Canada raps Canadian RVer for weapons incident

We've reported more than once about being familiar with (and observing) weapons laws when crossing the border from the US into Canada. A recent incident involving a Canadian citizen underscores just how seriously the Canadian courts feel about their laws.

Hugh Alexander Landry, 66, of Alberta, attempted to cross from Calais, Maine, back into St. Stephen after vacationing in Louisiana. Asked by Border agents if he was carrying weapons, Landry told the inspectors he was not. Something must have given Landry away--perhaps it was a Pinochio-style response, who knows, but agents smelled more than a rat in Landry's fifth wheel. In the closet they found a shotgun, and under the steps a .38 Colt handgun with ammunition.

It appears that if Landry had been an Americano, he might have done better with his day in court. The prosecutor made a big point that Landry, as a Canadian citizen, knew the law. He recommended a month in prison for his indiscretion. The judge passed on prison, but did fine Landry $8,000 for the crime--notably about twice what a US citizen would be hit with for the same offense. Landry is also out of a shotgun and the Colt.

Moral: If you fib to the feds, figure a forfeiture is in your future.

photo: alex.william on flickr.com by creative commons license

May "Long Weekend" may be "long dry weekend" for some in Alberta

The May Long Weekend of May 20 through 24 will be a dry one for several provincial and national park campgrounds throughout Alberta. Responding to alcohol related issues from year past, authorities have decreed no alcohol zones in parks for all there--including RVers.

"The May long weekend in Alberta has the highest number of liquor-related enforcement interventions with problems like vandalism, impaired driving, assaults and other crimes," said Camille Weleschuk, spokeswoman for Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation. As a result, no alcohol will be allowed in the closed areas from noon Thursday through 6:00 pm Monday on those days. Have a "stiff one," and face a stiff fine: $256 per violation and a free tossing out of the park.

The parks include: Aspen Beach Provincial Park, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Dillberry Lake Provincial Park, Garner Lake Provincial Park, Ghost Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area, Jarvis Bay Provincial Park, Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, Pigeon Lake Provincial Park, Wabamun Lake Provincial Park, Whitney Lakes Provincial Park, as well as seven front country parks in Banff National Park.

The move has drawn editorial fire from the Calgary Herald, which writes, "As much as we sympathize with the desire to manage the yahoos, an outright ban punishes everyone for the actions of the few. The problem is not with the family out for the weekend in the motorhome, it is the young rowdies in the tents." The Herald cites lack of enforcement of existing laws as the real problem with alcohol problems in campgrounds.

photo credit: kevin on flickr.com by creative commons license