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Trouble with California

pitch
Explorer II
Explorer II
Ag. Check points;we all know understand and tolerate them,never a problem.
Couple of weeks ago we were heade to redwood. National forest from Grants Pas Oregon.
Ag check ahead, ok I fall into line with everyone else,multiple lanes,cars trucks,other rv,s. Everyone pauses about thirty seconds and moves on. Normal right?
My turn, she looks at my NY tags,Have you any fresh fruits or vegetables on board?"
"No we Don,t"
"w
When was the last time this vehicle was in Ny?"
"About 8or9weeks ago."

She then grabs a flashlight and inspection miror and gives the undercarriage of both truck and trailer a thorough going over. She then does a second tour inspecting the roof area.
I was quite surprised,but oh well not an imposition.
"I would like to inspect the interior"

"Not with out a warrant"
"Sir Weare trying to protect our agricultural resources"

"I understand that,bbut you are not entering my trailer without a warrant !"

She gave me a look that could kill,and entered her both and made a phone call.

Minute is so later she comes out,shoves a handful of invasive critter literature into my hand and said,"move on"

Has anyone else been subjected to such nonsense,or did this inspector just have a bone for New Yorkers?
281 REPLIES 281

pitch
Explorer II
Explorer II
Snowflake the OP here.
Strange darn thing, I entered California on I 15 Friday morning,I was met with a wall of inspection booths,all unmanned. Myself and several thousand(probably mutitudes) of my fellow travelers merrily transported whatever pests into were in on or incorporated into their vehicle into California. Yep ag checks are a vital thing. Yep Okay!
No Warrant No Entry!

pitch
Explorer II
Explorer II
badsix wrote:
I didn't read all the post. but I would like to be right behind the O/P when he interred the Canadian border and told them they need a search warrant. might be comical to watch.i've been there, didn't get searched but have several friends that have and they said it wasn't fun.
Jay D.

An international border is not quite the same as a state border. A nation has the obligation to protect itself.

badsix
Explorer
Explorer
I cross periodically at the north end on 101. unless things have changed, most of the time you can pass right through, the place isn't even open most of the time.
and yes there is a huge difference going into Canada. if they decide to search they search everything. we crossed last summer going to Alaska they asked a lot of questions, he was very nice about it. we had prescription drugs and I wasn't sure how to answer his question about them. anyway he said I did just fine. I asked about the dog and her papers that cost almost 100.00 he said I can see she is healthy have a good time in Canada he said. there was no one behind us at the time and I asked him how they determine there searches he said random and your reply's to questions and a lot of other things. these people are well trained on reading people.

cummins2014
Explorer
Explorer
JRscooby wrote:
4x4van wrote:
JRscooby wrote:
Yosemite Sam1 wrote:

California has a multi-billion agricultural industry that the state is trying to protect from pests.

The mandate extend to invasive species that could play havoc on it's forests and bodies of water.

Hence, CA's borders have inspectors.

Yes, those produce and firewood can be asked to be off loaded.


Yep yep yep. California is the only state in the country with multi-billion agricultural industry.
Nope, but it is the highest; nearly double 2nd place Iowa ($50 billion vs $27 billion).


OK, double the dollars. But triple the area.
I'm not against a check at the state line, but one of two things should happen. Search every vehicle, or ask if they are carrying any banned stuff. I would take issue with anybody that asked, then did not take my word.
And I would feel better if the firewood or produce that was unloaded at a check was offered to people leaving the state.


badsix wrote:
I didn't read all the post. but I would like to be right behind the O/P when he interred the Canadian border and told them they need a search warrant. might be comical to watch.i've been there, didn't get searched but have several friends that have and they said it wasn't fun.
Jay D.


You think there is no difference between international boundaries and a state line?



No idea what the difference is , but a few years ago entering Canada ,towing a trailer we were searched. We were searched thoroughly inside that camper, and asked many questions.

We had nothing to worry about, but they went thru everything. Not sure how it would have went if I refused the search, and it never entered my mind, but entering Canada ,I'm pretty sure would not have happened . The only thing I said other then answering their questions , was why we were being searched ,and the answer was its random. Good enough for me, nor did it bother me they searched us other then it took awhile.

toedtoes
Explorer III
Explorer III
First:

Their asking and then choosing to search is not about YOUR feelings, it's about them doing a job and having to make a choice based on a wide range of observations. Funny how it is so upsetting for an old white guy to be singled out of a line for a more indepth scrutiny about a bag of fruit. "Oh the horrors! They think I'm lying!"

Second:

If they let someone else take that fruit (or firewood, etc.), it will very likely find it's way into the state. Or will be dumped a few miles away when found to be infested with a bug and that bug will find its way over the state line. And if that happens, then the ag folks didn't do their job.

In the end, just deal. If they ask to search, say yes or no (whatever your reason) and politely deal with the consequences. Get over yourself.
1975 American Clipper RV with Dodge 360 (photo in profile)
1998 American Clipper Fold n Roll Folding Trailer
Both born in Morgan Hill, CA to Irv Perch (Daddy of the Aristocrat trailers)

JRscooby
Explorer II
Explorer II
4x4van wrote:
JRscooby wrote:
Yosemite Sam1 wrote:

California has a multi-billion agricultural industry that the state is trying to protect from pests.

The mandate extend to invasive species that could play havoc on it's forests and bodies of water.

Hence, CA's borders have inspectors.

Yes, those produce and firewood can be asked to be off loaded.


Yep yep yep. California is the only state in the country with multi-billion agricultural industry.
Nope, but it is the highest; nearly double 2nd place Iowa ($50 billion vs $27 billion).


OK, double the dollars. But triple the area.
I'm not against a check at the state line, but one of two things should happen. Search every vehicle, or ask if they are carrying any banned stuff. I would take issue with anybody that asked, then did not take my word.
And I would feel better if the firewood or produce that was unloaded at a check was offered to people leaving the state.


badsix wrote:
I didn't read all the post. but I would like to be right behind the O/P when he interred the Canadian border and told them they need a search warrant. might be comical to watch.i've been there, didn't get searched but have several friends that have and they said it wasn't fun.
Jay D.


You think there is no difference between international boundaries and a state line?

JRscooby
Explorer II
Explorer II
  • badsix
    Explorer
    Explorer
    I didn't read all the post. but I would like to be right behind the O/P when he interred the Canadian border and told them they need a search warrant. might be comical to watch.i've been there, didn't get searched but have several friends that have and they said it wasn't fun.
    Jay D.

    4x4van
    Explorer III
    Explorer III
    JRscooby wrote:
    Yosemite Sam1 wrote:

    California has a multi-billion agricultural industry that the state is trying to protect from pests.

    The mandate extend to invasive species that could play havoc on it's forests and bodies of water.

    Hence, CA's borders have inspectors.

    Yes, those produce and firewood can be asked to be off loaded.


    Yep yep yep. California is the only state in the country with multi-billion agricultural industry.
    Nope, but it is the highest; nearly double 2nd place Iowa ($50 billion vs $27 billion).
    We don't stop playing because we grow old...We grow old because we stop playing!

    2004 Itasca Sunrise M-30W
    Carson enclosed ATV Trailer
    -'85 ATC250R, '12 Husky TE310, '20 CanAm X3 X rs Turbo RR
    Zieman Jetski Trailer
    -'96 GTi, '96 Waveblaster II

    4x4van
    Explorer III
    Explorer III
    Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
    WVcampground wrote:
    4x4van wrote:
    But thanks, I always welcome someone from the east coast "educating me" on my home state and what is important here on the west coast. :R


    Don't mention it. Hopefully you're far from the fires and have not had your power shut off. Maybe you all could use some education from the East coast.


    Just keep the snowflakes with an attitude home.:B

    And that education, would that involve sweeping the forest to prevent forest fire and wanting Pleasure in Paradise city?:S
    I agree that decades of CA forest mismanagement and liberal environmentalist policies are to blame for the fires, although CA's vegetation and environment is not in any way similar to the east coast, so any comparison is invalid from the get-go. I know people often ask why would anyone live in CA with the fires and earthquakes; but the same could be asked about those in the Mississippi river valley who continue to rebuild after the river floods every few years, or those along the east coast who get hit with hurricanes over and over, or those in tornado alley, or...

    Although I'm still not sure what any of that has to do with a 30 second delay at an AG station. I may be old, but I think I can spare 30 seconds or so once in a blue moon. Will the inspection actually make a difference? Maybe, maybe not; that is indeed debatable. But will that 30 seconds lost degrade my life in any way? Certainly not, although YMMV.
    We don't stop playing because we grow old...We grow old because we stop playing!

    2004 Itasca Sunrise M-30W
    Carson enclosed ATV Trailer
    -'85 ATC250R, '12 Husky TE310, '20 CanAm X3 X rs Turbo RR
    Zieman Jetski Trailer
    -'96 GTi, '96 Waveblaster II

    JRscooby
    Explorer II
    Explorer II
    Yosemite Sam1 wrote:

    California has a multi-billion agricultural industry that the state is trying to protect from pests.

    The mandate extend to invasive species that could play havoc on it's forests and bodies of water.

    Hence, CA's borders have inspectors.

    Yes, those produce and firewood can be asked to be off loaded.


    Yep yep yep. California is the only state in the country with multi-billion agricultural industry.

    Yosemite_Sam1
    Explorer
    Explorer
    WVcampground wrote:
    4x4van wrote:
    But thanks, I always welcome someone from the east coast "educating me" on my home state and what is important here on the west coast. :R


    Don't mention it. Hopefully you're far from the fires and have not had your power shut off. Maybe you all could use some education from the East coast.


    Just keep the snowflakes with an attitude home.:B

    And that education, would that involve sweeping the forest to prevent forest fire and wanting Pleasure in Paradise city?:S

    WVcampground
    Explorer
    Explorer
    4x4van wrote:
    But thanks, I always welcome someone from the east coast "educating me" on my home state and what is important here on the west coast. :R


    Don't mention it. Hopefully you're far from the fires and have not had your power shut off. Maybe you all could use some education from the East coast.
    "Now the Subaru with the โ€œcoexistโ€ sticker on the back doing 68 mph passing a semi thatโ€™s going 67mph in a 70 zone. Yeah Iโ€™ll slap the entitlement tag on them leaf lickers!" - Grit Dog - Warning, you may find the preceding offensive if you lick leaves.

    dave54
    Nomad
    Nomad
    bpounds wrote:
    dave54 wrote:
    ...
    A few years ago the Calexico border checkpoint was backed up...Did not even ask for passports...


    Checkpoint, or border crossing? Why would you need a passport at a checkpoint? Checkpoints are often many miles inside the country. Citizens mostly would not be carrying passports.


    The border crossing from Mexico. Surprised the heck outta me they waved me through without stopping. :?

    Makes you real confident they are keeping us safe, doesn't it?
    =~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
    So many campsites, so little time...
    ~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~

    4x4van
    Explorer III
    Explorer III
    WVcampground wrote:
    4x4van wrote:
    WVcampground wrote:


    A visual inspection for such things on a watercraft is a total joke and waste of time. It's nothing more than a Government sponsored feel good measure like a firewood quarantine.
    You might feel different about that firewood thing if you saw the millions of dead trees in the forests of CA due to the drought taking a toll on trees that were weakened by Bark Beetles. And watercraft & boats? They only check to make sure that the drain plug is removed so that any Quagga Mussells (go ahead, look them up) will dry out and die before being transferred to another fresh water body.

    Amazes me how adamant some can be about their "rights" to not be subject to a 1 minute delay in an effort to prevent major problems down the road.


    I won't. Because a Pine Beetle, or what your calling a bark beetle, is not an invasive species, it's native. Its current explosion is due to forest mismanagement. A single female mussel releases up to a million eggs per year that are transferred by birds from one body or water to another.
    Firewood bans are in place to prevent native species from invading non-native areas. And as for Quagga Mussells, although transfer by birds is theoretically possible, it has never actually been demonstrated, and considering the millions of tax dollars that have been spent because of the destruction to watersheds that they have caused, I'm not so arrogant to claim that 30 seconds to a minute of my time at a California Ag station is more important than helping to fight something that could possibly cause millions of (my) dollars in damage. Maybe google "Asian Citrus Psyllid", or "Mediterranean Fruit Fly". Free and easy travel has created many issues, not just the ones we are discussing here. But thanks, I always welcome someone from the east coast "educating me" on my home state and what is important here on the west coast. :R
    We don't stop playing because we grow old...We grow old because we stop playing!

    2004 Itasca Sunrise M-30W
    Carson enclosed ATV Trailer
    -'85 ATC250R, '12 Husky TE310, '20 CanAm X3 X rs Turbo RR
    Zieman Jetski Trailer
    -'96 GTi, '96 Waveblaster II