On the border
As my well-worn passport can attest, I’ve crossed quite a few worldwide borders through the years, fortunately with nary a difficulty. However till just lately, I by no means tried a border crossing in my camper van.
Usually this wouldn’t make me nervous, however each my RV and I wanted a makeover at that second; my Roadtrek is in determined want of latest paint, whereas my lengthy, unkempt hair and beard made me appear like a chop-shop proprietor who will get killed within the first 5 minutes of a John Wick film. I felt like a neon signal studying SKETCHY in all caps was flashing above my camper van as I pulled as much as the sales space simply exterior Port Huron, Michigan.
I handed my passport to the border agent who glanced down on the booklet and again as much as me.
“Is there anybody else within the automobile with you?” the agent requested. I shortly reply with the reality, that nobody ever desires to journey with me. The agent chuckles barely and I discover myself enjoyable just a little bit.
“What brings you to Canada?” I’m chopping by way of Canada on my approach to the Catskills to go fly-fishing.
“Are you carrying any medicine, alcohol, weapons, or knives?” Figuring out I used to be crossing the border this journey, I eliminated the 9mm pistol I sometimes carry within the van earlier than leaving residence, and I’d drank all of the beer in my fridge throughout my earlier jaunt per week or two earlier. However nearly as quickly because the phrase “no” escaped my lips, I concurrently remembered I really had about an eighth of a bottle of Outdated Forester bourbon stashed away in my van’s pantry and my trusty Opinel No. 8 knife in my pocket. For a quick second, I imagined a few red-jacketed Canadian mounties galloping up on both facet of my van to take me into custody. I hoped Canadian prisons can be nicer than those within the US.
However earlier than I may appropriate my misstatement, the border agent was glad I wasn’t a menace and let me go. Fortunately, though I did have my pocket knife with me, as a result of it didn’t meet the Canada Border Companies Company’s definition of a “prohibited weapon,” it wouldn’t have been confiscated if I really declared it, as I ought to have. Likewise, I don’t suppose he would care about my minuscule quantity of whiskey, which I safely disposed of (in a metallic cup and down my throat) on the earliest alternative.
“Bear in mind the contents of your automobile.”
It ought to go with out saying that it is best to by no means misinform a border agent, even inadvertently. (I want to take this chance to apologize to my neighbors to the north and sincerely promise it’ll by no means occur once more.) Folks caught making an attempt to smuggle items into Canada can face some fairly extreme penalties, based on Jacqueline Roby, a senior spokesperson for the CBSA.
“If a traveler omits to declare items or tries to falsely declare them, the CBSA can seize them,” Roby mentioned. “The traveler can completely lose the products or need to pay a penalty – sometimes 25% to 70% of the worth of the seized items – to get them again. Border providers officers may additionally seize automobiles used to unlawfully import items, and the traveler will probably be required to pay a penalty earlier than the automobile is returned.
“The CBSA retains a file of infractions. An infraction file can result in extra detailed examination on future journeys and in addition ineligibility for the NEXUS and CANPASS applications for trusted vacationers.”
When returning to the US, you’ll want to declare prohibited gadgets as properly, mentioned Jason Givens, a spokesperson for the US Customs and Border Patrol.
“The essential factor to recollect is to know the contents of your automobile and be ready to declare all gadgets,” Givens mentioned. “The (border-crossing) officer evaluates the totality of circumstances on the time of the traveler’s inspection. Usually, the prohibited merchandise will probably be forfeited, and the traveler may additionally face a penalty for trying to deliver the prohibited merchandise into the US, however typically, if you happen to declare the merchandise, you received’t face a penalty.”
“It doesn’t imply you’re suspected of any wrongdoing.”
Tobacco merchandise and alcohol are seized completely when they don’t seem to be correctly declared. And though hashish is authorized in Canada, trying to cross the border with it in both course generally is a critical legal offense. Sure meals gadgets – primarily meat, milk, egg, and poultry merchandise – are prohibited as properly. (You’ll discover a fairly substantial listing of meals dos and don’ts right here.)
In the event you do have a firearm in your automobile, declare it. In lots of situations, bringing a firearm into Canada is authorized (try the guidelines and rules), and you could simply want to finish a type and pay a $25 (CAN) price. (I additionally reached out to the Mexican equal of border patrol, however didn’t obtain a reply.) Planning to hike in bear nation? Bear spray is allowed to be transported between Canada and the US land borders.
In the event you’re into overlanding, you’ll want to give your automobile an intensive wash earlier than trying to cross into Canada. In accordance with Roby, automobiles and different items contaminated with soil might be (and normally are) refused entry. Bringing firewood into the nation can be prohibited, as a result of menace of invasive bugs and illness.
Courtesy of Tenting World
You could get flagged for added screening when crossing the border, however it doesn’t imply you’re suspected of any wrongdoing. Each Roby and Givens mentioned it’s routine for random drivers and automobiles to endure a extra thorough inspection.
Crossing again into the USA through Niagara Falls the subsequent day, I waited within the lone RV lane for about 20 minutes, giving me time to ponder my potential solutions. Aside from the remnants of that morning’s breakfast clinging to my beard, I wasn’t bringing any prohibited Canadian foodstuffs again stateside. After just a few questions, I used to be motoring towards the Catskills.
All in all, I felt each border crossings went significantly better than anticipated, even with the inadvertent perjury. I’ll be significantly better ready for my subsequent journey north quickly.
Further sources
- Do you want a passport to journey to Mexico or Canada? It relies upon.
- The US Customs and Border Patrol put collectively a web page with info on the border-crossing course of, together with prohibited gadgets. Discover it right here.
- Enthusiastic about touring internationally? Take a look at Good Sam TravelAssist to be ready for potential medical emergencies.
