At the border
As my well-worn passport can attest, I’ve crossed quite a few worldwide borders through the years, fortunately with nary a problem. But till lately, I by no means tried a border crossing in my camper van.
Normally 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 seem 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 outdoors 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 anyone else in the vehicle with you?” the agent requested. I rapidly reply with the reality, that nobody ever desires to journey with me. The agent chuckles barely and I discover myself stress-free a bit of bit.
“What brings you to Canada?” I’m reducing via Canada on my technique to the Catskills to go fly-fishing.
“Are you carrying any drugs, alcohol, guns, or knives?” Knowing I used to be crossing the border this journey, I eliminated the 9mm pistol I usually carry within the van earlier than leaving residence, and I’d drank all of the beer in my fridge throughout my earlier jaunt every week or two earlier. But nearly as quickly because the phrase “no” escaped my lips, I concurrently remembered I really had about an eighth of a bottle of Old Forester bourbon stashed away in my van’s pantry and my trusty Opinel No. 8 knife in my pocket. For a short 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 could be nicer than those within the US.
But earlier than I might appropriate my misstatement, the border agent was happy I wasn’t a menace and let me move. Thankfully, though I did have my pocket knife with me, as a result of it didn’t meet the Canada Border Services Agency’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 steel cup and down my throat) on the earliest alternative.
“Remember the contents of your vehicle.”
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.) People caught making an attempt to smuggle items into Canada can face some fairly extreme penalties, in response to Jacqueline Roby, a senior spokesperson for the CBSA.
“If a traveler omits to declare goods or tries to falsely declare them, the CBSA can seize them,” Roby stated. “The traveler can completely lose the products or should pay a penalty – usually 25% to 70% of the worth of the seized items – to get them again. Border companies officers may seize automobiles used to unlawfully import items, and the traveler will probably be required to pay a penalty earlier than the car is returned.
“The CBSA keeps a record of infractions. An infraction record can lead to more detailed examination on future trips and also ineligibility for the NEXUS and CANPASS programs for trusted travelers.”
When returning to the US, make sure you declare prohibited gadgets as nicely, stated Jason Givens, a spokesperson for the US Customs and Border Patrol.
“The important thing to remember is to know the contents of your vehicle and be prepared to declare all items,” Givens stated. “The (border-crossing) officer evaluates the totality of circumstances at the time of the traveler’s inspection. Normally, the prohibited item will be forfeited, and the traveler may also face a penalty for attempting to bring the prohibited item into the US, but generally, if you declare the item, you won’t face a penalty.”
“It doesn’t mean you’re suspected of any wrongdoing.”
Tobacco merchandise and alcohol are seized completely when they aren’t correctly declared. And though hashish is authorized in Canada, trying to cross the border with it in both path generally is a severe legal offense. Certain meals gadgets – primarily meat, milk, egg, and poultry merchandise – are prohibited as nicely. (You’ll discover a fairly substantial listing of meals dos and don’ts right here.)
If you do have a firearm in your car, declare it. In many situations, bringing a firearm into Canada is authorized (take a look at the guidelines and rules), and you could simply want to finish a kind and pay a $25 (CAN) charge. (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.
If you’re into overlanding, make sure you give your car an intensive wash earlier than trying to cross into Canada. According to Roby, automobiles and different items contaminated with soil could be (and often are) refused entry. Bringing firewood into the nation can be prohibited, because of the menace of invasive bugs and illness.
Courtesy of Camping World
You might get flagged for added screening when crossing the border, but it surely doesn’t imply you’re suspected of any wrongdoing. Both Roby and Givens stated it’s routine for random drivers and automobiles to bear a extra thorough inspection.
Crossing again into the United States 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. Other than 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 a lot better than anticipated, even with the inadvertent perjury. I’ll be a lot better ready for my subsequent journey north quickly.
Additional 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. Find it right here.
- Thinking about touring internationally? Check out Good Sam JourneyAssist to be ready for potential medical emergencies.