Another example of idiot judges.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by ZDogg

I would just like to jump in here and report my first hand experience with the drug dogs.

My border incident occured at the Calgary Airport and began due to my nervous behaviour (first time travelling alone) and embarassment of incorrectly filling out the Custom card. After they took me aside the so called "accurate" search dog proceeded to poke me. Well that began the interrogation and threats regarding the "drugs" inside me. After a good long question period they proceeded to Strip search me. All the while the friendly US Customs guy was snapping his rubber gloves to induce some serious fear. During this ordeal I eventually admitted to trying Marijuana and that was all they needed. Zero tolerance = BANNED in the USA.

I had absolutely no drugs on me. I will never again trust a Customs official again or those stupid dogs.

I am now allowed back in the USA follwing 2 appeals, 2 years and lots of $$$$ for the US Government. At least they gave me a peice of paper indicating I am a threat to US Society...

Cool ... you have a piece of paper that states you're a threat to US society? Just because you smoked a joint or three? That's almost worth the ban. I'd frame that puppy and hang it above my sofa.

[ZDogg]

Originally Posted by fredr123

US Customs is very different from Canada Customs (CBSA). They're laws and policies are vastly different. For example, they have zero tolerance towards drugs while we are a bit more lenient in that department. We draw the line with impaired driving whereas the Americans, for the most part, won't bar you admission if you drink and drive.

That may explain why the Canadian Customs guy wasn't salivating like his US counterparts.

I just wish I knew some of my rights before it escalated to the strip search. Last time I passed through US Customs I did notice a new sign that mentioned something about being able to return to the airport and out of the Customs area at anytime. I would assume that only applies if they didn't already find something on you.

[The Unabomber]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

that maybe the case...but just as many police agencies have mission statements that says they are to treat people with respect and fairness, how may times have people dealt with a real dickhead cop? The fact is you are going to get people that are jerks and don't follow the rules in every profession.

I understand that, yet you seem to want to debate the fact that these people are trained in what they do, they know what signs to look for when someone pulls up, and when someone badmouths them you question it.

When i drove across the border when i was younger i'm sure i was showing signs of being nervous, probablt more than a couple signs, as i'm sure many people are. I had a bit longer hair and was dressed for comfort, are these the signs that these professionals look for? What kind of psycological training do these people get before starting a shift?

As far as following rules, if i break a rule at my work i will be punished in some form, these rules that i need to follow don't have a financial or emotional impact like the people we are discussing do. What punishment is in place for the border patrol when they screw up? The biggest problem i have with your statement is comparing them to cops, i can avoid cops by obeying the law, i can't avoid border patrol if i need to get from point A to point B.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by ZDogg

I would just like to jump in here and report my first hand experience with the drug dogs.

My border incident occured at the Calgary Airport and began due to my nervous behaviour (first time travelling alone) and embarassment of incorrectly filling out the Custom card. After they took me aside the so called "accurate" search dog proceeded to poke me. Well that began the interrogation and threats regarding the "drugs" inside me. After a good long question period they proceeded to Strip search me. All the while the friendly US Customs guy was snapping his rubber gloves to induce some serious fear. During this ordeal I eventually admitted to trying Marijuana and that was all they needed. Zero tolerance = BANNED in the USA.

I had absolutely no drugs on me. I will never again trust a Customs official again or those stupid dogs.

I am now allowed back in the USA follwing 2 appeals, 2 years and lots of $$$$ for the US Government. At least they gave me a peice of paper indicating I am a threat to US Society...

Not to mention, the US does not recognize Canada's Pardon system. If you have been given a pardon for a crime and they find out that you were once convicted of a crime....you are screwed. Where as if a foreign national has had a criminal conviction but recieves a pardon for it in their country, Canada accepts that and will not hold that against them.

[ZDogg]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

Cool ... you have a piece of paper that states you're a threat to US society? Just because you smoked a joint or three? That's almost worth the ban. I'd frame that puppy and hang it above my sofa.

Haha ya. Now that I look back it's not as traumatic so I can have fun with it. I was in shock when the first appeal was denied.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by The Unabomber

I understand that, yet you seem to want to debate the fact that these people are trained in what they do, they know what signs to look for when someone pulls up, and when someone badmouths them you question it.

When i drove across the border when i was younger i'm sure i was showing signs of being nervous, probablt more than a couple signs, as i'm sure many people are. I had a bit longer hair and was dressed for comfort, are these the signs that these professionals look for? What kind of psycological training do these people get before starting a shift?

As far as following rules, if i break a rule at my work i will be punished in some form, these rules that i need to follow don't have a financial or emotional impact like the people we are discussing do. What punishment is in place for the border patrol when they screw up? The biggest problem i have with your statement is comparing them to cops, i can avoid cops by obeying the law, i can't avoid border patrol if i need to get from point A to point B.

Look...no way am I sanctioning inappropriate or un professional behavoir by customs people or any other law enforcement agency. The argument basically was that there are bad officers so I dont trust the rest of them. My argument is that there are always bad apples and you can't paint the entire bunch with the same brush.

As for the police, you don't kow that you can avoid them. The police are everywhere, all the time. When you drive, when you leave your work and house. In a city like calgary you probably dont see them so much. But I grew up in a small town and the police know everyone. You get some good officers who did there jobs properly but you also got officers that would pull over any group of young people just because he thought there was a better chance at finding them with drugs or alcohol. It works both ways.

If some officer screws up and effects your life and financial situation ie: damaging property, they will can be held accountable. It needs to be reported however inorder for that to happen.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Not to mention, the US does not recognize Canada's Pardon system. If you have been given a pardon for a crime and they find out that you were once convicted of a crime....you are screwed. Where as if a foreign national has had a criminal conviction but recieves a pardon for it in their country, Canada accepts that and will not hold that against them.

so the US trusts a country's judicial system to try and convict someone of a crime, but they don't trust that same system to pardon that same person? what a messed up system