Driving into Canada with pocket knife?

Knives are OK in Canada, but only when carried as a TOOL, not as a WEAPON (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). Pepper spray/Mace is prohibited, as are stun guns/Tasers. Unless you show up with it clenched between your teeth and mumbling "I'm gonna kill that SOB", you shouldn't have any trouble with a knife (unless it's a "switchblade"; the Kershaw-style assisted openers aren't considered "switchblades" under the current law, but that may not be known to the monkey in the booth).
PS. Do yourself a favour and stay out of Toronto, and let them know why; http://www.torontothebad.com/

Well, The Falls do look a lot better from the Canadian side, and Niagara Falls, Ont. is entertaining.

When in Canada, I always have a folder with me. Of course, it's for cigar clipping, fruit cutting, package opening.

We can carry pepper spray too. But it's for dogs. Only.

We're serious about www.torontothebad.com.

Let the mayor know how much tourist and convention money is leaking out of his city every day because of his neurotic gun phobia.

Send an email to the Chamber of Commerce/Visitors bureau and tell them what you think and why.

They ask you if you're carrying weapons at the border. You're not carrying a weapon, you're carrying a tool.

I recently flew into the the DPRK for the funeral of a loved one (hence short stay, and not much different from going to Canada) and didn't want take checked baggage so I couldn't take my pocket knife. I didn't realize how often I use it until I didn't have it. Had to bite open the coffee packets at the motel- most inconvenient. I use it lots of times every day, have for years, and have never used it as a weapon.

When are passports required for ground traffic re-entering the US?

I would see if you could take a Leatherman type tool kit to wear on your belt.

If they don't allow that... what about an old fashioned bottle/can opener? Small metal one like that had years ago? It has a small POINT on one end of it. They still make them like the ones from the 1950's and on.

Something sweet and simple.

Best wishes.

Catherine

Remember that Niagara falls is a tourist area not norther Quebec. You should be okay with a reasonable sized folder. Trying to carry a bowie sized folder is not very smart. IMO.

Last time I was at Niagara falls I did not see any metal detectors, but it's been several years.

As stated the falls are beautiful on the Canadian side. Remember your passport.

Good luck and have a good trip.

Your Zero Tolerance will be fine. No balisongs, nunchuks, shurikens, morning stars or blow guns though. Pepper spray isn't illegal unless you use it on people. Mace is illegal.
You don't need a passport unless you're flying. Your government keeps putting it off for ground entry.
"...They ask you if you're carrying weapons..." They ask about firearms. It's amazing how many of our Southern cousins think U.S. law applies in Canada. Mind you, it goes the other way sometimes too.

"Mace" generally refers to tear gas (CN gas), not OC pepper-spray:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CN_gas

But, sometimes, the word "Mace" is used interchangably with the term "pepper-spray".

If you have ever had any type of drinking and driving offense and a whole list of other offenses that are considered minor here you are are not allowed in Canada without special permission. You can contact your closest Canadian embassy to apply for permission. I used to go to Canada when I lived in NY. They have since done enough to convince me that they don't want me or other Americans to come up to their country so I'll oblige them and stay out. Maybe we can give them California since they seem to be on the same page politically.

Both Mace(tm) and pepper spray/OC is prohibited in Canada, but they make an exception for the big 1-litre-style cans of "bear spray" which aren't really practical for everyday carry; when they wrote this law, Mace was the only common spray in this line, so that's what they wrote the law to cover. Since then, pepper spray has become more prevalent, and they've extended the prohibition to cover it. ANY spray for self-defence is technically a "prohibited device" in Canada, but they make an exception for sprays DESIGNED (key word) to repel animals, such as bears or dogs. Your ASP Defender might be useful against dogs, but since it wasn't DESIGNED for that, it would be considered prohibited.

I am going sailing with my soon to be retired brother from Racine to Cleveland. I called the Canadian Consulate to get advice on firearms on a boat. Their answer was basically "we adivse against it but if you do don't be surprise if you have to deal with hassels". We are going to avoid Canadian ports unless an emergency and will try to spend as little time as possible in Canadian waters. I am going to bring my brother's guns to my house and my family will bring them to Cleveland when they pick me up so he can take them on with him to Florida and points south.

All in all, a pain in the patute.

Last time I was at Niagara falls I did not see any metal detectors, but it's been several years.

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There are in the office of the border patrol. You could always be selected for a random inspection and asked to pull over.

And you are absolutely correct. I don't see knives as weapons.

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The only thing that matters is what the Canadian gov't sees your knife as. All American RKBA goes away at the border.

It's amazing how many of our Southern cousins think U.S. law applies in Canada.

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"What do you mean I broke the law? You can't arrest me, I'm an American!"

Heard that one before?

ANY spray for self-defence is technically a "prohibited device" in Canada

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I wonder why it is that Canada does not allow people to defend their lives. Is the country overpopulated or do violent criminals form a significant voting bloc?

I wonder why it is that Canada does not allow people to defend their lives. Is the country overpopulated or do violent criminals form a significant voting bloc?

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It's mainly because self-defence is one of those awful "American" values, like freedom of speech; the vast majority of these laws were instituted under that $*&*)ing weasel Trudeau, when he took over after the WW2 generation retired. The "semi-official" explanation for these laws is that "Well, violent criminals are people too, so you can always reason your way out of any disagreement with a person, but a dog or a bear is another story." I note that this doesn't apply to politicians, who always seem to have an abundance of armed guards travelling with them.

So true SDC, our self defence rights are in the charter, but ignored because of BS self defence laws, our bs legal system and the main reason, liberals.

Maybe things will change if the conservatives gain a majority seat. The way Dion is being talked about in the papers/media this could be a reality

in refernce to post number 7 i have a problem opening packets with my front teeth, one is chiped has been "fixed"....again,
as opening packets weakens the hold of the fake part of the tooth. so i need a tool with a sharp and cutting edge to open things.





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I went up to Niagara Falls a couple months ago. I was too worried about not being let in, that I left my knife at home. After reading this thread, I may bring it next time.

Anyways, when I went up there car, and I'm assuming foot, traffic require proof of citizenship to cross the border. Passports are NOT required yet.

Some travel information that is likely to be of use to you:
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1082.html#entry_requirements

Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada must carry both proof of citizenship and identity.

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Also, when re-entering:

CURRENTLY:
U.S. citizens need to present either (a) a passport, passport card (available in spring 2008), or WHTI-compliant document; or (b) a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

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Travelling anywhere within the North-Western Quarter-sphere:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Prince Yamato said:

There are in the office of the border patrol. You could always be selected for a random inspection and asked to pull over.

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Two times ago I was "selected for random inspection." I don't know if it was random, or if he didn't like the idea of four American college students coming into his country.

It was the most annoying time that I've been searched. It was bitter cold out, they made us stand to the side while they searched the car. The guy looked at my license plate, saw that it was a Connecticut plate, asked me if I was from Colorado. I replied that I was from Connecticut. The guy made a note on the form.

He made us go inside and wait for 20-25 minutes while they did something with the little form he had. Afterward, we were called up to the desk and I was again asked if I was from Colorado. I insisted that I was from Connecticut. The guy made a note on the form.

He punched a few keys on his computer, handed the form and said we were free to leave. I checked the paper he handed me (The same one all three border patrol agents I dealt with were writing on) and the state listed as the state of origin not once, not twice, but three times was Colorado.

Thin Black Line said:

When are passports required for ground traffic re-entering the US?

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State Department said:

On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document.

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Woo! 200th post!