, I can’t help but think that if car gangs became a major problem, they’d never ban cars because too many voters drive them. But maybe I’m just cynical.
Anyway, I kept telling myself “it’s just the police and the government, it’s not the people” and eventually after some more lovely food, my anger subsided and I was ready to enjoy myself once more and also leave Quebec province. But how to do it was an issue as we were still illegally declared as illegal. Oh no, I’ve gone cross-eyed.
Luckily Alain’s son came to the rescue. He not only borrowed a truck, but gave us a 300km lift to the border of New Brunswick! We said our goodbyes to our lovely hosts and enjoyed a farewell meal before loading the bikes into the truck and heading for freedom.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is where I will leave this article. I will also issue a word of warning for the comments section below:
I do not like blanket racism or Xenophobia, if you have also had a bad experience in Quebec then feel free to detail it below if you wish, after all, the truth has never hurt anyone and it might even help instigate change. But please do not tar all Quebecois with the same brush. All the civilians we met were lovely, in fact even the towing guy felt sorry for us and let us stay in a trailer in his impound for free.
Will I be back to Quebec? In a word, no. I’ve learnt my lesson and it’s clear that neither us or our little 90’s are welcome by the officials. We’ve even heard the same from a lot of other travellers who rode through the province with foreign plates – even the shiniest of big bikes.
But like I said before, our experience of the actual people was nothing less than lovely. Okay, we’re $470 worse off, but we’ve still got our health and we’ve now got another story to tell. I’ll leave you with a photo of us in our lovely accommodation in the impound lot.
See you next time folks as we explore the Maritimes, and keep smiling.
GALLERY
Check out all the pics that go with this story! Click on the main sized pic to transition to the next or just press play to show in a slideshow.
[…] be in hospital instead. Subsequently we moved to Canada where such things are frowned upon and not really suitable for highway use according to the draconian Quebec ‘laws’. So we very sadly sold Look […]
[…] Ed’s March across Canada – Quebec – … – When in Rome … Ed and Rach get up close and personal with poutine. We entered Quebec province from the South side of the river from Ottawa and rode into … […]
Québec Snow tire stupid law : that could simply resume the problem here . It’s not only because they ride sub 125cc machine on the highway . Their trip take place in winter between the 15 th dec. and the 15 mars , a period where all motorcycle of any size are banned for every road . We pay full price for only 9 mouth , cause nobody produce motorcycle tire with the snow flake logo required by the snow tire stupid law .
[…] This kind of thing is sickening. Quebec sometimes seems like the most corrupt outpost of North America. I assume it was local cops and not Highway Troopers (who are federal) Ed March had a very similar problem… Ed's March across Canada – Quebec – Canada Moto Guide […]
Come to Michigan USA. There are hundreds of bikers that would love to ride with you and share a beer.
I’m so glad I found this thread. I have been planning a motorcycle trip across Canada. After this, I’ll stay well away from Quebec. Maybe just stick to north USA. I really don’t want to have this kind of experience.
I suspect if you were riding a C90 that looked like Ed’s, your experience would be much different from the average motorcyclist’s. I have personally never been harassed by the police in Quebec, and have traveled through the province at some very extra-legal speeds at times …
Yep, the only time I’ve ever ridden through Quebec, I was pulled over twice in 12 hours. No tickets, but the cops there are just unlike any I’ve ever seen in my travels. I’ll never go there again intentionally; boring roads and horrible traffic cops.
I ride a motorcycle since 1999. My motorcycle is in perfect working condition. I try to respect speed limits as much as I can, especially in residential areas., etc. Apart from some very bad roads in some areas, I think Québec is a nice place to ride. Finally, I know that I can’t argue with the police. Have a good trip Ed.
I’m from Montréal and I’m riding motorcycle for the last 30 yesrs. I was never arrested…. Of course if you ride a scooter on the Hwy they will remove your from the roas as you are a threath for you and for the other people….!!!!
[…] permanently left Quebec, destined to never return again (it’s a long story … link here), we were now in the Maritimes — New Brunswick to be precise — and were very pleased to be […]
I live in Quebec and unfortunately have nothing positive to say about the laws and law enforcement is this province. Such ridiculous laws as the accompanying rider law demonstrate the negative attitude the Quebec government has towards motorcyclists making life for all motorcycle riders difficult.
Also keep in mind that for some Quebecois English is frowned upon as soon as you leave the island of Montreal and that probably explains the cops behavior. Furthermore there is a big fish in small pond complex that most of the Quebec cops tend to suffer from, which goes to further explain your unfortunate experience dealing with law enforcement in this province.
Insulting others… Always a good way to win a fight! They had no good reason to be on the highway with these bikes. To the extent of my knowledge, you can’t do that even in Europe… Way to small for that kind of traffic.
The good way to react would’ve been to show them the way out of the highway but, ‘A’ cop decided otherwise. Bitching, moaning and insulting the whole force for that is so simplistic it’s laughable. Yes, they’re idiots in the police, as everywhere else in the society and on the planet.
And as mentioned before, the policeman did not fine them for being on the highway. He could, but did not. I’M pissed at the image it gives of such a nice place filled with such nice peeps. But respect is always important.
Insult is the weapon of the ones who can’t win an argument with logical end/or wise answers…
Vyxenn, Have you ever ridden a scooter on a highway? There are many opportunities to pass farm vehicles and transport trucks.
Speed is not as important as visibility and situational awareness, and I invite you to ride past Quebec City at rush hour on the auto route and tell me how fast you managed to go.
I think the officer handled this poorly, and perhaps Ed did as well, for clearly he was frustrated with his treatment in Ontario, then to have it compounded and overwhelmed in Quebec…
You are on a limited budget, and an officer now IMPOUNDS your bike that carries all of your worldly goods. How to you transport yourself to the impound yard from the side of the highway? What do you remove from the bike that you absolutely need for the foreseeable future, and what are you going to carry it in? Honey, I left my passport on the bike and it’s locked in the impound yard!! Where are we going to stay while we get this resolved? I don’t speak French very well, and I think we’re screwed. How much cash do you have on you for we are going to need to get the bikes out of impound, pay for meals and accommodations as well as any fines administered at the roadside, for you know that we cannot remain in the province long enough to have our day in court and tell our side of the story. Why wouldn’t he just issue a warning and we could have left the highway and gotten out of this province?!!!
I’ve been in a similar situation, and I hope you now see some of the thoughts that Ed was thinking as the situation developed, and why his emotions might be running a bit high with regards to his run in with the law.
If they hadn’t have been on their scoots touring our country, this wouldn’t have been a story worth reading, right?
And such derogatory response as yours, is the mark of someone who doesn’t know about which they speak!
I’ve ridden a Honda 90 on UK Motorways and German Autobahns, and in snow. Both allowed, and acceptable.
Maybe you ought to be a cop in Quebec…
A lot of bikers flee the police instead of stopping because of all this non-sense.
“per se”
Really Justin, cops less tolerant towards riders because of a few yahoos… You sound as smart as the Sureté du Québec, la SAAQ… To fix the problem of a few yahoos would be to stop the yahoos not every rider… Harleys too loud, stop and tell the Harley rider, not all riders… If you think charging astronomical amounts to register bikes causes riders to change, think again! And if you think riders need to change to be treated with respect by police, you are way off base…
Quebec police are Ignorant…Look what they did to our Great Hero Terry Fox,They kicked him of the roads and did not let him Run in Quebec. Go to Newfoundland if you want a real East Coast / Canadian experience.
Shame on Them
for what it’s worth, according to the UN website, Canada never signed the Vienna Convention on road traffic.
https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetailsIII.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XI-B-19&chapter=11&Temp=mtdsg3&lang=en
And to be fair to the cop, i’ll assume if you consider yourself not good enough to argue in french, it is the same for him with english. I consider myself pretty good in english but when it comes to arguing i’ll lack the vocabulary to make my points as convincing as they would be in french.
Justin, your comments make you look like an idiot, and you likely are. The Vienna convention hasnt been abolished has it? So you telling people crossing countries in cars or bikes, that they need to repair or modify their cars or bikes for every state, province, city and country they cross?
Your a very special kind of stupid arent you?
ben oui toi… il vont etre tout nice avec nous autres si on faits si pi sa.
And the bikes they had were not noisemakers, nor high speed bikes. Its narrow minded and illogical stupidities like this that make us a pariah place in Canada.
and for sure, if cars and bikes stay 24/7 in a driveway, Im sure the SAAQ can bring deaths down to 0%, or at least below 1%
Im still laughing at this comment ” Cops will no doubt change their attitudes towards motorcyclists when we motorcyclists start changing our attitudes to riding. ”
Im sure they will hahhahahaha
It certainly has become yes
Since Quebec is part of the Planet Earth…as explained in the article.. what Quebec did was criminal. Keep defending out of control officials. Thats really gonna help
You tell everything, Patrick. If you guys need an accurate portrait, that’s it.
And for the arrogant language switching, I let you think about how a person can grow his mind on acting like that. Do not take it personal, some of us Quebecers still struggles about the evident desire of the RoC to annihilate the french from Canada. As well as when I go to New York, Washington of London UK, I can be answered in an hotel in french with a smile, it’s not possible in Montreal, our major city. It is a struggle, sorry for you if you got involve in a very unpleasant way.
yeah, no vehicules of less then 126cc can ride a highway here. The rest is indeed Quebec bullshit abuse from cops
Had their vehicles been in a better state, he might have been inclined to react differently.
The cop did not impound them, he sent them to be inspected and it’s the inspection center that impounded them based on their findings.
Let’s not kid ourselves, these vehicles are not roadworthy in any civilized country and the last thing the cop needs on his hands is another Czarnobaj circus.
Don’t forget he did not fine them either for the rules they broke.
Politics and motorcycle issues in Quebec aside, I think the cop made the right call. Looking through your photos it’s obvious your “rides” do not meet the minimum standards for any civilized country. I don’t want to sound like an ass, but I believe you may have omitted some of the main defects for which your vehicles were banned.
It’s also one thing to ride around the “boonies” and a whole other thing to be blocking a lane on a highway. There is a reason why scooters are not allowed on highways. You seem to know the rules, you should have known this one…
Also keep in mind the whole Czarnobaj accident and the following circus. It might explain, at least partially, why a cop would be on edge in this situation and why they might be doing things “by the book”.
I’m usually the first to bitch at cops, but don’t forget to look at the situation from their point of view. The SQ around Montreal are a prime example… If you think about all the BS they have to deal with on a daily basis vs the relative boredom of a country cop, you can easily see why they might be acting the way they do. They’re humans afterall and in all relativity, they deserve some respect.
As to the way you were treated, again, I’ll leave it at that since it’s only one side of the story and the cop deserves to at least tell theirs before they are “judged”.
Yeah, but Manny, how many times did you not stop?
Canada has never even signed that convention. Come on, you’re supposed to know the law.
https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetailsIII.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XI-B-19&chapter=11&Temp=mtdsg3&lang=en
Oh forgot to say I live in Quebec. I have heard some friends saying they have been stopped for pipes. What I don’t understand is why they don’t focus more on texters and cell phone drivers. That’s where the danger is and it’s almost every 2nd driver. The bike industry is being killed by these morons
had my bike since 2003 and got stopped once for my pipes. Pretty good average lol
Allow me to be a slightly dissenting voice here. As many have mentioned, you were pulled over because your bikes are not permitted on the highways of Quebec. As we weren’t there, and as we don’t have the view of the police, it’s impossible to get the other side of the story.
But your arguments involving Vienna Convention are laughable. It also sounds like you were rather argumentative (the photo of you flipping two birds to the no motorcycle sign doesn’t help your cause). Was the cop excessive ? Probably. But maybe he had reason. We don’t have his side of the story.
As for you not coming back to Quebec, that’s OK. Your bikes are banned here anyhow. 😉 Yes some of our cops can be jerks, just like in any other city. But we have a long history here of yahoos on super sport bikes riding up and down our highways at 200 km/h and the death toll here was very high. So cops are told to offer less tolerance to motorcyclists.
Cops will no doubt change their attitudes towards motorcyclists when we motorcyclists start changing our attitudes to riding. Too many loud Harley’s.. Too many super sport bikes riding insane speeds and too many deaths. The recent changes to registration costs (and they are so incredibly unpopular here) have had an impact on the death rate involving motorcyclists. I hate to say it, but we Quebec motorcyclists need to realize that we need to change our ways. Then and only then, will cops start giving us a break.
I’m sorry you had a lousy time here, but next time check the laws of the place you are visiting before actually crossing the border.
200kph? Too loud? …on a c90?” “Cops will no doubt change their attitudes towards motorcyclists when we motorcyclists start changing our attitudes to riding.” I think Ed’s experience is proof that won’t happen. If riding around the globe on a small efficient motorcycle is not the right “attitude” I really don’t know what is.
I been stop for riding with only one hand on my handlebar, it’s apparently reckless driving but I did not receive a ticket, only a warning so it makes me think that it was a made up on the spot. I don’t speed at 200 kph, I usually go with the flow of traffic and my exhaust is stock and yet every now and then I get stop. I hear cars blasting the music and also have loud exhaust but they don’t get stopped. They check my lights once and said that it was too high in illumination. I showed them the high beam and told them that is the high illumination then put it back to regular and they still insist that it was too high. Do they stop the cars who drive with full high beam on at night, I don’t think they do. Police in Quebec have a problem with all motorcycle riders, you don’t have to be doing anything bad, we are an easy target and they know. Now I ride more in Ontario and in U.S. They don’t realize that motorcyclists contribute to the economy and there are many places in the spring, summer and fall months that welcome bikers to the town because of tourism. Target those who do something wrong, not those who are following the rules and riding safe.
To say you need the police side of the story, we see now in many places that the police side of the story is not the true story also. So how you say that the ‘Cops will no doubt change their attitudes towards motorcyclists when we motorcyclists start changing our attitudes to riding’ This is a myth, the police won’t change.
When riding or driving through Quebec from PEI to Ontario I see 7 or 8 police vehicles to perhaps 2 or 3 in Ontario, and 1 or 2 in the Atlantic Provinces.
The fact that they had the vehicles registered with UK plates should have put the officer into “I’m sorry, you must ride those on other highways as they are not permitted on this autoroute” mode, and kept visitors to his province both happy and safer, while promoting tourism.
He chose to tow and impound vehicles belonging to tourists obviously on a low budget trip, similar to cyclists doing a tour.
I think it could have been handled much better, and I am not happy with the Ontario “Nanny State” response to them either. Darn it!
Why can’t we all get along and enjoy the ride?
I am from Québec and Yesterday I came back home after one month in the United States on my bike. That was really fun. When you enter many places, it’s wrote ” welcome bikers”. In Québec province, cops are money makers. They must give tickets or be advised by their boss. The bikers are easy victims. We love riding and they know it. Immatriculation are 2 times the car price. They argue us for loud pipes. That’s not the Quebecers, the problem, it’s the politics of SAAQ who take money as a god and people as providers. Hope to go back in the U.S. soon.
Don’t worry, everyone in Quebec hates the police force we have. I myself live in Montreal and it’s horrible, they will harrass you over any small modification that you have, I have legal window tints and I get pulled over weekly by the same cop, on the highway it’s truly a ticket fair for the cops, not to mention how rude they area. I lived in Vancouver and Toronto and compared to Quebec the cops are nothing alike.
here in quebec cops are so bullshit, if you have a big bike, they starts after you, and you escape as you leaved them in the dust!
It really sucks what happened to you 🙁 In Quebec the authorities discourage motorcycling as much as possible.
It takes about 2 years to get your motorcycle license here and about $1,000 of classes and exams (3 exams). There is an obligatory 11 months waiting period before doing your final exam (the road exam).
Then it costs about $1,300 to plate a sports bike (every year), about $600 per year to plate a non-sports bike, etc… that alone shows how much they want motorcycles.
I believe in free trade … Quebec for Alaska. Straight across.
You were pulled over on the Trans-Canada and in Québec there is a minimum speed to respect and minimum size bike to be allowed on this type of highway (autoroute) and for good reason. On a bike, to survive you have to be able to ride slightly faster than average traffic speed it’s scary enough being in a small car on this highway. You got balls to ride a CT90 on Autoroute 20
Neverless, the cops were a bush of Douchbags and had no reason to ban you from riding on all the other roads, they could have just removed you from the autoroute, put you on another provincial highway which you would have found much nicer and more fun also.
[…] Ed’s March across Canada – Quebec – Canada Moto Guide […]
I also live in Quebec and have traveled by motorcycle all over the US and parts of Mexico. Quebec is the least friendly place to ride a motorcycle in North America. So bad in fact that most of the time my bike ends up being stored elsewhere in NA waiting for me to fly in for a ride. Those cops should have given you a warning and simply asked you to get off the highway at the next exit. The QC govt will not stop making life miserable for all bikers until they reach their goal of zero crash with injury a year; only then will they be happy, only once anything and everything fun has been banned from this place.
While I wouldn’t qualify living in Quebec as a “nightmare” per say, especially with everything else going on around the world (think ISIS, Syria, Ukraine, Boko, etc.) it’s certainly not been fun in the last decade or so.
Quebecers are losing rights and gaining more taxes and fees, we are losing services and gaining in social disorders, strikes and riots in the (only) large city (Montreal) as well, you can see that people in general are in a crap mood here and with reason.
To further the aggravation we are confronted with rising petrol prices even though the price of crude oil has gone down dramatically, which has a double whammy for some of us who’ve invested in oil stocks and are losing money, and being forced to pay more at the pump. We are getting gouged for money left, right and center.
It’s not a nightmare no, but it’s certainly not pleasant for people who like me, get up to go work every morning, get stuck in traffic because God forbid the ministry of transport manage their road work properly, then come home in the evening in that same traffic only to once home, see the bills piling up and the paycheck not. The infrastructures (buildings, roads, etc.) are crumbling because of lack of maintenance EVEN THOUGH they seem to be under perpetual work.
Quebec anglophones are treated especially badly, in fact it’s surprising that the UN hasn’t picked up on it yet as many people cannot even receive healthcare in English even though they’ve paid taxes to the province their whole life. Did you also know that we have a bonafide language police that will give you warnings and tickets if you speak/use/display English professionally or academically? Laughable I know…
Having said that, I’d like to apologise on behalf of our government and police,and bid you good luck in your travels. This story will hopefully at least make people in charge notice how we are being perceived by foreigners and perhaps it might help change things for the better for everyone including us poor saps who are stuck living here for different reasons.
However, for now, even though I live here, I can’t in good conscience recommend that anyone visit Quebec for villegiature or vacationing purposes.
True!
ca me fait brailler ca
A little power is a dangerous thing, and nowhere more than with the Quebec police. Sorry for your experience, but thanks for writing about it. It deserves to have light shone on it.
hi , i am a french Canadian from Québec and it is true “we hate most police officers” it seem like there is no “honor” anymore about being a police officer, they became, i don’t really know how to say it like i want to, but here it is: very ordinary fund raisers……. i suspect you know what i mean….. if i had known, i would have helped you too! most of them have their heads so far up their ass that they can’t see daylight anymore and about their arrogance, it seems like they think the world is turning around them and logic is not a strength of most of them and yes, to take Jr’s word: Living here is a nightmare right now! and for that, thanks to our very honest and fair government……..
I’m glad to hear you made it through. It is a great province to visit, aside from the obvious.
I’m hoping you have Prince Edward Island on your list. 🙂
Reddirtriders dot PEI at Gmail dot com
And to think, you’ve only encountered the tip of the iceberg when it comes to problems with Quebec…. Living here is a nightmare right now…
If I were you I’d more carefull… Calling the police fucking bastard and you hold a gun on your photo… I’m just laghing so hard ;-))))
are you a police bastard?
Sorry for you guys but if you think Québec police is not friendly beware in the States and learn their laws and don’t argue with the police there… From what I can read between the lines Ed, I think you pushed the wrong buttons on that policeman, no?
Oh and Brian… Move to Ontario if your not happy in Québec.
bonne idée !
A depressing story re. Quebec and their government’s attitude towards mororcyclists. I’ve ridden all over North America and I haven’t stopped in Quebec, and they won’t. Don’t know how Quebecers put up with it – they love bikes and being out there…
But still, lovely to hear the great stories of people opening up their homes to you two weirdos. Also lovely seeing weirdos being weirdos…lot’s of a-holes but not enough weirdos in this world if you ask me!
The SQ cops can really be total douches, ESPECIALLY around Montreal (cause they’re not real cops, just glorified traffic agents)… Same as OPP (Ontario) cops, or State troopers in a lot of states in the US. (Hey at least there’s no civil forfeiture law here). Add to that the attitude of the governmental agencies towards bikes (which is that they’d outlaw them if they could), and add to that the fact that it’s just the start of the season, which is when they’re trying their hardest to catch bikers with unpaid license plates… that makes for lot of troubles…
The Quebec city No-Bike signs are also related to noise. It’s a very touristy place, with very narrow streets, and unfortunately meatheads with open exhausts just LOOOOOVED to be heard… so some sections of the city were made off limits. Sucks.
Here’s to hoping the rest of your trip goes well.
I live in Québec. The province and the police are fucking bastard, they ate motorcycle. Please do you a favor dont come here for your vacation, they are to stupid to enjoy your money….
Hello, i toatally agreed with you. There is no respect to the bikers and drivers in general.
Check the quality of the roads we live in 2015 not in 1850. It’s just bad bad and bad!
Finally moving out of province!
Bon débarras
I live in Quebec, and what happened to you just confirms what I’ve always believed: that the authorities, the laws pertaining to motorcycles, and the general attitude by the provincial government here (fortunately not by the general public, at least not most of it), are completely anti-motorcycle. It says something about the people riding here though, because Quebec leads the country in motorcycle sales nonetheless. On behalf of all who ride here, I apologise for the way you were treated.
T’ecris pas à Moto Journal toi ? Snow tire stupid law : that could simply resume the problem here . It’s not only because they ride sub 125cc machine on the highway , their trip take place in winter between the 15 th dec. and the 15 mars . We pay full price for only 9 mouth cause nobody produce motorcycle tire with the snow flake logo required by the snow tire stupid law .
I’ve ridden in Quebec before with NY plates and didn’t have any problems but I’ve heard plenty of issues reported by friends with the Police in Quebec.
They actual law you broke is that no motorcycle less than 150cc can be on a highway (let’s say a 100kmh road even if it’s more complicated than that). So that’s where you were in the wrong.
The rest is typical Quebec cops Bullshit.