Pubdate: Wed, 02 May 2007
Source: Lethbridge Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2007 The Lethbridge Herald
Contact:  http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/239
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

ENFORCEMENT ISSUE PUT ON WRONG PARTIES

City council took a step down a slippery slope Monday, laying down 
the law, so to speak, for concert performers.

Council, under pressure by residents outraged by the conduct of 
performers and concert goers at a January event at the Enmax Centre, 
introduced the threat of financial penalty to any performer who 
breaks the law or encourages others to do so while on stage.

Where might this slope lead? How about a large amateur sporting 
event, in which players and their families and friends bring their 
own booze to consume openly at city ball diamonds? If people using 
the parks notice this behaviour and are offended, will they call 
police or spark a letter-writing campaign to council demanding 
action? If they choose the latter, could ball tournament organizers 
be next in line to be compelled to produce financial guarantees of 
good and lawful behaviour?

Putting the onus on the performers and their promoters is 
misdirected. Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and Belly, the stars of the January 
show, didn't supply concert goers with drugs. That was smuggled in by 
individuals, past event security, which conducted searches at the 
doors. And it was used in the presence of law enforcement who were at 
the concert that night. In advance of the January concert, a police 
spokesman said local law enforcement was aware of the history of the 
headliner and his history with drug use. Staff Sgt. Scott Penich told 
The Herald, "Drug offences will be treated the same there as anywhere else."

Yet there's no record of any arrests from the Enmax that night.

The course of action accepted by city council Monday is to "assist in 
the prevention of unlawful acts during concerts." Nowhere in the four 
recommendations does it address how police should react when the law 
is broken. The closest the new policy comes is by calling for Enmax 
management to contact police in advance "to discuss possible 
concerns" about upcoming concerts.

(The new booking policy specifies "rock, rap and hip-hop" as the 
types of concerts that warrant advance consultation with police. 
Apparently country music is in the clear, despite the fact the 
red-headed stranger, Willie Nelson, for one example, was found less 
than eight months ago with more than a kilogram of marijuana and a 
bag of mushrooms in his tour bus.)

If law enforcement fails to enforce laws, whether Criminal Code or 
municipal, one can bet the unlawful behaviour in the crowd will 
continue, regardless of whether there's any overt encouragement from 
a performer. Pot smoking is not uncommon at many concerts. It's not 
new and it's not unique to hip-hop. So if the mayor is serious "when 
people are in our house, follow our rules," the city's going to have 
to get serious about enforcement.

Other jurisdictions successfully police concerts without sparking 
riots. Just last week in Bismarck, N.D., police arrested or cited 23 
people attending a Three 6 Mafia concert. A number of the arrests 
happened inside the venue during the concert.

The city has succeeded in introducing a policy that just might 
discourage some acts from performing here. While that might appease 
the outraged, it doesn't address the unlawful behaviour that sparked 
all the outrage.

If the law-breaking was the public's primary concern, it's a police 
matter that can't be laid at the feet of promoters or performers.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman