Illegal Stop and Search on Hwy 16, Edson, AB

No picture to go with this story. But let me paint one for you. While driving from Jasper, AB to Edmonton, AB today I was stopped by the RCMP. No traffic violation. Just a "routine" stop. Did I know that the limit was 80 km back there? Yes, I sure did- and was under the limit. Did I know that the limit is 110 right here? Yes, I do, but I hadn't had a chance to get up to that speed yet. But these officers thought that I "might" have been going a little fast. No, they were not going to give me a ticket, as nothing illegal had registered on their radar. But they did want to see my licence, registration and insurance- all of which were in order, and provided.

The officer handed me back my papers and then asked me- "do you have anything in your car that we might be interested in?" I assured them, "no, I don't travel with or possess anything which might be dangerous or illegal." Then the questions continued, "where are you going?" "Where are you coming from?" "What is the purpose of your trip?" In Canada, we do- in nearly every circumstance- have the right to move about freely, without explaining our comings and goings to police or other authorities, yet I chose to respond conversationally that I was a musician- travelling from a show in Jasper to another one in Edmonton. "What have you got in your trunk?" responded the officer. "Guitars and gear," I responded. "Can we have a look?" probed the patrol man.

I had nothing to hide, but my rights were now being probed, if not violated, by a couple of guys with guns. I said, "I'll show you my gear, but I am not consenting to a search of my vehicle." When I opened my trunk they reached in, pulled out nearly every bag and went through them, asking me detailed questions about the contents. I repeated that I had not given permission for my vehicle and property to to be searched, after which they simply continued into the front of my car, looking into other bags. In response to my objection that I had not given consent- and there were clearly no reasonable or urgent grounds to justify a search, particularly a search without warrant- the officer told me not to worry. If he only found "a small amount" I would not be charged.

Our conversation was as friendly as possible under the circumstances, and in closing the officers told me that as a single man driving in Alberta with Ontario licence plates, I had raised their suspicions. This on a major highway, just outside a national park, at ten in the morning. I want to add that these officers were polite, and even pleasant during our encounter, giving the impression of being quite dedicated to their work. But this phoney stop- illegal search has happened all too often to me, and to others traveling the Trans Canada highway system. I've now experienced it in nearly every province. This is just the first encounter of the current Tour.

When members of the police engage in this kind of "fishing" expedition- spot profiling, coupled to legally unsound if not entirely illegal and improper means of stopping citizens going about their business, cumulating and escalating to illegal and unjustified, or at least highly questionable searches of vehicles, property, or persons- it represents an assault upon common law, thus upon the common citizen, and thus upon the free and democratic society as a whole. On the side of Hwy 16 today I encountered two criminals with guns, and I was scared. Law breaking by individual officers, or those who supervise and direct them, is a slippery slope. Once disrespect or disregard for law has been demonstrated by a police officer, then the citizen has good cause to fear how the officer may behave towards himself and others.

Under normative circumstances Canadians should not need to worry about being questioned as to their comings and goings, or be subject to unwarranted or illegal searches. Apparently basic police work has become rather boring to some young officers, and the war on drugs- for what that's worth- is all that's left. But these guys have seen too many cop movies. The erosion of civil rights caused by their activities is almost certainly more dangerous than the codes they seek to uphold. Most rural police in Canada do a fabulous job for their communities. It's a real mistake to allow or tolerate officers whose actions erode the confidence and respect due to the many. It's a real crime to diminish the rights and freedoms of Canadians.

Lucky Man- Roads to Lloydminster, SK

My good pal, Gord MacAulay. A great blues guy and all around human being. We always have fun hanging out. I stayed with Gord in Saskatoon, SK and we actually managed to play some music together this time! My concert in his studio space last night was pretty nice, too- I hope more of the blues community get the house concert bug! But here's good-bye for now, and I'm off to new destinations.

All gassed up and ready to go. My bank is across the street from Bud's- go figure. My pal Big Dave McLean was here last week. We've had some adventures up and down this street, and up and down this town. Blues bands have passed through here from the very beginning. It remains a great, blues town with solid players and an active local scene.

I've got a stop to make on my route today. I'm going to visit an old friend! The autumn drive under big skies is remarkable, with weather systems teasing around the edges...

Yeah! How she ended up out here- far from the crash site- and how the new owner found me, is a different story for a different day. Today, I am reminded of what a lucky guy I am. This is, of course, the car that I was driving last year when I had my crash.

Good-bye to that Lincoln! My new Lincoln is dragging in the wind today, but we are pushing our way north to Lloydminster, SK, where I'll visit The Root this evening.

It doesn't get much better than this for a prairie ride. Got Lucky.

House Concert in 'Toon Town, Saskatchewan

'Toon Town. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It's a real music town, and has been for a long time. I wasn't playing Bud's on Broadway tonight- instead I was doing a house concert at my pal Gord MacAulay's place. As always here, many blues friends from near and far attended. I sure do appreciate the support! It's really great to visit with my Blues Society friends and hang out a little.

Here's tonight's lucky winner of the National Steel "Got Lucky" 13 Blues Tour jacket. Genuine white stripe satin tour jacket. Genuine. Johnny Winter has one just like it.

Cold here today. Ice in the puddles, frost on the glass. I did laundry and email. The back end of this tour is pretty ratty this year, so it's a daily concern to try and book those gigs to carry me back across the continent. I'm usually booked up a year in advance, but last year's crash had a ripple effect, so my December is not tight at all. Too much down time. Too cold on the prairie. Too much snow in the mountains. There's lots of highway ahead yet, and more adventures on this year's road. Thanks, Saskatchewan (well, NOT Regina) for charging the batteries and moving me along. Much, much appreciated. By the way, the Saskatoon Blues Society is MY blues society. Can I join more than one? There are good ones and fine people from coast to coast helping the blues along. If you haven't already- join your local blues society, and help them help keep the blues alive!

'Toon Town Trip- Blues on Your Radio

Plenty of frost in these fields now. As you drive by, sometimes you can smell the woodsmoke whisping up from the farm houses along the way. It's the colour that really gets me here- that special golden brown and yellow of the fields stretching out into big sky... 

Into Saskatoon to visit with Jeff Montgomery at CFCR. Plenty of blues on the radio here. Later I played Lynn Victoria's jam at Somebody's and had Gord MacAulay on the upright bass with me. Fun! We finally got to play together! And a nice crowd of players and fans out to support blues on a Tuesday night. I wonder why the capital city of Regina can't seem to build a scene like this one? Tonight, a house concert in the same town. 'Toon Town is always good to me. Later in the week I'm pushing west again- a couple of bigger drive days taking me to Jasper, AB, and then back to Edmonton where I'll do radio with Dr. Holger Petersen, and a show with the Ross Neilsen band.

The Blues as Gospel: I Visit Kelvington, SK