A driver was slapped with a $149 fine after his booming rendition of a 1990s dance hit landed him in hot water with Montreal police.
Taoufik Moalla had just dropped off his children and was heading to the store, while singing along to C+C Music Factory’s ‘Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)’.
But instead of buying groceries, Moalla was pulled over by four police officers who took exception to his passionate singing.
Driver Taoufik Moalla was slapped with a $149 fine after his booming rendition of a 1990s dance hit landed him in hot water with Montreal police
‘I was thinking they wanted to pass, but they called on the speaker, “Please go to the right side,”‘ Moalla told CTV Montreal.
‘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 demanded his licence and registration before handing him the hefty fine for screaming in public.
Moalla had just dropped off his children and was heading to the store, while singing along to C+C Music Factory’s ‘Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)’. But the thudding beat and Moalla’s passionate vocals failed to please Montreal officers who pulled him over
According to a Montreal bylaw: ‘To cause disorder by screaming’ can be punishable by a fine of $50 to $1,000 for a first offence, and $100 to $2,000 for further infractions.
But Moalla contested his singing was overly loud, telling CTV Montreal that he was just ‘happy’ and enjoying the song.
Adding: ‘I understand if they are doing their job, they are allowed to check if everything’s okay, if I kidnapped someone or if there’s danger inside but I would never expect they would give me a ticket for that.’
Despite taking the ticket in good grace, the driver plans on contesting the ticket in court.
While he is still waiting on a court date, which could take a year, Moalla said he planned on recounting the tale of how he got the ticket once in front of a judge.
‘Imagine if the Canadians won a game,’ he said.
Moalla said police demanded his licence and registration before handing him the hefty fine for screaming in public. Despite taking the ticket in good grace, the driver plans on contesting the ticket in court
‘All the fans are going to scream out of their cars. They’re going to sing. Are you going to give them all tickets?’
Moalla’s wife, remains unconvinced however.
According to him, she said that his singing deserved a $300 fine.
C+C Music Factory’s ‘Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)’ was released in 1990 and enjoyed widespread commercial success.
The song held the top spot in the US for two weeks and peaked at #3 in the UK.