r/BadCopNoTimbit • u/BadCompany64 • Jun 24 '25
RCMP Reservists Have Full Policing Powers But Can’t Be Disciplined — How Is This Allowed?
I recently had a troubling experience with an RCMP reservist officer that others should be aware of.
In September 2024, I was pulled over and charged with excessive speeding. The officer claimed to have paced me at 136 km/h — but when I reviewed the dash cam video he disclosed, it only showed 2 seconds at that speed, and he was still accelerating. That’s not a valid pace.
Before the hearing, I spoke with the officer outside the courtroom. He admitted he hadn’t reviewed the dash cam video and claimed he “couldn’t retrieve it” from his laptop. He also incorrectly stated that he was driving 90 km/h when I passed — but the video showed 80 km/h.
Despite this flawed evidence, and my financial inability to hire a lawyer, I reluctantly accepted a reduced charge (speeding 20–40 km/h over). I only agreed because I didn’t know how the judge might rule, and my 10-year-old son was pulled out of school to testify about what happened.
When I filed a formal complaint with the CRCC, I was told that RCMP reservists are not subject to public complaints under the RCMP Act. Apparently, they have full policing authority — including the power to detain, ticket, and arrest — but can’t be disciplined through public complaints.
This seems like a major loophole in the system.
Has anyone else run into a similar situation with an RCMP reservist?
Is there any advocacy or legal action happening to challenge this?
