A Tougher Border?

[siobhan1997]

Your licence plate is photographed when you cross into and out of the US so they know EXACTLY how long you've been there. If you use a passport like I do, they also scan the bar-code. There are no surprizes anymore.

Beth

We were told by the Canadian Customs person inside the main building at the crossing at Thousand Island Bridge that the agents in the booths cannot enter license plates from their booths. It can be done from inside but takes alot of time to obtain. Information is not readily shared between border agents unless it is criminal. But remember if you duty free on the Canadian side before you enter the US, border agents upon return to Canada can obtain your time of entry into the US through Duty Free shop.

 

[amw]

We were told by the Canadian Customs person inside the main building at the crossing at Thousand Island Bridge that the agents in the booths cannot enter license plates from their booths. It can be done from inside but takes alot of time to obtain. Information is not readily shared between border agents unless it is criminal. But remember if you duty free on the Canadian side before you enter the US, border agents upon return to Canada can obtain your time of entry into the US through Duty Free shop.

But your car is definitely being photographed... why would they need to obtain your time of entry elsewhere

Maybe each crossing is different, but Lewiston definitely had a computer at each booth and the guards referred to it in both directions.

 

[drag n' fly]

Warranty service and repairs are not subject to duty and tax. It's not your fault if your transmission dies in Florida and has to be repaired so you can get home.

Here's the long winded customs legal description
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cm/d8-2-26/d8-2-26-e.html

If you take a Canadian purchased vehicle temporarily to Florida and the tranny goes, the warranty covers the cost of the repairs vise versa. If you take a US purchased vehicle and bring it permanently across the border to Canada and then expect a Canadian dealer to honour the warranty, legally they do not have to if they do not want to.
Needing a repair for a temporary trip and bringing a vehicle permanently across are two completely different scenarios that appear to be getting confused. I don't agree with the dealerships not honouring warranties on vehicles purchased in the US and being brought back permanently. However they can choose to not honour the warranty if they do not want to.

 

[dsneygirl]

I If you take a US purchased vehicle and bring it permanently across the border to Canada and then expect a Canadian dealer to honour the warranty, legally they do not have to if they do not want to.
Needing a repair for a temporary trip and bringing a vehicle permanently across are two completely different scenarios that appear to be getting confused. I don't agree with the dealerships not honouring warranties on vehicles purchased in the US and being brought back permanently. However they can choose to not honour the warranty if they do not want to.

That's something completely different. That has nothing to do with Canada Customs that's the dealerships.

Warranty repair is legislated by the Customs D-Memorada.

 

[drag n' fly]

That's something completely different. That has nothing to do with Canada Customs that's the dealerships.

Warranty repair is legislated by the Customs D-Memorada.

Yes I know. However some people think you can buy and vehicle anywhere bring it back to your home country and then expect your local dealer to honour the warranty.

 

[DisKneeKnut]

Hi Briar Rose 59

That makes sense, her car could have been similiar to one reported stolen or involved with other illicit acts. She used her personal car and not her car supplied by work.

I guess it is the same for people, my sister-in-law was stopped everytime she went into a casino, she was asked for id. As soon as she cut her hair no more requests. Believe me, she was close to 45, she didn't look underage. I told her she must look like someone on their restricted/deny entry list.

 

[stashf]

I have been crossing the border for shopping for over 7 years, we usually go every 3-4 months. I have noticed this last year they are much more strict. I have been searched only once and now I declare EVERYTHING. It's not worth the hassle and on the whole I have always found both sides to be very pleasant. They take passports going into the US and they now swipe all of them - in the past they did not. I have never had my car searched going in - and the one time we were staying in Buf for the night I had to show my flight confirmation for the next day! Most of the times they have a good laugh with us as we spend entirely too much money and we declare it all - they know we arent lying! This Sat we went, 1/2hr wait at Fort Erie going in and NO wait coming home 9pm. They were all pleasant, and no the Canadian side generally does not take passports on the way home, they usually just ask where you live. The searching appears to be random - it's funny cause as we leave the Walden we always see the garbage cans overflowing with bags and boxes - it's not worth the risk, we just laugh - they are getting stricter so my advice just be honest and declare everything. So far I've only had to pay the 6% gst on my stuff! making it still well worth it as there tax is only 4.75% I think.

Stacey

 

[bubba]

We went over the Queenston-Lewiston bridge on Saturday for a day of shopping. We had an 80 minute wait each way. We were never asked for id either way. We told the truth as far as our purchases went (about $350 for the three of us - way over the $50 pp limit) and were waved through. As we passed, though we saw a HUGE line up waiting to pay taxes and duty !

 

[talicskai]

My friend went over on Saturday at Lewiston/Queenston. She crossed at 7am on Saturday with no wait. Coming back at 9pm they lined up for 1.5 hours to get to customs and EVERY car had to pay duty. They waited in line another 1.5 hours outside in the cold to pay their duty of about $30. She said they got great deals so it was still worth it but would stay later next time(til about 11pm) to try and avoid the wait.

 

[OntFamily]

Avoid the Queenston / Lewiston crossing if at all possible. 9 times out of 10 it will have the longest wait times.

I checked wait times on Sunday, for crossing back into Canada:

Queenston / Lewiston - 2 hours

Peace Bridge - no wait

 

[talicskai]

Avoid the Queenston / Lewiston crossing if at all possible. 9 times out of 10 it will have the longest wait times.

I checked wait times on Sunday, for crossing back into Canada:

Queenston / Lewiston - 2 hours

Peace Bridge - no wait

I crossed back into Ontario last Sunday @ 10pm and there was no wait at the Rainbow Bridge either. However, there is no 24 hour duty free there.