Strange encounter at the US / Canadian Border today...

[Special K]

When cruising up today I had something happen that has never happened to me in 10 years of regularly visiting Montreal. Upon arriving about 1/4 mile from the Canada border the US border patrol set up an outgoing border check. They set cones to merge all the traffic over to the left side of the northbound lane on 89. ICE agents and drug sniffing dogs were strewn about checking vehicles in line as they passed. I was stopped by one of the ICE agents at the front of the line, he questioned me about where I was going, if I had any firearms on me, over 10K cash, etc. Asked if I had any alcohol as well, I told him I had a bottle of vodka, bottle of Baileys and small bottle of gin, his response was pretty funny actually when he said, "sounds like you're going to have yourself a nice party with some gals, lol," I responded to him "well, that's the plan" and he had a good chuckle. Asked me to open my trunk and looked through some of my bags, when he returned and handed me back my passport and Nexus card he said "St. Cat street for the girls and have a great time!! Also, be careful at the Canadian border, answer with yes sir, no sir, etc, they're being ballbusters today!" I found his candidness to be quite refreshing when most of the guys are always being hard asses.

Needless to say I breezed through the Canadian border using the Nexus lane. :thumb:

SK

 

[EagerBeaver]

Hey SK,

Thanks for the head's up. That has happened to me in Vermont incoming but never outgoing.

By the ways when you go back into the USA note that they have added double stops at the border crossing (two stop signs), the reason for this is security - by making you stop they can take extra video of your vehicle before you get to the actual border guard station. This was at the crossing at I-87 but I assume this is the case at Highgate Springs as well.

 

[Special K]

Hey SK,



By the ways when you go back into the USA note that they have added double stops at the border crossing (two stop signs), the reason for this is security - by making you stop they can take extra video of your vehicle before you get to the actual border guard station. This was at the crossing at I-87 but I assume this is the case at Highgate Springs as well.

Yea Beav, the double stop signs are new since my last trip up, now if they'd keep the Nexus line entering the US open all day I'd be ecstatic.

 

[Aeolus]

...when he returned and handed me back my passport and Nexus card he said "St. Cat street for the girls and have a great time!! Also, be careful at the Canadian border, answer with yes sir, no sir, etc, they're being ballbusters today!" I found his candidness to be quite refreshing when most of the guys are always being hard asses.

See, you never know where you'll find a fellow hobbyist.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

I've seen this set-up at the border several times, but have never been among the selected.

 

[daydreamer41]

I had the same thing happened to me about a year ago. A bunch of US border patrol agents were on the side and the cones were set up so that you had to go towards them. The front Border agent waved me on and I thought that he was telling me to go forward to the Canada border, but as I passed he yelled to stop, which I did. He then asked me why I moved past him. I told him that I thought he was waving me thru. He then apologized for the confusion and asked similar questions to what they asked Special K. There were no dogs, just Border patrol agents with pistols in their holsters. The Canada border patrols questions were not many and quick.

I don't know the reason for the extra check before the Canada border then. I agree that Bin Laden's sending to the 72 virgin whales is the reason for the added security. But why before the Canadian border? Why not after you enter the US from Canada, unless they were looking for a fugitive that may be trying to enter Canada?

In my experience, you had no choice but to be selected. They seemed to be stopping everyone.

 

[sweetwater]

... his response was pretty funny actually when he said, "sounds like you're going to have yourself a nice party with some gals, lol," I responded to him "well, that's the plan" and he had a good chuckle. ... :thumb: SK

See, you never know where you'll find a fellow hobbyist.

I was just thinking the same thing.:nod:
I, too have seen this, but have never been questioned. They were busy with other vehicles.
Sweetwater

 

[smuler]

I encountered this many years ago also

I would say 1995, or so

We started to slow down, as cars stopped in front of us

I said to my passenger... " this is odd, as I know we aren't close to the border yet ' ??

It was guys with German shepherds and machine guns...American soldiers


That was a long time ago


Best Regards


Smuler

 

[valarie_curves]

They had the dogs out... Sounds like maybe they got a tip and might have been looking for someone trafficking...

or just them doing their job, being unpredictable to catch people who are trafficking..

 

[EagerBeaver]

drug sniffing dogs

There were no dogs, just Border patrol agents with pistols in their holsters.

They use dogs now not only to sniff for drugs, but also hidden explosives that could be used in terrorism. The Navy Seals used a canine during the raid on Bin Laden. The identity of that dog will not be revealed, but he was not sniffing for drugs. Article here:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/osama-bin-laden-raid-navy-seals-military-dog/story?id=13535070

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Strangest incident I ever had at the border was about 10 years back when I was heading up to Montreal with my then-wife. We were through the border and pulled in to use the restrooms, when a late model Beamer pulled in next to us and out hopped the Beav. That took some time to get over.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Actually I had no idea you were there or using the restrooms. I had been pulled over by the border guards and instructed to park there and submit to questioning by Customs and Immigration officials. A random detainment.

 

[Marlow]

My experience is the the US customs pricks are the worse scum you can find, never had any trouble with the CDN border guys.

 

[hungry101]

My experience is the the US customs pricks are the worse scum you can find, never had any trouble with the CDN border guys.

This has been my experience as well. The US have been the biggest pricks.

just less that 2-years ago I flew into Montreal and rented a car to drive to Maine. The plan was to drive through Quebec into New Brunswick and down into Maine. As soon as I left Quebec there were the RMP pulled me over and searched my car. Since it was a rental the car had Quebec plates. I think they were looking for smugglers of booze and smokes.

 

[Morris Wanchuk]

I guess 98% of the time its a boring glorified mall cop job
but once a day something interesting happens at this border

http://www.tmz.com/2012/08/17/colleen-shannon-arrested-jail-smuggling-man-canada-border/

 

[montreal_monk01]

Lol, the fuck must have been so good for her , I am sure.
Or he (the BF) has something she judged worthy to take such risk (perhaps a 20' pistol in the pants) ;p

 

[EagerBeaver]

I got a speeding ticket on I-87 in Clinton County last year and it is not the place to be if you want mercy from the criminal justice system. A bunch of pricks and when all was said and done, going 86 mph in a 65 mph zone cost me $500 between fines, court fees and a totally separate fine that is levied by the New York DMV. The truth is I had to go to the bathroom and was speeding to find the next exit so that I would not piss in my pants. This was because I drank too much coffee for the long trip back to Connecticut. The female New York State Trooper spoke to me like I was Charles Manson and demanded to know why I was signalling for an exit when she pulled me over. I told her I thought I was going to piss in my pants if I did not find a bathroom and she had no mercy or compassion, whatsoever.

I can only imagine how they are treating poor Ms. Shannon. Not sure I understand what happened that landed her in jail in the Clinton County Hooskow. If she hid her boyfriend in the trunk and he has some DUIs on his record or whatever, should she be incarcerated? Maybe he should be deported and she should be fined....

 

[SamKlemmons]

I got a speeding ticket on I-87 in Clinton County last year and it is not the place to be if you want mercy from the criminal justice system. A bunch of pricks and when all was said and done, going 86 mph in a 65 mph zone cost me $500 between fines, court fees and a totally separate fine that is levied by the New York DMV. T

They have speed traps (not just one) all over along that route and many drivers get hit twice on the same trip.

That area is a money grab pure and simple.

But frankly, for years I thought they only targeted Canadians....

Those cops are like gang members with better uniforms, higher salaries and pensions.

 

[Turbodick]

My experience is the the US customs pricks are the worse scum you can find, never had any trouble with the CDN border guys.

They're just doing their job. I have had some impolite-to-ignorant treatment but remained calm and went on my way. I think they just want to rattle you loose if you are loosely anchored.

 

[joedoe88]

I got a speeding ticket on I-87 in Clinton County last year and it is not the place to be if you want mercy from the criminal justice system. A bunch of pricks and when all was said and done, going 86 mph in a 65 mph zone cost me $500 between fines, court fees and a totally separate fine that is levied by the New York DMV. The truth is I had to go to the bathroom and was speeding to find the next exit so that I would not piss in my pants. This was because I drank too much coffee for the long trip back to Connecticut. The female New York State Trooper spoke to me like I was Charles Manson and demanded to know why I was signalling for an exit when she pulled me over. I told her I thought I was going to piss in my pants if I did not find a bathroom and she had no mercy or compassion, whatsoever.

I can only imagine how they are treating poor Ms. Shannon. Not sure I understand what happened that landed her in jail in the Clinton County Hooskow. If she hid her boyfriend in the trunk and he has some DUIs on his record or whatever, should she be incarcerated? Maybe he should be deported and she should be fined....

just pull over and piss in the bush, why would you speed and wait for the next rest stop? sometimes they are so far away