The City of Montreal is withdrawing charges against demonstrators accused of violating a controversial bylaw governing protests.
Mayor Denis Coderre says the city will not appeal a court ruling criticizing how police enforced the bylaw, known as P-6.
The bylaw bans masks at protests and requires that an itinerary be submitted by organizers before any demonstration in Montreal.
Municipal court Judge Randall Richmond acquitted three demonstrators earlier on Feb. 11, rejecting the itinerary infraction because none of the accused were organizers of the demonstrations.
The judge also blamed police for a bulk-signing of the tickets by officers who did not necessarily observe the alleged violations themselves.
The city says 245 tickets were immediately withdrawn and another 1,700 will be in the near future.
Coderre says the regulation is still valid and remains in effect, but police will have to apply it correctly.
Donc en toute logique Mtl a choisi de retirer les accusations pour les constats d'infractions qui étaient toujours pendants #P6
— DenisCoderre (@DenisCoderre) February 25, 2015
P6 toujours valide C'est son application qui a été remis en cause par Juge Richmond. S'agit d'interprétation technique et problème de preuve
— DenisCoderre (@DenisCoderre) February 25, 2015
