Good job Canada Customs!

[Frank the Tank]

I have to vent! In a post-9/11 world I cannot beleive this happened!

The story:

My younger brother lives in Windsor, Ontario, boarder city with Detroit, Michigan. He works for the department of Biology at Wayne State University in downtown Detroit and, obviously, cross-boarder commutes every day to and from work.

The other night he went to Curcuit City in the burbs and bought himself a new 27" television and brought it back home that night. Now, a couple of things about the Windor-Detroit crossing. I don't have a link handy, but I am pretty sure it is the busiest boarder crossing between the two countries. My brother has a Nexus pass, which is essentially a commuter lane for cross-boarder workers, which includes his toll fee. Now both ways, he still has to pass through a manned checkpoint for a visual check. He gets pulled over about once a month going into the US, but in 3 years he has never EVER been stopped coming back into Canada. Including the other night when he had a 27" televison box sitting in the back of his car in plain view that could have been filled with ANYTHING!!

I don't get it. Where is this heightened security? Shouldn't we be noticing massive boxes in the backs of peoples cars?

[Resolute 14]

When I went through the peace arch crossing into Vancouver, the Canada Customs agent didnt even ask for my name. Simply asked how long I was in the States, and how much I had to declare. Guy didnt even move his eyes from his computer screen.

Problem with busier crossings is that there has to be pressure to get vehicles through the border as fast as possible. Efficiency and safety are often mutually exclusive.

[BlackArcher101]

It's Canada, we don't think it's that big of a deal. Besides, they can't search all the boxes/containers that they see. Unless you would like another 4 hours of waiting to cross the border. Did he show the sales slip at all?
My initial concern was if he was charged GST for the tv, not about the security. Guess I have my priorities wrong also.

Now, I would have liked to see what happened if he crossed into the US with that same tv box....

[Bill Bumface]

Are we really worried about a telivision box with mystery contents coming into our country?

You could have anything hidden in many places in your car. Should everyone be forced to pop their hood, open their glove box, remove the dash, open their spare tire well and put their car on a hoist on the way into the country?

I wouldn't be a fan of that.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally posted by BlackArcher101@Jan 12 2005, 03:04 PM
It's Canada, we don't think it's that big of a deal. Besides, they can't search all the boxes/containers that they see. Unless you would like another 4 hours of waiting to cross the border. Did he show the sales slip at all?
My initial concern was if he was charged GST for the tv, not about the security. Guess I have my priorities wrong also.

Now, I would have liked to see what happened if he crossed into the US with that same tv box....

I drove across the border at niagra last year in a rental car with a few burly 24 year olds in the back and i think they just asked where we were from, no ID, nothing else.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally posted by Frank the Tank@Jan 12 2005, 02:43 PM
I have to vent! In a post-9/11 world I cannot beleive this happened!

The story:

My younger brother lives in Windsor, Ontario, boarder city with Detroit, Michigan. He works for the department of Biology at Wayne State University in downtown Detroit and, obviously, cross-boarder commutes every day to and from work.

The other night he went to Curcuit City in the burbs and bought himself a new 27" television and brought it back home that night. Now, a couple of things about the Windor-Detroit crossing. I don't have a link handy, but I am pretty sure it is the busiest boarder crossing between the two countries. My brother has a Nexus pass, which is essentially a commuter lane for cross-boarder workers, which includes his toll fee. Now both ways, he still has to pass through a manned checkpoint for a visual check. He gets pulled over about once a month going into the US, but in 3 years he has never EVER been stopped coming back into Canada. Including the other night when he had a 27" televison box sitting in the back of his car in plain view that could have been filled with ANYTHING!!

I don't get it. Where is this heightened security? Shouldn't we be noticing massive boxes in the backs of peoples cars?

Yeah, you could put ANYTHING in a 27" TV box....like say...A 27" TV....oh the horror.

Seriously, if you're trying to get a bomb or anything else illegal into the country would you be dumb enough to put it in a TV box in plain view? I'm pretty sure I'd at least put whatever I was smuggling...oh I don't know... in the truck. My god, I just realized that I've crossed the border dozens of times, and I or my folks could have had anything in the trunk of the car...why weren't we stopped?

[Frank the Tank]

Originally posted by Bring_Back_Shantz+Jan 12 2005, 09:15 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Bring_Back_Shantz @ Jan 12 2005, 09:15 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Frank the Tank@Jan 12 2005, 02:43 PM
I have to vent! In a post-9/11 world I cannot beleive this happened!

The story:

My younger brother lives in Windsor, Ontario, boarder city with Detroit, Michigan. He works for the department of Biology at Wayne State University in downtown Detroit and, obviously, cross-boarder commutes every day to and from work.

The other night he went to Curcuit City in the burbs and bought himself a new 27" television and brought it back home that night. Now, a couple of things about the Windor-Detroit crossing. I don't have a link handy, but I am pretty sure it is the busiest boarder crossing between the two countries. My brother has a Nexus pass, which is essentially a commuter lane for cross-boarder workers, which includes his toll fee. Now both ways, he still has to pass through a manned checkpoint for a visual check. He gets pulled over about once a month going into the US, but in 3 years he has never EVER been stopped coming back into Canada. Including the other night when he had a 27" televison box sitting in the back of his car in plain view that could have been filled with ANYTHING!!

I don't get it. Where is this heightened security? Shouldn't we be noticing massive boxes in the backs of peoples cars?

Yeah, you could put ANYTHING in a 27" TV box....like say...A 27" TV....oh the horror.

Seriously, if you're trying to get a bomb or anything else illegal into the country would you be dumb enough to put it in a TV box in plain view? I'm pretty sure I'd at least put whatever I was smuggling...oh I don't know... in the truck. My god, I just realized that I've crossed the border dozens of times, and I or my folks could have had anything in the trunk of the car...why weren't we stopped? [/b][/quote]
I realize the obviousness of it and thanks for the sarcasm. My point is the lack of concern. It could have very well been a 27" TV as well as a dirty bomb, anthrax, yadda yadda yadda...

My point is, at least ask. Seem interested about protecting your country. Why work for customs if you're just going to sit there like a turd?

[Table 5]

funny, cause Canada Customs at the airports are the hardest asses around. My luggage gets searched alteast 25%percent of the time.....something that never happens when I go into the states or europe.

[Hack&Lube]

Unless you are racially profiled, they'll generally let you through. There is pressure to speed up border crossings and these guys see hundreds of cars a day.

[kermitology]

My question is who the hell is worried about an attack on Canada? I'm sure not..

[arsenal]

If you did want to bring illegal substances, bombs, guns, etc, what have you. Why wouldn't you put it in a 27" tv box and leave it in plain sight?

If everyone assumes that I would have to be an idiot to actually do it. Who is the idiot? Me for getting away with it? Or the crossing guard for not checking?

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Guard "Hey, what's that in the 27" TV box?"

Guy "A 27" TV."

Yup, asking sure does a lot.

Yes, we all know that a lot of illegal things cross the border and that we could stop more (Not all), if guards searched every car that went through. But a guy going home from work at a commuter crossing that does it 5 times a week, why wouldn't you let him through quickly? The guy with the Saudi Passport who looks uncomfortable and is sweating even though it is -20. Sure maybe you should stop and ask him a few questions. You can't have it both ways. You either miss a few things, or you make your border so restrictive that it is damn near impossible for people to commute across the border, vacation across the border, or do any sort of business across the border.

Seriously, why is it such a bad thing that the guard didn't ask your brother what was in the box, when I'm sure the hundreds of other times he's crossed the border, he hasn't asked him what's in the trunk?

[moon]

Going across the border either way is a joke.

I have done it many times with large groups of drunk rugby players including guys with criminal records that aren't supposed to be allowed in the US and have never had any trouble. They seem more concerned with getting us away fromt hem then anything else.

[speeds]

I went flying to the US this summer, to go to New York, in a small plane. They didn't check any of the bags in our plane, didn't even really look inside.

[Daradon]

Originally posted by Frank the Tank+Jan 12 2005, 03:19 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Frank the Tank @ Jan 12 2005, 03:19 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Yeah, you could put ANYTHING in a 27" TV box....like say...A 27" TV....oh the horror.

Seriously, if you're trying to get a bomb or anything else illegal into the country would you be dumb enough to put it in a TV box in plain view? I'm pretty sure I'd at least put whatever I was smuggling...oh I don't know... in the truck. My god, I just realized that I've crossed the border dozens of times, and I or my folks could have had anything in the trunk of the car...why weren't we stopped?

I realize the obviousness of it and thanks for the sarcasm. My point is the lack of concern. It could have very well been a 27" TV as well as a dirty bomb, anthrax, yadda yadda yadda...

My point is, at least ask. Seem interested about protecting your country. Why work for customs if you're just going to sit there like a turd? [/b][/quote]
Why would you put anthrax in a huge box in your trunk? How much freakin anthrax would that be!

And if you can put a 'dirty bomb' in a box in the back of your car, I'm sure you could put it in the trunk or manyother places.

Really, you'd probably bring the pieces up, maybe in several cars and just build it wherever your going.

You've really bought into this fear thing haven't you Frank? The media's gotten another one! "How could this happen in a post 9-11 world! Oh dear oh dear oh dear!" (wringing hands)

And who would be bringing weapons FROM the U.S. TO Canada? We all know the U.S. is a more wanted target by these groups. why would they take their stuff OUT of the U.S. if they have already gotten it in there?

EDIT: Spelling, punctuation,

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally posted by Hack&Lube@Jan 12 2005, 02:26 PM
Unless you are racially profiled, they'll generally let you through. There is pressure to speed up border crossings and these guys see hundreds of cars a day.

I know this might sound horrible, but that is the only way to really do things (racially profilling people that cross the border, or judging them on their attire or what not). But usually it is a combination of things, such as the individuals attitude towards the Canada Border Service Agency and the officer. If they act rushed or flustered for instance it is a good indicator that there is a problem.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

I hear that cars have gasoline in them, and for those that don't know that substance is able to explode.... thanks I Robot!

[Incinerator]

I think the airport security is much tighter than the land border crossings, I hear people get hassled all the time at Vancouver customs, Florida isn't that much better either from my personal experience...maybe it was just the Flames jersey, but I doubt it.

[evman150]

Originally posted by Snakeeye@Jan 12 2005, 01:01 PM
When I went through the peace arch crossing into Vancouver, the Canada Customs agent didnt even ask for my name. Simply asked how long I was in the States, and how much I had to declare. Guy didnt even move his eyes from his computer screen.

Problem with busier crossings is that there has to be pressure to get vehicles through the border as fast as possible. Efficiency and safety are often mutually exclusive.

They never ask anything more than that. I don't think I or any family member has ever been asked for a name. I guess they ask for ID sometimes which is the same thing but even that doesn't happen all the time.

And of course it's a lot faster coming back into Canada than going the other way. You basically say you're Canadian and if you're not East Indian you go through without a hitch.

Nice crossing though eh? I've been to a number of entry points and none of them come close to Peace Arch.

"Children of a Common Mother, Brethren Dwelling Together in Unity".

[duncan]

In November, I took the kids to Florida, and crossed at Sarnia/Port Huron. We travelled in a minivan with tinted windows, with a luggage rack full of suitcases, crossing late at night, into the USA, with little question. The only things asked were; Canadian?, Where to?, and What do you do? Both sides have eased up a bit.