June 16 2025- Brian Kaplan Discusses His MPI Driver's Licence Nightmare

The Great Canadian Talk Show

Episode 28 brings listeners an interview with a driver victimized by a black mark on his driving abstract, even though the cell phone ticket he was issued was withdrawn by the Crown Attorney. We reported on his case in Sunday's edition of The Winnipeg Sun.

7.30 Part 2 - Brian Kaplan tells TGCTS how he crossed paths with a radar cop who had a surly attitude.

The unmarked speed trap unit was parked on a grass boulevard aside the Disraeli Freeway. North Point Douglas residents, including Kaplan, had already complained about the damage caused by the police cars tearing up the lawn.

After he pulled over to take a photo, the incensed officer ("he was pissed") punished Kaplan with a $672 ticket falsely alleging he had been driving while taking the picture- and that infraction came with an automatic "administrative" three day suspension.

The case was so weak the Crown dropped the charge- and Kaplan “figured they gave me the disposition that the charges are stayed, and I said ok great the good guys won.”

13.30 - Two months later, Kaplan discovered his drivers abstract listed the suspension, even though the underlying allegation was dropped. Potential employers see the word "suspended" and back away, even though there was no conviction.

Hear him describe what happened in traffic court, and the injustice of Manitoba Public Insurance and the NDP government hiding behind bureaucratic rules to ignore the court result and impair his ability to work, all a result of retaliation by a rogue cop.

29.40 Part 3- Independent Manitoba MLA Mark Wasyliw offered some blunt comments to Marty Gold about the unfairness of administrative suspensions.

The veteran lawyer has extensive experience defending drivers in court and has a lot of insight into the politics behind these laws .

Along with a lack of oversight on traffic stops creating distrust of the police, "this attitude is class based - Many working class jobs require a driver's license and people cannot work without one... The law hurts some Manitobans more than others and doesn't operate in a way that a reasonable Manitoba would expect."

Most notably, Wasyliw says the process is "Procedurally unfair and most likely would not survive a constitutional challenge."

******

Check out our Sun column that revealed how late night shiftworkers, such as nurses at Health Sciences Centre and St. Boniface Hospital, will face a risky walk and wait at a bus stop if they need to catch a bus home after work, all thanks to a new Transit plan that ignores genuine public safetyand convenience. Nurses, late workers get raw deal in city’s Transit plan revamp

That's just another example of what we specialize in delivering - investigations and analysis that unearths government unfairness, neglect and wrongdoing.

This isn’t the kind of journalism that gets government handouts or would ever take them- our commitment is to the community.

And it is only through the financial support of the community that our work can continue to grow and succeed.

The Season Six funding campaign has grown to $1730-- and you can help us get over the $2000 mark by the end of June using our Donate Page and contributing via PayPal, E-transfer or by directly contacting [email protected]