Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 12:44:17 -0400
Reply-To: Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject: Re: Driving In Canada
Mmmmm...
I have crossed the border 15 times last year (some of them for business and
I have to say before Sep.11), back and forward (Car, Westy, Motorcycle)!!
Only once we where search, question and so on. It lasted 1 hour. After the
US Custom guys had finish with us I ask him, why? Why us? He replies,
random check my friend, no specific reason. Afterward he came with us to
the Westy and asks us many questions about the van because he was thinking
of buying one!!! Overall the guy was a real gentleman.
Ps.: he also said that they have the right to question anyone. For no
obvious reason.
There is (was!!!) almost no difference between the US and the Canadian
border policy, they are about the same and they work hand in hand. It is
the longest and easiest border to cross in the world.
Many American are so afraid about the border thing (20% of the e-mail I get
from my travel/pictures site). Bring a good drivers licence (no need for a
passport at all, at least before last September), a few other identity
card, be nice and most of the time (95%) you will cross the border in
seconds.
The only other easier custom I have crossed was in Western Europe; they
don't even bother looking at my Canadian passport.
Here in Quebec, many Canadian goes to Maine and NH for weekend vacation
(nearest Ocean), so maybe the custom (both side) are use to that.
In my younger "stupid" year (18-22) I have cross the border many times on
my bike (Harley) with some pot and cocaine going to some bike meeting on
Cape Cod!!! (I said younger year!)Most of the time I was frosted to the
bone when crossing the border! I was hiding my coke in my carburetor! and
faking a mechanical problem just before the custom (damn I was in a
paranoia state of mind). All the US border guys where rushing to help. (he
he he) Let the good time rolls. Yeaaaa baby
Well, all that is history now.
Lol, Ben
http://pages.infinit.net/eurokit/