Is Border Crossing Becoming Tougher And Tougher?
- Thread starter onecooldude
- Start date
If you're white, sit behind the closest brown person if you can. It's easier on the train, because you can choose your seats. When they're done interrogating the poor soul, they'll spend less time on you. Sad, but it works.
Also, you can try diverting their attention by acting embarrassed about things they don't care about- like your Trekky comic books for example. Or surrender your oranges and apologize profusely- pretend like you didn't know any better and SWEAR you'll never try to bring fruit over the border ever again. Be sure to carry business cards for your legitimate job. That helps.
I'm off to New York on Saturday morning... I always get a little shaky when I have to go through customs, but I think it'll be fine. Luckily my last name is not "Islam".
Also, you can try diverting their attention by acting embarrassed about things they don't care about- like your Trekky comic books for example. Or surrender your oranges and apologize profusely- pretend like you didn't know any better and SWEAR you'll never try to bring fruit over the border ever again. Be sure to carry business cards for your legitimate job. That helps.
I'm off to New York on Saturday morning... I always get a little shaky when I have to go through customs, but I think it'll be fine. Luckily my last name is not "Islam".
You wont have a problem unless "Tools" Code word for spare tire filled with Coke and a false floor filled with guns... Those two items are a big nono. They won't care about your Craftmen's wrench set.baltimoron said:
P.S. unlicensed and failing to declare firearms we get you tossed in jail.
In my experience, it's the U.S. guys and CDN women with the attitude problem. Both seem like they've something to proof.robert99 said:
One U.S. guy ask me rephased the same question 3 times to see if I trip up.
You're right with the passport, much faster to swipe it on their reader to track you. Few US eager bald eagles will take the time to type in driver lic. to see if outstanding charges.crownandseven said:
Check your rental policy, some in small print that the unlimited mileage was within Ontario only. Some new rentals have GPS to track stolen vehicles. Newspaper mentioned One CDN family got hit with a several thousand dollar bill for weekend rental. Common story for AZ and CA (liforina that is)
Esco, Det/Windsor bridge is still baby crossing, most use tunnel. I have friends worked as summer custom & people who deliver fastfood to them.
They used to cross without flashing their id.
The busier crossings like Lewiston has the photo to scanner/match licence plates, so denied entry will be flag. That's why if I drive other people's vehicle I make sure they haven't been denied before.
I'm from the USA and for over 30 years have crossed the border a lot. Up until ten years ago it was almost exclusively for fishing. With the exception of this past year, in all that time, I hardly ever got pulled over. But recently, twice on the Peace bridge and twice on the Rainbow bridge I was pulled over for a search. I keep a lot of fishing equipt., tools and other misc items in my car, and during these searches, they literally turn things upside down. Fortunately, nothings been broken yet. And its not fast since they do a time consuming background check as well. Thursday I got pulled over in Canada and on the way back they wanted to inspect my trunk. Would I say going over the border is becoming a hassle? You bet.
The more you think about this the more you're going to psyche yourself into getting searched. Just cross the damn border and don't think about it.onecooldude said:
Actually, I would rather be prepared to be searched than not be prepared. If those bastards/bitches don't search my car, fine. If they do, hey, at least I do my homework and try not to give them anything to bitch about.rama putri said:
http://www.mapinc.org/newscc/v05/n2007/a05.html?397baltimoron said:
The article certainly indicates that crossing the border is getting tougher these days. However, I think the tool box case of being refused entry is probably an exception.
In the case of my friend's friend who went on a shopping spree but did not unload her merchandise and thus gave the Canadian customs a reason to refuse her entry, she was warned by the immigration agent not to cross again that particular day. She was also told that her info is in the computer and she will be subjected to follow up inspections in the future. I cannot verify the last part. Do custom agents do follow up inspections on people who were initially refused entry? I guess it depends on what the travelers did wrong in their record and whoever agents and their moods the travelers come across next time. Anyone?skypilot said:
Paraonoia? Perhaps. In my mind, there is nothing wrong with being prepared for border crossing to increase of chance of smooth sailing. I have seen a lot of vehicles with Ontario plates everywhere in malls, grocery stores, and so on in Western New York. So my guess is a lot of people enter and leave the border easily. But I am more interested in incidents that travelers had a hard time with the customs at either end, being refused entry, how they dealed with them, and whether they finally succeeded in crossing the border. It is beneficial to travelers, hobbyists, SPs, and so on who are thinking of border crossing. I think we always learn something valuable from bad experiences. So why not share?hak said:
Where you going?
Sundowner
Any weapons or tabbaco in the car?
No
Have a nice day
Where ya been?
Sundowner
Anything to declare?
no
Have a nice night
Sundowner
Any weapons or tabbaco in the car?
No
Have a nice day
Where ya been?
Sundowner
Anything to declare?
no
Have a nice night
My point still stands, unless you intend to break the law as you cross the border there will be no incidents.onecooldude said:Paraonoia? Perhaps. In my mind, there is nothing wrong with being prepared for border crossing to increase of chance of smooth sailing. I have seen a lot of vehicles with Ontario plates everywhere in malls, grocery stores, and so on in Western New York. So my guess is a lot of people enter and leave the border easily. But I am more interested in incidents that travelers had a hard time with the customs at either end, being refused entry, how they dealed with them, and whether they finally succeeded in crossing the border. It is beneficial to travelers, hobbyists, SPs, and so on who are thinking of border crossing. I think we always learn something valuable from bad experiences. So why not share?
Hell, if you are going to see an SP just say you are visiting a friend. That's all you have to say. You want to lie - golf, casino, family, drive in Niagara region,. At worse they don't beleive you on the way back. They search your car. Big god damn deal, as long as your not stupid and not breaking the law.
You want me to share. I grew up on a border town in Eastern Ontario - I have made the trip well over 200 times. Never had any issues.
Well once I had more car checked because I said I went shopping and they thought I did not claim anything. It was a "horrifying incident" as an inspector checked my vehicle and asked me a few standard questions. I still cry at night from the horrors of that day.
Ok, I should make sure I bring a lot of money to donate to the casino, er...to the SPs. Wait, may be not that much or the customs will bother me.papasmerf said:
