mike rousseau Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 (edited) Sooooo.... I'm pretty anal about declaring everything I purchase in the good ol US of A and drive back through Canadian customs... I used try hide a few lures here and there but the stress wasn't worth the few $$ in taxes I was dodging... So today I went to pick up a package of jigging raps cause all the local shops don't carry the size and color I wanted... My dad asked me (by text) to pick up a package for him but I refused cause he didn't have documentation for the merchandise (like I said im anal about this stuff...) in the end he texted me saying nevermind they are illigal in Canada... (That part of the story in very important) So I got to customs and the guy was extra thorough today... He asked why I was in USA... I explained I got a package of lures for $56... I had my fishing gear in the truck like every other time I've crossed the border... He asked where it came from... I replied asking him if he wanted a specific breakdown of each item and also informed him I could prove the date of purchase on most of the equipment through my cabelas account... He then asked about my 5gal gas tank in the back... I said it was full before I went over and I hadn't purchased gas while in the USA... It's so I'm never stranded.... He didn't believe me... Soooo... I get pulled in for a vehicle search... They check my phone and see the text from my dad (told you it was important) about the package of illigal flea collars... They asked about it and I replied that as the texts show I refused to pick up the package... So they call the shipping/receiving store I send my packages to and they say I picked up 2 PACKAGES!!!! When I only picked up 1... That's when things got a little interesting... The customs officers informed me the store said I picked up 2 packages and then they got more aggressive with me threatening to detain me all day... I simply replied that as long as I could call work I'll stay all day till we sort this out.... (I'm assuming that threat work on people smuggling merchandise?) At this point we take things inside where I undergo a minor strip search/pat down and more questioning... I had them call the store back cause I knew that I picked up a package a week earlier and there was also my dad's package with the same last name still at the store... So maybe they made a mistake... Sure enough the 2nd mystery package was the one I picked up and declared at customs Dec 5th... They confirmed my dad's package (illigal dog collars) was still at the shop and not in my keister... Wich was great for my keister's sake... They let me go on my way after that... I was a little surprised that they didn't apologize after finding out the store who supplies intel for them gave them the wrong information causing me to be detained longer and searched... The rest of the ordeal I'm ok with... They were being thurough but that mistake could have been really bad for me... They could have torn apart my vehicle based on bad info... Anyways jigging raps are in my ice box and I have an interesting story to talk about tonight... Lol Edited December 15, 2015 by Mike Rousseau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cast-Away Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 Wow Mike, quite the ordeal. Guilty until proven innocent. I hope they only found one cavity during the search! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limeyangler Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 YIKES! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted December 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 And just to be clear there was no cavity search... Lmao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glen Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 The phone shearch gets them all the time on tv. So when are you going to get the dog collars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 tone z71 Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 Imagine how there treating the poor refuges ..if they treat one of there own that way lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manitoubass2 Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 Wow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whopper Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 Don't mean to laugh, but I thought the way you told the story it was funny. Glad to hear you had a happy ending I've had a few interesting crossings myself , one of the worst was coming home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Caster Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 No passport for me, so no worries about border crossing haha Good on you for handling it well Mike, not sure I'd stay cool for that long. Maybe put a password on your phone next time? They can't force you to give out a password can they?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captpierre Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 So they can look in your phone without a warrant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captpierre Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 Imagine how there treating the poor refuges ..if they treat one of there own that way lol For free dental and eye care/glasses, on top of OHIP, I'd consent to a body cavity search ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bare foot wader Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 It's always worse coming to Canada...I feel your pain, have some fun stories myself....at least you're laughing about it now, and not walking funny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captpierre Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 It's always worse coming to Canada...I feel your pain, have some fun stories myself....at least you're laughing about it now, and not walking funny! My experience is that US customs takes longer and they ask more probing questions. Canadian customs is pretty easy in comparison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manitoubass2 Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 So they can look in your phone without a warrant? Customs can do almost anything they wish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dara Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 Sounds like fun times...its almost always easy crossing here...where do you live...Sault Canada..k..bye sometimes in winter they ask how the trails are Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bacon Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 Don't mean to laugh, but I thought the way you told the story it was funny. Glad to hear you had a happy ending I've had a few interesting crossings myself , one of the worst was coming home Strip search and a happy ending? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER_016 Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 Sounds like fun times...its almost always easy crossing here...where do you live...Sault Canada..k..bye sometimes in winter they ask how the trails are Seems where ever I cross I get "Welcome home EH!!" And I'm gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misfish Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 That's our friendly neighbours. Do you have a sens decal on your truck?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave524 Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 Customs can do almost anything they wish CO's actually have more power to search than police, at least they did at one time. I've seen them work in pairs quite some time ago. When I waterfowled and lived at Long Point , the RCMP were the sticklers on the waterfowl regs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manitoubass2 Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 CO's actually have more power to search than police, at least they did at one time. I've seen them work in pairs quite some time ago. When I waterfowled and lived at Long Point , the RCMP were the sticklers on the waterfowl regs. Yip, and customs has more powers than Cos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 I wouldn't have bothered declaring $56 in lures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garnet Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 On the cavity search I understand it goes better if you just relax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spincast Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 Not sure if it is still the case, but it used to be if you had a password on your cell or computer, they can't access without your permission, which you are free to withhold. I believe they need a warrant - or they used to. Which can cause some delays...... Don't be surprised if your Dad is flagged in the system. Happens to commercial drivers all the time - get stopped once with a concern and almost every time after until it gets cleared up you get invited in Cross enough times without the Nexus or FAST card and sooner or later you'll see secondary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misfish Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 (edited) I wouldn't have bothered declaring $56 in lures. How do you guys deal with declaring pounds of roe at the boarder? Edited December 15, 2015 by Brian B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manitoubass2 Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 (edited) Not sure if it is still the case, but it used to be if you had a password on your cell or computer, they can't access without your permission, which you are free to withhold. I believe they need a warrant - or they used to. Which can cause some delays...... Don't be surprised if your Dad is flagged in the system. Happens to commercial drivers all the time - get stopped once with a concern and almost every time after until it gets cleared up you get invited in Cross enough times without the Nexus or FAST card and sooner or later you'll see secondary. They dont need a warrant, at least US customs. And if ya tried to withhold the password get ready to call a towtruck. Not sure about canadian customs though you may be correct??? Edited December 15, 2015 by manitoubass2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now