Date:         Thu, 16 May 2002 23:55:35 -0500
Reply-To:     Chris Smith <chris.smith@AQUILA.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris Smith <chris.smith@AQUILA.NET>
Subject:      Re: Driving In Canada
Comments: To: Eric Unrau <eunrau@YAHOO.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <000201c1fbcd$2acb0460$9a27ad8e@bc.hsia.telus.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

It must be Karmic Fate.  Some folks have been so hassled by Canadian Law
Enforcement that they will never go back, and others, like myself can never
find one when we need one.  Please don't think that I'm doubting anyone on
the list in ANY way.  Many family friends who live in The Great White North
have the same problems.  Every few weeks it's just another 2 hours of their
life gone by.  Yet for some others, they can hardly tell if the cops work
at all since they seem to get away with murder (figuratively that is).

I never have a problem getting into Canada, it's trying to get back into
the States that always turns into a major hassle for no reason.  And this
was well before 9/11.  Last summer we took TURD and the family camping in
the U.P. of Michigan.  The plans were going to include camping around the
shores of lake superior on both sides of the lake, but since my license was
being held hostage by a 23yr old officer that doesn't know the rule books
(yes, I did beat that ticket after we got back!) we didn't camp in
Canada.  I didn't think getting in there would be trouble, but getting home
would have meant a 3-5 hour search to clear US Customs.  Having the kids
along, a "See daddy yell at the not-so-nice-customs-officer" show wouldn't
be good for them to see.

The weirdest thing is my Westy has never ever been searched at Bong
Recreation Center (yes, that really is it's name.. look it up..) in
Wisconsin.  Yet driving home in my own neighborhood the cops treat it as a
"Suspicious Vehicle".

Chris Smith

Montgomery, IL
Audio Visual / Meeting Technology Freelance Services