Armless Canadian man wants apology from police officer following ticket

An Canadian man who was ticketed earlier this year for not wearing a seatbelt is seeking an apology from a Saskatoon police officer who he says treated him poorly during the incident.

Steve Simonar, who doesn't have arms, is unable to physically buckle up and uses a customized vehicle that allows him to drive with his feet.

According to Simonar, the officer told him that if he couldn't wear a seatbelt, he shouldn't be driving.

The fine from the ticket was withdrawn in court and he has been given a medical exemption allowing him to drive without a belt, but Simonar still wants an apology.

"That's the only thing that I ever wanted. The ticket, whatever, that was minor details, but this apology, that's still what I want. And it will be a happy day if that ever happens," he said.

The 56-year-old lost his arms when he was electrocuted during a boating accident in 1985

"I can take care of myself," he said. "But there's other people that never get a voice. People shouldn't be able to get away with that. When you're a public employee you should be even more respectful, more aware of the implications of your actions.”

Simonar had a sit-down with the officer and his superior, but it didn’t go very well.

"I'd sucked it up for 25 years. So, it's time that it had got straightened out,” he said. “I'm over the fact of not having arms -- well some days I am and some days I'm not, whatever life goes on. At the end of the day if I can help anybody out, I'll do it."

He’s waiting to see what will happen after filing a formal complaint with the Saskatchewan Public Complaints Commission.

"I kinda thought it would have been done by now," Simonar said. "I want an apology from him...I just feel that something should be done.

[Calgary Herald]