Friend detained at Canadian border

[Monkeyleg]

A friend of mine and his wife were headed up to Canada for a fishing and camping trip, and also for a Shriner event.

At the border station, he was told to park his van off to the side. The agents then began asking a lot of questions: do you have any drugs with you? Do you have any guns?

They removed literally everything from the van, and proceeded to go through all of their bags, boxes, etc. They removed door panels from the van. They removed the air conditioning vents from the dash and probed around inside with some fiber optic devices.

When they opened his toolbox, they found three .357 rounds mixed in with all the tools. The questions about guns started again.

Finally, when they couldn't find anything, they said that he was free to go. At that point, he said to one of the agents, "It was the bumper stickers, wasn't it?" (His van has many pro-gun stickers on it).

The agent just gave him a knowing smile.

 

[garrett1955]

Thats something huh? I have FCSA members sticker on my drivers side rear window. A New guy I work with asked about it. Which I am fine with, but I thought no one looked at that kind of stuff. lol I guess I put it there incase I get pulled over, mabee sparking convo with an officer. lol

 

[cbsbyte]

Not releated to guns. When I was in college some years ago a few friends and I decided to go to Montreal for the weekend for a little R&R. Of course a car that was over laden with clothing and people caught the eye of the Canadian custom agents who decided to have a little fun at our expense. They sent over two strong tempered women agents(real nasty attuides) who interrogated us, ran our names for criminal check, stripped searched out in the parking lot and brought out the dog to search the car. They confiscated all our food, including potato chips. We spent at least three hours at the border crossing. Then they came out with the bomb shell that one of my mates had been arrested for lifting cigeretttes when he was 18 in NYS. Because of the the minor blemish on his record they would not allow him into the country without signing a statement waving his rights, and that he understood he would be in deep trouble if he was arrested for any in fraction in Canada, and he had to pay a $150 USD fee for his temporary travel permit. Everytime he traveled to Canada he would have to declare himself to Customs and co through the process. Of course we all chipped in on paying the fee, and where sent on our marry way. Anyway we all had memorable experiences that weekend after meeting some nice girls in Montreal.
the point to this long story is that your friend got off lucky. It could have been much worse.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Finally, when they couldn't find anything, they said that he was free to go. At that point, he said to one of the agents, "It was the bumper stickers, wasn't it?" (His van has many pro-gun stickers on it).

The agent just gave him a knowing smile.

And Americans says they are the smartest people in the world!

 

[ChestyP]

Before entering Canada, one should sanitize one's vehicle. No guns, no ammunition, no brass rolling around in the trunk. And no gun-related bumper stickers. I've done it both ways, and it goes better when you act like one of the sheeple. It's their country, and they get to make the rules.

A few years ago I was invited by a member of the Provincial Parliament to speak at an anti-gun control rally. I was stopped at the entry point by Canadian Immigration (they obviously knew I was coming) and interrogated for 20 minutes, with questions like "Why are you meddling in Canadian internal politics?" (because I was invited by a Canadian public official), and the favorite, "What were you convicted of in 1993?" (A variant of the "we know what you did, so confess" line) After 20 minutes of interrogation/counter-interrogation banter, she smiled at me, gave me my ID documents, and wished me a pleasant stay in Canada. Yeah, right!

 

[Handgun Midas]

"What were you convicted of in 1993?"
(A variant of the "we know what you did, so confess" line)

Did you have anything on your record at all from that period? Do they really just pick a year at random and throw an accusation out?

That is some serious fishing.

 

[George S.]

Canada Customs agents have access to databases from the US to see if anyone entering Canada may have been convicted of a crime. They can even find out if somebody has a DUI conviction and can (and do!) refuse entry based on that alone or any other sort of criminal history.

When you enter Canada and stop at the little Customs drive-up station, you have already crossed the border so you are in their country. You are then subject to the laws of a foreign country so it really pays to be up-front and not do anything or have anything that may cause suspicion.

They say that first impressions are everything so if you say or do something or have an appearance that may raise an eyebrow, then it's best to be prepared for some sort of Q and A session or up close and personal inspection.

 

[Sheldon J]

Who the H E doubble L

Wants to go the that mixed up backward chunk of dirt, and why? Been there when I was a kid and they were OK 40 years ago, but now they are run by a out of tune, self serving bunch of Morrons. What I can not figure out is why the populance lets them get away with it. I have no urge to go there and they can keep all their garbage which is all they seem to produce and that they keep sending here for us to deal with too.

 

[Car Knocker]

Dick,

Did Customs re-assemble the car or did they leave it for your friends to do?

 

[jamz]

I'm planning on driving to Minnesota soon, and from where I am, going through Canada is the quickest route, and I *am* taking a gun on the trip. Going to have to go through the whole declaration rigamarole I imagine.

 

[ravencon]

self serving bunch of Morrons.

People who can't spell moron probably shouldn't call other people morons. Just a thought.

 

[Banta]

It goes both ways. I was reading a recent thread on one of the Canadian Gun Forums where US customs has been pulling over Canadians before they left the US to enter back into Canada. Apparently US customs occasionaly watches the American gun show parking lots and records the Canadian license plates. These cars are than flagged by US customs and pulled over at the border crossing just before they leave the US and searched. I'm not sure if most Americans are aware of the fact that exporting firearms from the US into Canada is alot harder these days not because of the Canadian laws but because of the tough American laws. Also, heaven forbid you get caught driving into the US with a butt of a joint in your ashtray. You'd be lucky if you JUST lost your vehicle. I'm not condoning marijuana (I don't use it) but does the punishment fit the crime?

 

[nibb]

So its not like going to another state. I suppose they just test people to see your reaction. Mosts cops do that since the only real way to find something or know is based on the reaction of someone that acts suspect. Its not only Canada. You know how much trouble it is just to get inside the US. I know people that where stripped too. Its almost the same way to go inside the US then for the US to go inside Canada. On todays worlds i think europe is one the easiest continent to go in and out, since police their sucks. They know they cant get in big trouble making someone to strip without evidence. Police has to much power in the States and in Canada.

 

[Rimmer]

WOW just Wow....

It's been several years since I've been in Canada and I can say this after reading the above posts... I won't ever bother going.

If I had to go through anything like what has been mentioned I would tolerate the search and once turned loose I would immediately make a u-turn and drive back to the USA. Convention, women, fishing, nothing would be worth the scrutiny of a backward country tearing into my stuff.

I just got an eye opening about our northern neighbor and it has completely turned me off.

 

[Banta]

"WOW just Wow....

It's been several years since I've been in Canada and I can say this after reading the above posts... I won't ever bother going."


Oh for petes sake, it's just as annoying sometimes for Canadians who enter the US. One of the guys I went to school with had his car pretty much TOTALLY pulled apart because he looked like a "skater". They had the drug sniffing dogs going over every square inch of his vehicle and they pretty much stripped him and his buddies searching for marijuana. a few hours later they were on their marry way into the US. You could be searched for illegal guns when you enter into Canada (especially in Ontario or Quebec) because their is a HUGE handgun smuggling problem into those provinces. Something like 90% of all the handguns used in crimes in Canada are traced back to the US. Same goes for Canadians when they cross the US border. Instead of guns they are looking for marijuana. Especially the Washington State border. If you are doing nothing illegal and have nothing to hide, don't sweat it!

 

[ChestyP]

The Canadian stopped by U.S. Customs before returning to Canada was carrying newly-designated prohibited parts. Not barrels or other major parts, but small stuff. A vertical foregrip with Weaver/Piccatinny rail was one alleged offensive piece. I still haven't been able to get a straight list from the U.S. State Department about the new restrictions.

As for the Canucks querying me about convictions in 1993, my only contact with law enforcement in 1993 was my employment by the Washington State Patrol as a communications officer. I didn't last the year... something about 28 years' active Marine Corps duty being incompatible with the politically-correct Patrol merit side (the troopers had no problem with me).

As for Canada and DUI's -- it's a felony up there. To enter Canada after a DUI conviction, you have to complete a Canadian-approved rehab course. At least that's what they told me on one of my trips through the looking glass.

 

[v65magnafan]

Guys and Borders

When I was a young guy, and I'd cross into the US from Canada, or back to Canada from the US, I'd always have "extra attention".

Once I got married, crossing with a woman, and, even better, a woman and my kids, always made the crossing easier--both ways.

But since 9/11, all bets are off.

Sure, it's easier to cross borders in Europe, but where are the terrorist attacks happening? Not in North America.

The last time I crossed into the US alone, the Customs guy asked me to "pop" my trunk. The first thing he saw was my scanner and a list of every "important" frequency in the NYC area. (I was visiting relatives there.) He took the stuff from the trunk and asked me what I was doing with it.) I told him the truth: "That I have a wife and kids and, God Forbid, if anything were to happen down there, I wanted to know what was really happening."

He thought about it for about two seconds and let me go with no problems.

Do you guys have any gun owner info on any government computer that would show up at a border crossing?

I do. Nice, eh? Everything is registered, so the next Liberal Government can confiscate it.

Finally, here's a depressing story from Winnipeg:

Tourist Lies About Carrying Firearms

By PAUL TURENNE AND BOB HOLLIDAY, POLICE/STAFF REPORTERS

An American tourist who lied to customs officers in Emerson about having loaded handguns in his motorhome -- including a "Saturday night special" -- was given $6,500 in fines and a tongue lashing from a Winnipeg judge earlier this week.

Delmer Tibbits, a 65-year-old South Carolina man, tried to enter Canada at the Emerson border crossing Tuesday morning. He and his wife had just finished visiting their son in Grand Forks and were thinking of driving their old GMC bus, which had been converted to an RV, across Canada and into New England.

But Tibbits ran into problems when border guards asked him if he had any weapons.

He was asked at least three times if he had firearms and each time he said no.

But when officers searched his RV, they found three loaded handguns in a closet: A .22-calibre Ruger and .357-calibre Ruger, both of which are restricted in Canada, and a .25-calibre FIE Titan, which is prohibited altogether north of the border.

"You knew pretty darned quickly that you were lying and you just kept up the lie. You were given many opportunities to come clean and you just kept up digging yourself in deeper," said Judge Sid Lerner, who at a hearing Wednesday in Winnipeg handed Tibbits a $5,000 fine and tacked on a $1,500 civil penalty to get his RV back after the man pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling.

Tibbits was held in jail Tuesday night and was kicked out of Canada after his court appearance. His guns were seized and destroyed.

Extremely serious

"This is an extremely serious matter where you are bringing in not one or two, but three weapons, all loaded. One's a .357. These are not insignificant weapons. They're prohibited/restricted in Canada for a reason, so when someone smuggles them in that's a serious, serious matter," said Lerner.

Tibbits pleaded guilty to smuggling under the Canada Customs Act. Lerner told Tibbits he was lucky the Crown did not lay charges under the Criminal Code.

Murray Smith, of the RCMP firearms program forensic service support centre, said all .25- and .32-calibre handguns are banned outright in Canada because they serve no sporting purpose.

The .25-calibres, commonly called "Saturday night specials" can be purchased brand new for about $60 in the U.S., said Winnipeg police Det. Sgt. Paul Brown, who noted cops in Manitoba do come across them sometimes.

"They're small, cheap handguns that are very concealable," he said.

 

[Just_a_dude_with_a_gun]

Easy answer? I no longer bother with Canada, at all.

 

[Banta]

"The Canadian stopped by U.S. Customs before returning to Canada was carrying newly-designated prohibited parts. Not barrels or other major parts, but small stuff. A vertical foregrip with Weaver/Piccatinny rail was one alleged offensive piece. I still haven't been able to get a straight list from the U.S. State Department about the new restrictions."


I don't know about "The Canadian" who was stopped I read a forum post where quite a few guys had mentioned they had been stopped and searched by US customs before they entered back into Canada. The one thing they had in common was they had all been returning from gun shows in the states.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Travel to a socialist country? No, thanks!

 

[Nanook]

If you are doing nothing illegal and have nothing to hide, don't sweat it!

Jawohl. It iss for ze good of ze fatherland. I've heard that one before. And this is one of our "allies".

I'll spend my money elsewhere, thank you. And I have gone through the third degree for a two hour stay in Ontario. At least they didn't do the chop-shop routine on the car. No stickers, so I guess I just got the minor third degree.

Canadians I've met have been truly nice people, too bad their government is so messed up. Ours is heading in that direction, unfortunately.

 

[SalTx]

I don't recall being vaguely interested in things going OUT of the country, EXCEPT MONEY ( and, I guess, technology to enable you to assemble a nuke). Guns...whatever, maybe run a check to see if it's stolen, if that. Coming in, different, but guns still rarely got a second look, if other things were out of place, maybe run a check on them. Depends on their status (u.s. citizens, resident aliens, aliens). When I first started, I was amazed how easy weapons were transported, cases I thought should be looked at solely on the firearms were easily dismissed without a second look. People smuggling commercial goods out of the U.S. and into either canada or mexico weren't looked at either. Can't even make a difference coming in, why bother with the outflow?

 

[Kim]

I'm glad I took my one trip ever to Canada in 1986. Let us just say things sound like they have really changed. I felt alot safer then that I would now.

 

[Banta]

"Jawohl. It iss for ze good of ze fatherland. I've heard that one before. And this is one of our "allies". "


I'm not sure whether you've noticed or not but the US with the Patriot Act, illegal Wire Taps, even monitoring of the general publics library records. And you're suggesting that Canada is becoming a Nazi State? Oh, but it's for terrorism......suuuure.

http://www.infowars.com/police_state.html

 

[cane]

Maybe I have an honest (or dumb) face but on my numerous travels into and through (to and from Alaska) I have never been searched nor had any problems with the Canidian authorities.