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Montreal driver says cops fined him $149 for screaming—but he was only belting out '90s dance anthem
Montreal police fined motorist Taoufik Moalla $149 for public screaming — but he said he was only belting out C+C Music Factory’s 1990 hit “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)." But he plans to contest the ticket. (Image source: YouTube screenshot)

Montreal driver says cops fined him $149 for screaming—but he was only belting out '90s dance anthem

You know how it goes.

Your work day is done, you're cruising in your ride to the store for a bottle of water — and of course, you're belting out C+C Music Factory’s 1990 hit “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” as it plays on your car stereo.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

That's exactly what Taoufik Moalla was up to late last month when he suddenly heard the blaring sirens of Montreal's finest behind him, CTV News reported.

What happened?

“I was thinking they wanted to pass, but they called on the speaker, ‘Please go to the right side,’” Moalla told the outlet. “I stopped, and four police came — two on each side — and checked the inside of the car. Then they asked me if I screamed. I said, ‘No, I was just singing.’”

Moalla said police checked his driver's license and registration and then came back with a $149 fine — for screaming in public, CTV News reported.

Montreal bylaws indicate that causing "disorder by screaming” violates “peace and tranquility” and can be punishable by a $50 to $1,000 fine (first offense) then a $100 to $2,000 fine after that, the outlet said.

How did he react?

“I don’t know if my voice was very bad, and that’s why I got the ticket, but I was very shocked,” Moalla told CTV News. “I understand if they are doing their job — they are allowed to check if everything’s OK, if I kidnapped someone or if there’s danger inside — but I would never expect they would give me a ticket for that.”

Image source: YouTube screenshot

The dance music fan doesn't even believe he was singing that loudly — “just if you are happy and you like this song,” he told the outlet.

Moalla told CTV News he's contesting the ticket and is waiting for a court date — which may not happen for as long as a year.

What will he tell the judge?

Moalla noted to the outlet he'll tell the court something along the lines of, "Imagine if the [Montreal] Canadiens [hockey team] won a game. All the fans are going to scream out of their cars. They’re going to sing. Are you going to give them all tickets?”

What does Moalla’s wife have to say about her husband's fine?

“She told me, 'If it was for singing, I’d have given you a ticket for $300,'” he told CTV News.

(H/T: Louder With Crowder)

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