California trip

[Tara361]

I am going from Phoenix to San Diego to Las Vegas, Nevada. I'm hearing we should not carry fruits like apples, g****s, etc into the state of California in our coaches. These are not to sell, but to consume by us on the trip. Help me understand this
Thanks Bob

[Bill_Satellite]

Tara361 wrote:
These inspection stations, are they like the truck weighing stations, does everyone stop at these, are they at the Calif border going in and out. This is the first time I have heard of this. Mostly at the truck weighing stations, the trucks go in and the rv's go on by. Now, I am going to be stopping??? Totally confused
Help Help

Thanks Bob

They are not "at the border" and they are not weigh stations. Yes, you will have to stop and your RV may be entered by inspectors. That's usually not the case but it did happen to me once leaving Las Vegas and heading into CA on I-15. The guy pulled a plastic plant off the kitchen counter (stuck down) to get a good look. Guessing he was new on the job!
In any case, it's always an inconvenient delay as the line to get to the check station is usually fairly long and it can take 3-5 minutes to get to the place where they either wave you on, ask a couple of questions or jump inside for a look.

[glamisorbust]

It is an "agricultural checkpoint" while entering the state of california. We live in phoenix and go to the dunes just west of yuma several times a year. Sometimes there is someone standing there, other times nobody there. I have been through there 50 times and never been stopped once.

If they do stop you, they ask if you have any fruit. My answer is always no. They never checked me. One time I was eating a banana while going through, they asked me if I had any fruit on board, I just laughed and said no, and was waved through instantly.

I have heard the firewood thing somewhere before too. However, I pull an open trailer with all the sand toys on it, a huge pile of firewood and all kinds of other things, and have never been stopped for bringing firewood in.

Hope this helps.

[Tara361]

These inspection stations, are they like the truck weighing stations, does everyone stop at these, are they at the Calif border going in and out. This is the first time I have heard of this. Mostly at the truck weighing stations, the trucks go in and the rv's go on by. Now, I am going to be stopping??? Totally confused
Help Help

Thanks Bob

[fivejackie]

We had an experience here in Ca. during the med fly scare. We pulled into this road side farmers market and loaded up on a lot of fruit. Two miles down the road was an inspection station and they took everything.

[rekoj71]

I lived in AZ and remember the checkpoints well. Was never searched but usually didn't have anything anyhow.
It stems from concern over bugs and also about how you might use the seeds in the fruits. Big fruit states like California and Florida and even Georgia, don't want new varieties of fruit mixing in with their controlled crops.

[FIRE_UP]

azdryheat wrote:
We make many trips each year into Cali from Tucson and all we ever get is a wave on through by the obviously bored inspector.

We live in Lake Havasu City AZ and, we frequently go back to San Diego to visit the kids and her mom. We cross that check station at Vidal Junction all the time. And yes, many times we just get waved on and never come to a complete stop.

But, it depends on the person/officer standing there doing the checking. Sometimes we're asked:" Where did you come from"? Sometimes we're asked if we're carrying and fruits"? (I always tell them no, a little fibbing here) and, we get waved on. Sometimes, there's no one standing there and we just proceed slowly through the check point.

Things are different there all the time. If I were the OP, I'd certainly not worry about it. If you've got fruit in the fridge, for your consumption, I'd not worry about it. Your choice.
Scott

[Kayteg1]

Fulltimers wrote:
They sell fruit in California. You don't have to take your own.

Yeah, but we don't like meat in them.

[Fulltimers]

They sell fruit in California. You don't have to take your own.

[donkeydew]

it's like the lottery ,you never know who will be picked.

[kalynzoo]

Since today's new reported that the medfly was again found in San Diego there is a good chance that the inspection station will be in operation.

[Halibut214]

Look at the website and you make the choice on what to do. On any given day you may or may not get waved through. Just because someone else got waved through does not mean you will. Whatever you do, if you do get stopped, CLAIM WHAT YOU HAVE. If you do not and they find something you may be there for awhile. Not worth an orange to me. One of the few things about California I like anyway is a fruit stand with fresh Oranges. Another thing few think about is firewood. Many times it's not allowed.

[Kayteg1]

Bad economy has good side 😉
I cross state lane several times a year and usually CA plate gets me waved thru, but when having loaded car, they used to stop me and ask what I am carrying.
Banana and potatoes are safe.
Then when I was coming with motorhome having Maryland plates and I told them I am bringing it to California, they hold me almost 1 hr for inspection.
In last years I see single officer waving 2 lanes of traffic.
Oregon and Washington did have boat checks, don't know if that still exist.

[msmith1199]

They are mostly looking for commercial shipments at the checkpoints, but depending on where your license plate is from you make get better checked. If you have Florida or Georgia plates or places like that where there are fruit flies and crawly critters they may take a closer look. Never mind the fact that you could have California plates on your motorhome and be coming back from Florida!

[Oasisbob]

Went to CA and hoje to Oregon last week. Got sent right through. No problems.