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Honestly 20 years ago I wouldn't have hesitated to just drive up to the Canadian check point and tell them I just wanted to turn around. They would have just directed me where to turn around and the American guards would have probably just waved me through. But these days I hear plenty of horror stories about both the Canadian and American guards. Now I wouldn't even want to get near the border.
I've been working on this goal of driving the entire interstate system for many years. Way back when, well before 9/11, when I was completing I-95, I drove up to the Houlton border crossing. I told the Canadian guard that I missed the last exit and wanted to turn around, and without any questions, he waved me through. Then, when I got to the American guard, I told him that I had missed the last exit and had just been turned around by the Canadian guard. Without any questions, he waved me through. It sure was a different time then.
Luckily for me, I-29 was the last border crossing I have to deal with. I've now completed all of the interstates that cross either the northern or southern borders. From here on out, I'm going to take your advice and stay well clear of the borders, unless I'm planning on crossing.
I've been working on this goal of driving the entire interstate system for many years. Way back when, well before 9/11, when I was completing I-95, I drove up to the Houlton border crossing. I told the Canadian guard that I missed the last exit and wanted to turn around, and without any questions, he waved me through. Then, when I got to the American guard, I told him that I had missed the last exit and had just been turned around by the Canadian guard. Without any questions, he waved me through. It sure was a different time then.
Luckily for me, I-29 was the last border crossing I have to deal with. I've now completed all of the interstates that cross either the northern or southern borders. From here on out, I'm going to take your advice and stay well clear of the borders, unless I'm planning on crossing.
That's the way I feel. Getting a passport card so I can drive across the border has been on my to-do list for sometime. But now I think I'm just going to forget about it. It's just not worth the hassle. There are plenty of other places I can go without getting near a border.
I have never had a problem getting back into USA, but going into Canada, I’ve been given some serious s***, so much that I may never return. I think they profile my vehicle.
I was detained at BC border and they told me I had cocaine residue on my wallet. I laughed and told them that everyone knows that dollar bills in circulation have minute cocaine residue on them. That shut them up, but I’m sick of that crap, they need to find the REAL mules, I am not it.
I have never had a problem getting back into USA, but going into Canada, I’ve been given some serious s***, so much that I may never return. I think they profile my vehicle.
I was detained at BC border and they told me I had cocaine residue on my wallet. I laughed and told them that everyone knows that dollar bills in circulation have minute cocaine residue on them. That shut them up, but I’m sick of that crap, they need to find the REAL mules, I am not it.
Yup. If you've been hassled a couple of times or more then that means your ID has been red-flagged in the border data-base that is shared between Canada and USA. You need to understand it's not necessarily your vehicle that has been profiled, it's YOU that has been profiled and red-flagged in the shared data-base. Although, if the vehicle you're driving is a piece of old junk or something that's all tricked out, that will certainly set off red flags for them on both sides of the border before you even get a chance to present your ID. They have valid reasons for red-flagging junkers and tricked out vehicles. But if you want to put it to the test try going across the border driving in a different vehicle, or as a passenger in a friend's car with your friend driving and see what happens when your ID or passport is presented.
Reading this thread reminded me of an event years ago when living in Yuma Arizona. Its about a 3 hour run over to San Diego where there is goo food, good shopping, and most of all, its cool (compared to Yuma most of the year. )
The Border Patrol has permanent station up in the mountains on I-8 with an officer posted inspecting all vehicles. For some reason I was alone as was making trip late at night. This usually a quiet boring run except for a hard pull out of El Centro, Am not a truck driver, it just steep upgrade I was about half asleep enjoying the cool mountain air when pulling up to the check point. I told the officer he was going to wake me up. He laughed and waved me on through.
Last edited by TLeeBlanq; 05-16-2021 at 04:39 PM..
Reason: errors
That's the way I feel. Getting a passport card so I can drive across the border has been on my to-do list for sometime. But now I think I'm just going to forget about it. It's just not worth the hassle. There are plenty of other places I can go without getting near a border.
I don't know how it is now but, pre-COVID, there was at least one place where you could legally physically go into (stand in, and walk a bit in) Canada without presenting any ID.......Peace Arch Park.
I don't know how it is now but, pre-COVID, there was at least one place where you could legally physically go into (stand in, and walk a bit in) Canada without presenting any ID.......Peace Arch Park.
Sure the International Peace Garden or the Peace Arch Park, but you are still going to have to pass through U.S. Immigration and Customs when you come back. Anyway I believe they are both currently shut down anyway.
Sure the International Peace Garden or the Peace Arch Park, but you are still going to have to pass through U.S. Immigration and Customs when you come back. Anyway I believe they are both currently shut down anyway.
Nope. Not pre-COVID at least.
Peace Arch Park straddles the border, with the arch in the middle pretty much straddling the border.
My understanding from staff and from Canadians I spoke with in the park is that there is intense camera scrutiny of the walkways and the parking lots to make sure that visitors return where they came from.
I personally parked in closest parking lot on the U.S. side, walked all around the park on both the U.S. side and the Canadian side, and then freely walked back to my car, as did many other people that day.
Peace Arch Park straddles the border, with the arch in the middle pretty much straddling the border.
My understanding from staff and from Canadians I spoke with in the park is that there is intense camera scrutiny of the walkways and the parking lots to make sure that visitors return where they came from.
I personally parked in closest parking lot on the U.S. side, walked all around the park on both the U.S. side and the Canadian side, and then freely walked back to my car, as did many other people that day.
US - Canada Border security is a joke.
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