What A Weird Weekend...(long)

[Special K]

As I contemplate the happenings of the last 4 days I'm trying to figure out where to start, but I suppose the best place would have to be right from the beginning...the ride up from Boston.

My friend and I set out on our journey a few days ago. We were having a nice ride right up until we hit the gates to Montreal and encountered one nasty female border paTROLLer. After answering the usual array of questions and just about getting ready to exit she asked one final question..."Have you ever been before a judge?" For me this wasn't a problem as I've never been arrested before, but my friend who I've been best of friends with since we were toddlers hasn't been so lucky. He couldn't lie to her so he answered truthfully that "yes" he had been before a judge in the past, (16 years ago mind you). She then reached out for one of her yellow pads, filled it out, and asked us to come inside for a chat with immigration....Here we go.....

Sitting inside the Border Patrol station I was shocked to see NO ONE around from the immigration dept. Must we have interrupted their lunch? We sat quietly for about 20 minutes before a pleasant older lady asked us to approach her desk. Again we went through the same questions, handed over our licenses, and at the end she asked the "Judge" one. At this point she then asked my friend if he had ever been convicted of a crime in the US? To which he honestly replied "yes" he had. A stern look came across the previous pleasant face of this lady and the next words out of her mouth almost ruined our trip. "You can't come into Canada if you've ever been convicted of ANY crime in your life" Four hours driving and bang...a hard shot to the gut from this lady...

The immigration officer (IO from now on) asked us to take another seat, then took our licenses to the back to run record checks on the two of us. Again we sat...stewing and angry but all the while being extremely polite to the IO. All I was thinking was "dude, we're all the way up here you're gonna have to hop a bus back to Beantown!!"

Another 15 minutes goes by and she asks my friend to come with her to the back for some more questioning. Here's what happened back there...She asked him what his arrests were for, the outcomes, etc. All the while as I said previously he was acting like an angel. He politely explained to her that he was a young kid when he got into trouble and hadn't been in any sort of trouble at all for the past 16 years. He was last in Canada in 2001 and didn't have any problems entering at that time even when asked to come inside again and speak to immigration, giving them the same exact answers as today.

In the end she said "ok, you've been very forthcoming with your answers and extremely polite, so I'm not going to detain you here for hours while we wait for your information to come back from Boston (the system was down, thank the lord she didn't see his full history) She said there's no way that you should've been allowed into the country back in 2001 and that this time would be the last time he'd be welcome back into Canada. With that we were finally on our way downtown with a huge sigh of relief!!!

Pt. 2 to follow

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by Lawless
MERB is indeed deteriorating as we now have so many threads on the same matter. Why this thread at all. I believe some members are taking care of their egos.
There is a thread on the matter, why don't use it!!!
I don't know what's the matter since early January, but duplicating is getting array!! Members don't even conduct a search before posting!

Lawless,

The topic of the previous thread you speak of is entitled "Pesky US customs agents" NOT "PESKY CANADIAN IMMIGRATION AGENTS!!"

What is the purpose of a messageboard? Is it to convey to others experiences you've shared? Chill the f*ck out pal!!

I've been a member here quite sometime and have to honestly ask you if you think my post or any other posts of mine are feeding my ego in any way possible? If that's the case I'd be just as happy to return to Lurkdom and only reap what others bestow upon this board. Makes zero difference to me Lawless.

Take care,

SK

ps...Eager, thanks for the info on the waiver, but I was under the impression that specifically DUI's were a no no. I appreciate the clarification.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by Special K
Pt. 2 to follow

I was going to continue a follow up to this weekends happenings and let the board in on a beautiful escort I approached while she was waiting in the lobby for her driver as I was coming in late at night, but some people (particularly Lawless) may think I'm trying to inflate my already astronomical ego so I thought better of it.

Take care,

SK

 

[Vladimir]

A couple of useful addresses/phones to inquire further about your incedent and get information from people who know far more than that customs officer about process:

[1] The Canadian consulate in Boston: Three Copley
Place, Suite 400 Boston, MA 02116. Tel: 617-262-3760.

[2] Public Communication Division PA/PL, Rm. 2206 U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, D.C. 20520. Tel: 202-647-6575.

In Canada there is something called the CANPASS:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel/canpass/menu-e.html

The program is designed to streamline customs clearance for frequent travelers. If you folks travel to Canada more often than you should (he he he!!!) you may want to get cleared using that vehicle instead of arguing with idiot customs officers at the border.

We have been using it for years at the firm for business up in Canada and always go through with absolutely no problems. I believe the program has been extended to cover all points of entry, not only airports.

I read your reviews Special K!!!!! Lucky you! While some where having fun in Montreal others where spending the weekend at the office! Damn it! Can't wait to get up there !!!

 

[hornyanglo]

SK, agree with you... Lawless was an asshole in his post and should just STFU.... if he don;t like it he don;t have to read it.

His energies owuld be better spent in getting the mods to actually RUN THIS SITE so people like Oliver wouldnot feel it futule to continue to post here....

 

[Special K]

Vlad & Eager,

Again thanks for the information regarding this situation. I will certainly get in touch with the Canadian Consulate in Boston and see if my friend is able to get a pardon for future travel to Canada. Also I believe Canpass is only good for travel via air or boat, not motor vehicle, but see below.

In the meantime while we were being detained I did read something in one of the flyers on the wall regarding the Nexus Program. Here's some information and also a link to the Nexus Program website.

http://www.thechamplainchannel.com/news/2759279/detail.html
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel/nexus/menu-e.html

One strange thing about it is the hours listed that you're able to cross at Highgate Springs VT. 7 days a week 7am-8am. So only for 1 hour during the day

PS...Thanks for your support HA

 

[naughtylady]

C'mon guys! While I realise that for the most part, we are carefully disguised as responsible adults, let's try to keep up the illusion. So stop flaming.
Lawless, I understand your point of view, If you had stated it with a little more tact, you probably wouldn't have upset so many people.
So let's play nice and stop fighting...or since you are all starting to sound like children lets play grown up!

Ronnie

 

[HornyBoy007]

I didn't see the post of Special K as a repetition. For sure, there are so many useless threads created every day. Such threads are generally created by junior members and they barely contain a single line, generally an information request about a SP.

Starting up a new thread flatters the ego of a junior member. Is is so nice to go back and see how many hits your new thjread got, how many replies ...

The post of SK, was nicely written. Hopefully we will get the second part of the story despite all this.

 

[MG_mtl]

SK, please don't let some rude posters whith oversized egos stop you from sharing the info you intended on sharing with us. There are ways of saying things in order to get your point through to someone and obvisously some people don't know how to go about it...

Lawless, you've been told allready how tactless and rude you can be I don't need to add anything here.

Eager, with all due respect, altough you have used more tact in this thread, who do you think you are. Let me quote your last post: BEG OF QUOTE " If SK erred in starting a new thread, which I don't necessarily believe, then I will give him a pass due to the value of the info he posted" END OF QUOTE. Did they name you Merb admin or Merb judge ? Since when do we need a pass from YOU ?

SK, although I agree this new thread was OK (for the border stuff), in my own humble opinion, all the other posts in the outcall section (from your friend I believe) should've been posted in the agency threads allready started. All the girls reviewed were from agencies with existing threads.

No flaming guys, I'm just voicing my opinion.

MG (mtl)

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by MG_mtl
SK, although I agree this new thread was OK (for the border stuff), in my own humble opinion, all the other posts in the outcall section (from your friend I believe) should've been posted in the agency threads allready started. All the girls reviewed were from agencies with existing threads.

No flaming guys, I'm just voicing my opinion.

MG (mtl)

Hi MG,

Thanks for your comments and I didn't take your post as a flame at all.

The reasoning for my new threads even though there is already exisiting ones on each lady is that I personally don't enjoy sifting through excessive replies and all the BS to find what I'm looking for on a particular lady. Case in point is the Satin Dreamz thread which now has over 140 replies and is 9 pages long. If someone does a search on "Carmen" he's going to have an easier time navigating the threads this way. So my apologies if anyone's upset with the way I'm posting in regards to ladies with existing threads, it's just my preference.

Take care,

MG

 

[cloudsurf]

SK now that Lawless has apologised (sort of) as he should have, lets hear part 2 of your adventure.
cloud

BTW Lawless and your buddy Clueless, if anybody`s ego is not inflated.... its SK

 

[MG_mtl]

Thank you Eager ! I'm not humourless, I just have a different type of sense of humour as you do.

You have the same type of humour as a good friend of mine... who just happens to also be a lawyer... coincidence ? hmmm...

Look, I have tons of humour !!

MG (mtl)

 

[Lawless]

Bud Fox

I am not a specialist in tickets, but before showing up in Montreal (or whatever city you got your ticket), please verify with the municipal court as a warrant of arrest may have been issued against you.
In addition, if your car can be traced through the plate number, it could be seized (at least in Montreal).
I don't know what kind of verification they do at the Canadian border.

 

[MotJuste]

Originally posted by Lawless
... before showing up in Montreal (or whatever city you got your ticket), please verify with the municipal court as a warrant of arrest may have been issued against you.
In addition, if your car can be traced through the plate number, it could be seized (at least in Montreal).
I don't know what kind of verification they do at the Canadian border.

In Quebec, imprisonment is not a penalty generally for violations of municipal by-laws or provincial statutes. If you don't show up, there is no risk of a bench warrant being issuing, and one would be merely condemned to pay a fine and costs. There have been in the past a few cases (which the media has gleefully publicized) of people who have accumulated humungous parking ticket debts or who have not paid municipal library fines ("how dare they tax reading!!!") who have gone to jail because there was no reasonable prospect of the fines being paid (due to poverty or principle). Thus, these types of offences would not find their way into the Canadian Customs database.

Lawless is right about the risk of seizure, because the City of Montreal has bailiffs on contract to install Denver Boots on cars which have been or which belong to persons who are the object of unpaid fines.

For a Quebec resident, if you don't pay traffic fines, you can have your licence suspended until such time as they are paid. Certain offences also involve loss of demerit points. More to the point about non-resident violators, Quebec has entered into reciprocity agreements with a number of American states to respect each other's sanctions usually concerning at least demerit points. Other sanctions would depend on the specific agreement. Moreover, although Quebec generally recognizes the driver's permit issued by the jurisdiction of a non-resident visitor, a non-resident who has not paid a fine imposed under the Quebec Highway Safety Code within the prescribed delay does not have the right to drive in Quebec. If caught, it is a separate offence under the Code.

 

[Clemenza]

Originally posted by EagerBeaver
I have been asked only when I was detained by immigration officials the question that SK's friend was asked: "Have you ever been before a judge?" My answer was "Ma'am, I am before judges every day", and I then handed her my business card. She then modified her question to ask me whether I have ever been before a judge other than on behalf of clients, to which the answer was "no."

I have, on two occasions, been before US judges to contest traffic citations (won one, lost one --- should have had EB representing me). I'm sure this isn't the sort of "criminal" conduct that the Canadian authorities are interested in, but would it be prudent to mention these incidents anyway if asked?

 

[fensterlein]

I have never been asked if I had been before a judge, but I was asked if I had a GIRL FRIEND, on both sides!! What the hell does that have to do with anything? I wonder if anyone could shed some light on that.

Once I was asked by a middle-aged, jerk-off, jack-ass, ass-wipe US agent who gave me a hard time at the gate, which I couldn't careless what his intention was; the other time I was asked that question by a lord almighty, mighty hot Canandian Agent, and until this day I can't stop fantasizing if she was, in fact, hitting on me.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by Bud Fox
Canadians are nicer and more polite is more than just a stereotype. America is lucky to have a neighbor like Canada.

Bud,

I have to disagree with you here, especially this past trip of mine moreso than any other. We ran into the rudest of rude people all over Montreal last weekend. How difficult is it for someone to say "excuse me" when bumping into you at say a bar or in a crowded area? I didn't even think that phrase was in their vocabulary.

I asked someone for directions on the street by the Viau metro and was totally blown off...mind you I am extremely polite to these people too. So I don't believe Canadians are all that nice at all (other than most merbites ) and as a matter of fact the stereotype Americans have of Canadians is very much on the side of rude.

Just my opinion,

SK

 

[MotJuste]

Originally posted by EagerBeaver
can Bud attempt entry and have the fine money ready in case he gets caught? In other words, Bud rolls the dice on getting by the border crossing guard and not getting detained, but if he gets stopped, he just coughs up the cash, says "so sorry!" and then gets let on his way?

This wouldn't be possible because the customs people (feds) are not collection agents for fines ordered by municipal and provincial courts. In the case of a local resident who doesn't pay a traffic fine, the court advises the SAAQ (Quebec's licencing body) that fine hasn't been paid. The SAAQ then sends a notice advising the driver that his/her licence will be suspended as of a certain date due to non-payment of a fine, referring them to the original court for any further info. It's only the court which imposed the fine originally which can collect it and then certify that it's been paid. People who pay under these circumstances are advised to hang onto their receipt in case they are stopped by LE and the payment hasn't yet worked its way through the SAAQ computer.

The risk scenario for Bud Fox is more likely that he gets stopped by LE for another reason (e.g. speeding), and they find his name in the computer with an unpaid fine. He is advised that he has no right to drive in Quebec since the fine is unpaid, and he is issued a ticket under the Highway Safety Code for having done so. If there is someone else in the car who can validly drive in Quebec, then they can drive off to find the courthouse. If he's alone, they'll call a cab for him and tow his car.

Originally posted by Bud Fox
Anyways just a side note, a friend of mine was turned away (not arrested) at the border because they found out he had unpaid 407 toll. I think they scan license plates at the border. And get this, they actually send those 407 bills to US.

Based on what I wrote above, I find this surprising if it was the sole reason for being refused entry into Canada. However, 407 might be a special case, given the sweetheart deal its operators were given by the Ontario government. (For those of you here who are unaware, Highway 407 is a privatised toll highway in the Toronto area which has an automated toll pass and user toll collection/ monitoring system). My cousin from NY was visiting last year and got such a bill in the mail. They had conflicting info though about whether they were even obliged to pay as American residents, and agonized over whether to pay before actually doing so.

 

[MotJuste]

Originally posted by Special K
We ran into the rudest of rude people all over Montreal last weekend.... I asked someone for directions on the street by the Viau metro and was totally blown off...mind you I am extremely polite to these people too.

In that area, it may be partly a problem of language. However, with the cold weather we've been having recently (before last weekend), the Metro cops seem to be more tolerant of panhandlers and street people staying inside. The brush-off could be a knee-jerk reaction to the many pitches (sometimes very innovative) some of these people use to get money out of passers-by.

 

[MotJuste]

Originally posted by fensterlein
I have never been asked if I had been before a judge, but I was asked if I had a GIRL FRIEND, on both sides!! What the hell does that have to do with anything? I wonder if anyone could shed some light on that.

With respect to entering Canada, I believe this has to do with assessing what is the true purpose of your visit from an immigration perspective, since there is no monitoring of the duration of a visitor's stay where no visa is required. Are you a tourist/visitor, or in fact a short-term temporary resident?