Wise Up Winnipeg member warned by police about tactics

A Winnipeg-based anti-photo radar group is at odds with police over a confrontation between one of their members and a traffic officer.

Wise Up Winnipeg member Shane Yaworski has been posting signs near photo radar vehicles, warning oncoming traffic about them, then confronting the operators of the radar unitsand videotaping the encounter.

• Winnipegger warns drivers of photo radar trap

But recently, Yaworski yelled at one of the operators while it was parked in Transcona, asking if he likes "ripping off" people and goading him to come out of the vehicle.

"C'mon out of that car, you c'mon out of that car, buddy. You c'mon out of that car, I dare you," he can be heard saying on the video.

Winnipeg police respondedby payingYaworski a visit at home.

"They went on to tell me I could be arrested for that, have a criminal charge [and] never get to go to the United States," he said.

Yaworksi saidhe was only trying to videotape the traffic officer allegedly sleeping in his car.

"I'm not giving up. I'll just keep on doing what I'm doing," he said. "I'll just be more cautious next time."

Police say a charge of obstructing justice can be laid if someone impedes the operation of a photo radar unit by blocking the cameras or distracting their operators.

And if intimidation is used, police said harassment charges could be laid.

Police said the officer involved denies he was sleeping, and if a complaint was filed, officers would investigate.

So far, according to police, there has been no complaint filed about the peace officer sleeping on the job.

Police also said the radar operators are considered peace officers andare simply trying to do their job enforcing the Highway Traffic Act. They should not have to be subjected to the abuse.

Todd Dube is a representative for Wise Up Winnipeg, the group Yaworski is a member of. Dube said the group tells its activists to leave photo-radar staff alone.

"We tell them not to approach, interfere or get into a dialogue with the mobile operator whatsoever. Theres no reason to," said Dube. "All were doing out thereour purpose is to stand in advance of these vehicles warning drivers that they are entering a zone that is posted too slow."

He said he believes Yaworski approached the vehicle because the operator was sleeping, and the same operator had been "taunting" Yaworski for a week.

Yaworski said officers have made comments to him about how many people theyve caught, telling him his sign isnt effective.

"Its getting out of hand. These guys are really starting to provoke me and antagonize me," he said.

Regardless of that, Dube said theres no excuse for confronting the traffic officer.

"Weve never gotten in any confrontations, and Im sorry to say that Shane did," he said. "Thankfully they both retreated and that was the end of that."

Dube added, "The point of the video is to show the operator was sleeping in the car!"