MovieChat Forums > Trailer Park Boys (2004) Discussion > Canada's criminal laws must be pretty la...

Canada's criminal laws must be pretty lax...

posted 9 years ago by sprinkel8
6 replies | jump to latest

So the Boys rob a grocery store with firearms (some fully automatic), discharge said firearms in a shootout, and make-off with thousands of dollars worth of merchandise. Surveillance video captured the whole shabang-abang with remarkable clarity. For this offense, convicted felons Ricky and Julian received less than a year in jail - a misdemeanor sentence in the States.

In my Southeastern United States home, the same offense, if committed by a felon, would result in a life sentence if the prosecutor sought recidivist treatment. Even for someone with no criminal history, the bare minimum sentence would be 10 years without the possibility of parole.

I don't actually believe that committing a violent armed robbery in a public place is tantamount to "disorderly conduct" in Canada, but you've really gotta suspend disbelief when it comes to the punishments the Boys endure on this show. I love the show, no doubt, so it's obviously not something that bothers me that much...it's just kinda absurd, particularly when it's framed as a "documentary."

[–] anf-01 9 years ago

Yes the criminal laws are not quite accurate (although I would rather go to jail in Canada anytime over the South).

Meant to be rediculous though, no reason to interpret this as reality. Mock-umentary.

[–] JimmyTheGentV2 9 years ago

I think it's awesome, it's portrayed perfect, just another part of the Boy's life.

[–] regulus7000 9 years ago

I should hope that actual Canadian law would be nothing like it is in this show. But you know, it is just a goofy comedy. It's no more ridiculous than the stuff CSI does with its wild inaccuracies. But this is an extremely silly comedy. It's forgivable to me.

But seriously, I hope and pray that Canadian laws in real life are way more strict than that.

[–] ianmisc 9 years ago

Only if they are minorities would they get that sentence in Canada haha

[–] why_pay_more 9 years ago

I am Canadian, and no, our laws aren't that lax. They would be doing some serious time for armed robbery, and for pretty much everything else they do on the show. It's not a realistic depiction of our legal system at all lol

[–] PrimeMinisterOfTheSinister 9 years ago

Lahey tried to kill Ricky multiple times and only got put in a nut house for a year. I think they went a little far with that one.