Boarder crossing insanity - CBP gone crazy...
We've been taking a TT across the US/Canada border for years. We have Nexus and are "pre-cleared" for higher security. We always use the Pacific Highway crossing in south Surrey, BC. because it's th...
Forum Discussion
In 2008 we decided to tour a small portion of Canada in our 'new' motorhome (2008 Monaco Dynasty). Our trip consisted of driving 'halfway' around Lake Superior entering Canada through Minnesota and exiting into the USA through Michigan.
I made the mistake of not looking up what you are able to bring/not bring into their Country. :R When we drove up to the border crossing guardhouse, they asked the usual questions and then asked how much liquor we had on board. I looked at my co-pilot as I really didn't know.
We usually have Vodka in the freezer, a bottle of bourbon in the cabinet and some wine. Several years before we had taken a tour of the wine country in California bought A LOT of wine. Some of that wine made it into the motorhome in the upper cabinets in the dining and living area on the driver's side.
Well, since I didn't know exactly how much we had, they said pull over in the holding area. Two officer's came into the coach and asked us to wait outside. They asked how much cash we had total and I think it was less than $1,000 ($10,000 is the limit).
So, a male and female officer went rummaging through the whole interior of the coach. They found all of the wine and put it on the dining table. We probably had 20 bottles of which a few where quite nice and special. They were kind enough not to damage anything and they also never checked the bays.
I think because we were so laid-back and nice to them, they said we have two options of which we don't get to choose, they confiscate all of the overage wine that we are allowed or we have to pay a tax/fine. They let us pay the tax/fine.
It came out to $182.00 if I recall correctly. There were a couple of bottles that would have exceeded that cost. It was my fault for not checking the rules as that never crossed my mind as I had my passport and we are law abiding citizens in my eyes. We didn't bring in any guns, etc.
After paying the fine, the guard told us that we have been flagged in their computer.
Fast forward to 2013, we decided to take a train trip across Canada starting in Toronto and ending in Vancouver Canada. That was a WONDERFUL trip with beautiful scenery. Before the trip started we hired a car to take us to the Niagara Falls to spend a couple of days so that we could see it from the Canadian side (absolutely gorgeous!).
Flying into Canada and then into the USA, the officers checking our passports never said anything about being 'flagged'. It was very easy going in and out of both countries.
I remember in 2008 diesel fuel in Canada was $5.25 a gallon whereas it was $4.99 in the US. I was able to fill up in Minnesota and didn't have to refuel until we entered Michigan.
I would really like to tour Canada again, especially, in the eastern part.
Safe travels,
MM.
I made the mistake of not looking up what you are able to bring/not bring into their Country. :R When we drove up to the border crossing guardhouse, they asked the usual questions and then asked how much liquor we had on board. I looked at my co-pilot as I really didn't know.
We usually have Vodka in the freezer, a bottle of bourbon in the cabinet and some wine. Several years before we had taken a tour of the wine country in California bought A LOT of wine. Some of that wine made it into the motorhome in the upper cabinets in the dining and living area on the driver's side.
Well, since I didn't know exactly how much we had, they said pull over in the holding area. Two officer's came into the coach and asked us to wait outside. They asked how much cash we had total and I think it was less than $1,000 ($10,000 is the limit).
So, a male and female officer went rummaging through the whole interior of the coach. They found all of the wine and put it on the dining table. We probably had 20 bottles of which a few where quite nice and special. They were kind enough not to damage anything and they also never checked the bays.
I think because we were so laid-back and nice to them, they said we have two options of which we don't get to choose, they confiscate all of the overage wine that we are allowed or we have to pay a tax/fine. They let us pay the tax/fine.
It came out to $182.00 if I recall correctly. There were a couple of bottles that would have exceeded that cost. It was my fault for not checking the rules as that never crossed my mind as I had my passport and we are law abiding citizens in my eyes. We didn't bring in any guns, etc.
After paying the fine, the guard told us that we have been flagged in their computer.
Fast forward to 2013, we decided to take a train trip across Canada starting in Toronto and ending in Vancouver Canada. That was a WONDERFUL trip with beautiful scenery. Before the trip started we hired a car to take us to the Niagara Falls to spend a couple of days so that we could see it from the Canadian side (absolutely gorgeous!).
Flying into Canada and then into the USA, the officers checking our passports never said anything about being 'flagged'. It was very easy going in and out of both countries.
I remember in 2008 diesel fuel in Canada was $5.25 a gallon whereas it was $4.99 in the US. I was able to fill up in Minnesota and didn't have to refuel until we entered Michigan.
I would really like to tour Canada again, especially, in the eastern part.
Safe travels,
MM.
