snitch noun \'snich\ Definition of snitch: one who snitches: TATTLETALE. I had to laugh when I read my old radio station's website and came across a story about the Cornwall Police and their new distracted driving snitch line.

PHOTO CREDIT - Robert Lefebvre - IceLevel.com

Strathmore - August 15, 2012 - snitch noun \'snich\ Definition of snitch: one who snitches: TATTLETALE. I had to laugh when I read my old radio station's website and came across a story about the Cornwall Police and their new distracted driving snitch line.

Take it from someone who lives in a province that has a distracted driving law (distracted means more than just cell phones here) this is getting out of hand.

To think the Cornwall Police are going to call and lecture people after getting an anonymous phone call from some snitcher (no doubt from the privacy of their moving car) makes me ill.

I know from talking to Chief Parkinson about one hundred times over the last few years that he's all about pro-active crime fighting, but since when is it the job of the police to call citizens at home and give them a tongue lashing based on a call from some anonymous tipster (or rat, depending on your point of view)?

It's an abuse of police power when they start harassing innocent citizens in their homes. By they way these people are innocent; being fingered by some busy body armed with a cell phone doesn't make them guilty.
,br> A little advice for the Chief: have the officer given the duty of making those aforementioned harassing calls and put him or her in an unmarked car at the corner of Pitt and Second for a few days. I'll bet that officer will nab dozens of people who are actually breaking the distracted driving law. Anyone who drives sees these people every day, surely the police will too. Once you nab a few people let the media know about it. I'll bet the actual distracted driving charges will do more good than harassing people at home.

One more thing: All the best to my good friend Pat Baranowski from Corus Entertainment. Pat is retiring after almost 25 years at the radio station. Pat was the first person I met when I visited Cornwall back in 1992 and with all due respect to my friends there, once I met Pat no one has topped her. She is simply the kindest person I have ever known. You will be missed.