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Curious experience tonight

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JPSmit

JPSmit

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So this being President's Day Weekend (Happy Birthday Mr. President...) and Spring break for SWMBO and darling daughter, we decided to make a run for Buffalo for some retail therapy and a little visit to the Cheesecake factory. Get there, shop, buy a tool box (scoot over to the tools forum if you want to give me some advice on how to use it) Came back to Canada, took about 20 minutes to get to the front of the line, get more questions than ever before, "anything to declare?" no. "tobacco or liquor" no "firearms?" no "anything from a post office box?" no "more than $10,000 dollars?" no "anyone give you a package?" no "mace or pepper spray?" no.... the list goes on.

We had however purchased just under $200 and are allowed $50 duty and tax free. There were three of us leaving us $50 over. So, we have to pay tax, fine. Mr. Zealous writes us the form we have to take inside to pay, we pull over to the left. It is crowded! (President's Day Weekend) Most of the crowd though, is cars being searched. (sneaky Canadians don't you know) So I ask the customs officer where to park - he points me to a -full- row of parking spots. I start to drive over to there, another customs officer walks over, she asks for the form, takes one look at it, gives back our passports and says, "you can go." I said, "where?" She says, "leave." so we did.

I guess it wasn't worth the hassle for that little return, whatever it was, we didn't ask twice but I have never experienced that before.

always something different!
:cheers:

Here's to civil servants with a lick of sense.
 
Look to Mel Brooks in Blazing Saddles for the REAL explanation, JP.

...we live in interesting times.
 
JP- we'll be up that way for a car show in Aug., Niag on Lake, and wondering if there's anything "special" to watch out for in crossing both ways in a vintage car, or with vintage car on a trailer?? I expect there will be at least 4 cars on trailers in the US contingent.
 
DNK said:
Canadians observe Presidents Day?
Click to expand...

No, but Canadians observe President's Day sales.
grin.gif


Seriously, we live 1 1/4 hours from the border and it is real easy to scoot over, especially now that the dollar is at par. Partly just to get out of the house, partly to eat at restaurants they don't have in Canada (like Cheesecake Factory) and partly because there is a better selection of everything at better prices in the good old USofA. (with a few exceptions)

For the most part, my wife buys all her clothes and shoes in the USA. Style, selection and price being the determining factor.

Plus, things are more expensive here. Last week the results of a govt. study came out looking at why we are (typically) charged about 25% more for things in Canada than the USA - (including things made in Canada) the answer; "because they can." Add to that 13% sales tax and there is not a lot of incentive to support Canadian merchants (chains especially)

so, we get to rescue your economy instead of our own. :wall:

but we have fun!
 
DART said:
JP- we'll be up that way for a car show in Aug., Niag on Lake, and wondering if there's anything "special" to watch out for in crossing both ways in a vintage car, or with vintage car on a trailer?? I expect there will be at least 4 cars on trailers in the US contingent.
Click to expand...

I've only driven Ms Triss across the border, never towed her so I can't speak to that. The real issue is to make sure you have your documentation - Passports and (probably) ownerships.

What is the show and when? Niagara on the Lake is close and very very pretty. It is also some of the best wine in the world.

PS. If you are a wine drinker and want to bring some wine back to the USA, there is the "duty free" allocations but, if you want to bring more (when we lived in Florida we would bring a case or two) the duty is only 30-40 cents per bottle! We never actually met a customs agent who thought it was worth processing for $ 4 a case.
 
I never know what to expect crossing borders. I've never been required to pay duty even when I filled out paperwork showing purchases over the limit. They were never <span style="font-style: italic">much</span> over, though, and I guess they figured it wasn't worth the time. I presume individual agents have some discretion based on crowds etc. (This was all in airports)

I had an experience similar to yours regarding a luggage search one time. I was "fingered" for a search - randomly I think - and was headed for the table they pointed to. An agent stopped me & asked about my trip etc and then said to just leave. Who know?

The only time I've been delayed crossing any border was entering Canada at our local crossing. I don't know what they were concerned about but we had to wait about a half hour in a room while they checked us out (or went and had lunch...) Eventually an agent came in and said we could go. No searches etc. Ya never know. Maybe that's intentional.
 
I just went thru Logan airport in Boston. When i asked the TSA agent about all the questions - he explained they were in the process of trying out the Israeli model of airport security.

Coming back i was asked all sorts of questions. Then told "have a nice day"


m
 
Wonder if their "intelligence" and I use the word loosely,says something might be up?
 
John_Malinick said:
Wonder if their "intelligence" and I use the word loosely,says something might be up?
Click to expand...

Well, they're still around after 6,000 years.

Ever met a Philistine ?!? :wink:

If history has taught us anything....



"a heavy stone" indeed!
 
JP Show is called Shaw Festival Theatre Motorcar Exhibition (I think) and is put on by https://niagarabritishcarclub.org/ The Daimler & Lanchester Club of NA will have our annual meeting weekend in conjunction. Holding it on Northern border this year to make it easier for our Canadian members to attend. Be great if you could make it; always looking for a chance to buy a beverage for a BCF'r. :cheers:
 
Mark said:
I just went thru Logan airport in Boston. When i asked the TSA agent about all the questions - <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">he explained they were in the process of trying out the Israeli model of airport security.</span></span>
Click to expand...

Well it's ABOUT FLIPPIN' TIME!!!
 
Canada Won't let me in.

After over 40 hauls in a 18 wheeler.

Went something like this.

I pull up to the Washington/Canada Border, slow day, no other truckers around.
Immigration ask me "Ever been arrested?
So I give him my standard answer as I have every time I was asked that question.
"Sure! I think that everyone should be arrested at least once in ther life,
its a very humbleing expierence!"
The Trooper looks at me, and in a kind of interogating way, says
"Tell me about each and every one, I show 3 on the screen"
I reply "well, they all happened when I was a kid, think I got 3 dui's over 30 years ago, but I have been sober for 25 years now"
His reply was "Your WRONG!!! You have 2 dui's and a wreckless! We can't let you in to our fair nation because of your lies and the fact that you have not paid for your crimes against humanity!"
I'm looking at him with a doe in the headlights kind of look.
"CRimes against humanity???? I ask."
"Thats right" he says. "Now you can give me $400 cash, now, and I will give you time to write to immigration and prove your case, you will need copies of all of your arrest, and the disposition of your cases, you can write and ask for a Queens Pardon, they will conviene a board and mull over your situation, but in the meantime, I can't let you in to our nation, you might break our laws and we can't have that, and I am going to flag you so that you can't cross at any other
border crossings untill you take care of this".

Pretty country, saw all kinds of things I wish I could take my children through,
Franks Slide, the Yellowhead Highway, tons of wildlife. Went as far North as they would allow US Citizens go. But now. I think I will go to Brazil, I might have a better chance.
 
CZ_Dave said:
Canada Won't let me in.

After over 40 hauls in a 18 wheeler.

Went something like this.

I pull up to the Washington/Canada Border, slow day, no other truckers around.
Immigration ask me "Ever been arrested?
So I give him my standard answer as I have every time I was asked that question.
"Sure! I think that everyone should be arrested at least once in ther life,
its a very humbleing expierence!"
The Trooper looks at me, and in a kind of interogating way, says
"Tell me about each and every one, I show 3 on the screen"
I reply "well, they all happened when I was a kid, think I got 3 dui's over 30 years ago, but I have been sober for 25 years now"
His reply was "Your WRONG!!! You have 2 dui's and a wreckless! We can't let you in to our fair nation because of your lies and the fact that you have not paid for your crimes against humanity!"
I'm looking at him with a doe in the headlights kind of look.
"CRimes against humanity???? I ask."
"Thats right" he says. "Now you can give me $400 cash, now, and I will give you time to write to immigration and prove your case, you will need copies of all of your arrest, and the disposition of your cases, you can write and ask for a Queens Pardon, they will conviene a board and mull over your situation, but in the meantime, I can't let you in to our nation, you might break our laws and we can't have that, and I am going to flag you so that you can't cross at any other
border crossings untill you take care of this".

Pretty country, saw all kinds of things I wish I could take my children through,
Franks Slide, the Yellowhead Highway, tons of wildlife. Went as far North as they would allow US Citizens go. But now. I think I will go to Brazil, I might have a better chance.
Click to expand...

well you can't just let everyone in can you? I mean you need standards. :devilgrin:

seriously - that's just dumb.
 
Sounds like someone just got their badge from a cracker jack box.

Lies?

Yeah, a DUI is ~so~ much better than a wreckless. :rolleyes:

What an idiot!

Shoulda told him you wacked a border guard too. :devilgrin:
 
Last time I went through the border, going north no problems no questions. Coming back there was no one waiting so I pulled up to the border post in the lane. Lady come out and starts yelling that I don't pull up until I'm waved up. Points to a spot further back and tells me to go there. Lets me sit about 10 minutes, even though there's no other traffic, and then waves me up. After informing me to never do that again, passed me through in about 2 minutes. I fortunately knew better than to say anything other than thank you..
 
you need to stop back so the camera can photog the plate and facial rec.
 
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