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You don’t have to talk to the police.

With new legislation setting strict rules on how police can do street checks, they’ll have to remind you of that almost every time they approach you.

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But Windsor’s police chief calls the province’s plan “negligent,” saying it will handcuff officers trying to question suspicious-looking people or stop a crime before it happens.

“It will really impact front-line policing,” said Chief Al Frederick. “They’re telling officers drive down the street and keep your eyes closed. They might as well stay in the station and just respond once the crime occurs, because that’s really what they’re asking us to do.”

The province this week announced the draft regulation that also bans random carding or street checks, saying it will “protect civil liberties and support community safety.”

There will be a 45-day public consultation on the regulations, which were drafted after racial profiling controversies in other cities. The rules will start taking effect in different stages next year.