National drama? Here's ours :-)

We all know the US are going nuts since 9-11, but sometimes it's getting scary.

We have the longest border in the world between Canada and USA, and there is a lot of small cities which have a border inside the city.

One month ago, a canadian citizen from one of these cities does what he's doing very often like everyone in this city, they cross the border to get gaz because it's cheaper in the US due to the taxes.. every citizen of the city have an agreement, and the custom office closes at 8pm, it's 8h20 pm and the guy doesn't go to the custom office in that city knowing it's closed (which is part of the "agreement" too), but once he's done, he's going to get back to his side of the border and he's stopped by a border patrol officer..

They decide to search his vehicule and everything, the guy was hunting that day, hence he had his weapon with him (this is in Maine and the east of Quebec, there's only wood in there! so it's the place for hunting) and because he didn't report (it was closed) and being with a weapon, he's now in jail since 4 weeks at 45 mins down to the border.

Now because of this, this man is in jail, his wife and 2 kids have to do 90 minutes daily to see him, and his only real crime was to get gaz! The other thing they have against him, he has a criminal record for fighting in a bar 20 years ago...!

And that's one part of the iceberg.. now when you cross the border, you might have your picture and fingerprints taken if you're not from the right etnic background.. they started that yesterday...!!

I hope they seriously don't think this will stop any criminal activity down there? 1/3 of the customs are closed at night between both countries and everyone can pass, and there are several ways to do this too. This will only stop the good will people actually.. and maybe make the life of the criminals a little harder, but it won't stop it..

Ah well, like they say, America is land of the free...

Quebecer's detention by U.S. simply cruel The Gazette

Friday, November 08, 2002

If Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Love had an ounce of justice or common sense in his bones, he would release from jail immediately Quebecer Michel Jalbert,whose "crime" was to do something he had done without any problem for 15 years. Mr. Jalbert, a resident of Pohenegamook, a border town split between Canada and the U.S., drove all of 15 metres into the U.S. to buy gasoline.

With the U.S. customs station a kilometre away, most Canadians in the town have habitually driven the short distance to the gas station, without reporting to U.S. customs. It was such a common practice, in fact, that in 1990 the district director of the U.S. Customs Service confirmed in writing that the exception would be tolerated.

But on Oct. 11, Mr. Jalbert, 32, was arrested. The U.S. Border Patrol officer found a bird-hunting rifle in his truck. A computer search by U.S. officials uncovered a criminal record of Mr. Jalbert's, dating back 13 years. He had been charged with breaking windows and receiving stolen goods and paid a $200 fine.

This week, a grand jury in Portland, Me., indicted Mr. Jalbert on three charges, one for failure to report for inspection at the border and two for gun possession, one of which was for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

This is post-Sept. 11 caution run amok. If the U.S. Customs Service had wanted to put an end to local Canadian residents slipping a few metres across the border to buy gas, it should have simply put up a large notice telling them that they risk going to jail if they persist. It might also have had a word with the gas-station owners who built the station on the border in the first place. Its driveway is in Canada, but the pumps are in the U.S.

Mr. Jalbert's American lawyer believes his client is being turned into an example by U.S. border guards anxious to prove that they are working hard to maintain border security. Mr. Jalbert, who speaks only French, could be stuck in jail in Maine at least until January, when his trial is expected to start.

Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham should put pressure on U.S. authorities to release Mr. Jalbert, who suffers from anxiety attacks and is on anti-depressants. The U.S. authorities have very likely already achieved their aims. It is doubtful that anyone from Poh?n?gamook will cross the border anytime soon without first carefully registering with the customs service. To persist in detaining Mr. Jalbert is simply cruel.

© Copyright 2002 Montreal Gazette

Update...

The guy was bailed out today, surprisingly when Collin Powell was visiting Canada.

He was about to be release until his trial, but the attourneys appealed the decision for some unknown reason, but the attourneys cancelled their appeal on the day Collin Powell came to Canada.

Strange coincidences...!!