Some friends are planning on organizing a semi-big free bush party with djs in a suburb of ontario. My current understanding of the legal issues involved is that everyone is allowed to be there (its crown land, where camping is legal) and the only concern might be noise laws. Anyone happen to know more about the issues involved and our rights?
How old are you? Will you be drinking?
Unless you are certain otherwise, you and your friends may be arrested for various liquor charges including drinking and being intoxicated in a public place.
Just because it is “crown land” doesn’t mean you can party on it so be careful. Bush parties here are busted every single weekend in the summer. I’d recomend finding someone that actually owns some land and see if you can have your party on that.
the ppl throwing the party do not condone any drinking or the use of any illicit substances. That being said, if any intoxicants are going to be consumed they will be done so discreetly. But even if a cop/warden saw 1 person drinking, they could only bug that 1 person right?
Do we have the right to just chill and listen to music?
INAL so take this for what its worth (and what you paid for it! 
)
As long as there is no drinking and you’re not bothering anyone and being responsible, the cops here probably wouldn’t bother you. The OCP down there may have other ideas.
If you’re young and they don’t think you should be out late and find out about this, you’ll probably be told to leave… especially if someone is smoking pot or drinking. You’ve got to remember, it’s their jobs to deal with drunks and druggies. They have a sixth-sense for it even if your friends are “discreet”.
Seriously, as I mentioned earlier, it is far easier to have a party on private property as long as you aren’t making a nuisiance to neighbors.
You want to be as sure as can be? Ask a cop. Generally, they don’t like 'em one bit though.
I’m still confused as to my actual ‘rights’. i’d prefer to actually know what I’m getting myself into as opposed to counting on probability.
dude I’m not going to ask a cop if I can throw a rave on public property…thats what SD is for.
Well, except that none of us here on SD are lawyers or cops in your jurisdiction. So we don’t know what your rights are. Still, I can see that you might not want to inform the cops of your intentions. Is there a free legal advice line you could ask? Most universities with law departments have this, where you can get free info from lawyers-in-training, if not actual lawyers themselves. Otherwise, the provincial or municipal government web sites might have an FAQ. Or you could call the cops, or your MP, and ask where you could look up info on such things without telling them things like the address and date you had in mind.
Or it could be that a lawyer in the jurisdiction thinks that it is a truly dumbass idea.
A rave?
Why didn’t you say so? Here’s you answer:
Your nuts if you’re going to throw a rave on public property.
Am I just too old or does party=rave now?
Logical, you may be allowed to camp, but last time I checked, camping didn’t involve bringing along my own personal DJ.
There’s a reason why large parties outdoors don’t happen very often: there’s a shitload of legal liabilities. Anyone throwing this type of thing needs to have security and medical emergency staff on hand, even if alcohol and drugs aren’t officially allowed.
You’re also planning on doing this at night-- in the dark. Got any generators and floodlights? Or are you planning for your stoned friends to dance around some bonfires?
If you really want a legal opinion, get one from your municipality or a lawyer. But here’s my free advice-- hold it, have someone get hurt, and you’ll get your ass sued. Don’t take my word for it, ask the people who host Summerlove.
Barbarian: Thats the first bit of useful information I’ve seen in this thread, thank you. Though come to think of it, I don’t see why your right. See lets say I bring some speakers into a forest, and tell my friends that I’m going to be playing music in the forest and if they want to listen (for free) they can, why would I be liable if they fall over a branch?
I don’t think there is liability if there is no exchange of money, and I don’t do anything dangerous.
I hope your rave goes well!
If the forest in question is in or anywhere near a municipality, though, it may fall under their by-laws. These often include noise restrictions, time restrictions after night fall, that sort of crap. If the forest is in the middle of nowhere, on the other hand, why worry about being caught by the fuzz?
dunno how well crown lands are patrolled.
Liability is independent of a financial exchange. If I have people over for dinner, and my friend slips and falls on his ass going up my front step, I’m liable for his injury because it happened on my property. Similarly, if you’re acting as a host, you may be responsible for the actions of people even after they leave your party. There’s a court case in BC where parents were sued because they threw a party, and some teens got drunk and left, killing themselves on the way home. Those parents who held the party have, in at least one court, been found liable.
Don’t assume that common sense matters in cases of law.
Depending on what part of the province ,and what weekend you are throwing it on , probably will determine if the OPP turns a blind eye , or you become the center of attraction.
The people that normally patrol the national and provincial parks are either the RCMP , rare in ontario, The opp ,and the MNR and their wardens. And the odd platoon of infantry doing exercises.
To save you some time , forget getting permision , as long as no one is quaffing anything ilegal , most of the time forgiveness is not a hassle.
Your personal milage may vary , but throw the bash and what the heck, almost everyone that I know , who went to a bush bash , was the cop chases that was the most pleasant memory.
Declan