Province to restrict sale of body armour, fortified vehicles
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$1 per week for 24 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.75/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/12/2011 (5059 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Manitoba’s new Body Armour and Fortified Vehicle Control Act will begin to be enforced in the new year, the province said today.
The new law restricts the sale of bullet proof vests to all but law enforcement and approved security guards. It’s intended to curtail the use of body armour by criminals.
Starting next month, the province will begin accepting applications for permits or licences required to have or sell body armour.
Enforcement of the new law restricting the sale and use of body armour, and owning and driving fortified vehicles, will begin in April. The three-month period allows time for individuals and businesses to comply with the new rules.
Those required to wear body armour to perform their jobs will not need a permit. This list includes:
- police officers, band and community constables;
- firefighters and emergency response technicians;
- licenced security guards;
- provincial sheriffs and corrections officers;
- federal employees required to wear body armour; and
- armoured vehicle service employees.
People who want to have or sell body armour, but are not exempt under the legislation, must have the proper licences or permits, the province says.
Applicants must explain why they need body armour and will be subject to a criminal record check.
The application fee is $100 for the first five-year permit and $50 to renew for a further five years. Body armour retailers are required to ensure their customers have a licence or are exempt.
The new law also bans the use of illegitimate armoured vehicles. Police, prisoner transport and military applications are not impacted by this legislation.
People who own an armoured vehicle service or a vintage military vehicle also do not have to have a permit to drive or own a fortified vehicle. Employees of a proper armoured car firm are allowed to drive them. Others who want to drive or own a fortified vehicle must seek a permit.It costs $100 for the first five-year permit and $50 to renew for a further five years.
When enforcement begins in April, police will have the authority to seize body armour from those who possess it without a permit.
Seized body armour will be destroyed and offenders will face fines of up to $10,000, incarceration for up to three months or both. Businesses could be fined up to $25,000 and their officers given individual fines of up to $10,000, be incarcerated for up to three months or both.
The province says peace officers can require an armoured vehicle to undergo an inspection. Vehicles that do not pass inspection could be removed from the road and the driver charged. Fortified vehicles are defined as those designed to resist bullets or explosives or that have other specified fortifications.