Tag Archives: Smoking

Victoria venue to infringe civil liberties

The Save-On Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria wants to take B.C.’s anti-smoking legislation a bit further. Not only will they enforce the existing No Smoking laws, they will also prohibit the innocuous carrying of cigarettes by patrons on the premises.
Possession of cigarettes is neither illegal nor dangerous per se. Searching explicitly for cigarettes, without the pretence (which I assume will be assumed) of searching for illegal or dangerous goods, is trespass to the person, bordering on the tort of assault. Confiscating those cigarettes is conversion; the Save-On Foods Memorial Centre is counting on your complacency and acquiescence as it invades your space and takes what it rightfully yours. Are they going to compensate you for the cigarettes? Return them at your whim? I doubt it. This erosion of civil liberties has gone on long enough. Continue reading

Posted in Civil Liberties, Legal Explorations, Privacy | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments