A pair of bikers wearing Hells Angels patches on their vests found themselves the first example of the new Quebec law that bans riding in colours or emblems of a criminal organization. A Longueuil police (SPAL) officer spotted the pair riding in full patch and pulled them over on Tuesday. In April, Quebec passed Bill 13 - An Act to promote the population’s safety and sense of security and to amend various provisions, which prohibits wearing “a symbol, such as an emblem, insignia or a representation,” used by an entity with a criminal purpose. “In the incident in question, the individuals involved were asked to cover the prohibited symbols in order to comply with the law,” said SPAL spokesperson Mélanie Mercille. It was the first time in Quebec that the law was applied. The bikers in question covered their vests with jackets and rode off. Mercille said the officers will now prepare documentation to send to Crown prosecutors for potential fines at a later date. Ian Lafrenière tabled the bill as Quebec’s domestic security minister. He was excited to see the law being put into effect. “Today, I’m smiling because I’m happy,” he told CTV News. “I’m happy at the result for businesses, business owners because, believe me, believe me, they receive a lot of pressure by organized crime by people with bad intentions ... Because and again, remember why they wear those patches. They wear them because they committed a crime, and so they get the the opportunity to put them on. And secondly, they use that to do intimidation and extortion. This is not acceptable.” Those wearing patches can receive fines of up to $5,000. Lafrenière said that a Hells Angels South Shore chapter recently removed a banner in front of one of their clubhouses. He added that the Quebec police intelligence organization will add to the list of organized crime groups on a yearly basis. “So, it means there is already an effect,” said Lafrenière. “We need respect from these people. We started with the Hells Angels, which is the first group to be put on the list, but this isn’t the last.”
