A Tougher Border?

[Disney Ontario]

Hi. I was just wandering if they are getting tougher at the border, since more Canadians are going over? We are heading over Dec 1 for the day, the good thing is, that we will be right at the Comfort Inn on Clifton Hill the night before. So we will be getting a faster/earlier border crossing we hope.We got to hit Bob Evens first for a delicious breakfast for our tough shopping day. But then we are back at the Comfort Inn to relax/swim/arcade/Kelseys.

 

[rewok]

I think they're checking more on people coming back, since they know in November most of us go to shop, not to swim in the lakes or hike in the mountains! We went last week-end, spent 2 night to get the 48h/400$ exemption, and the officer asked for all our receipts, the hotel bill, and really checked all of it. Also, since we came back before dinner Sunday, we got a little lecture on the fact that the exemption was for a 48h trip, not 2 days! She didn't ask for our exact departure time, but probably assumed that Friday afternoon we were working... Still let us go.

Also heard of people (friend of a friend) going down for a day, not declaring anything, being searched, and getting slapped with a fine for making a false declaration. They also "mark" you, so get may get searched every time for a few years. I'm not sure if it's an urban legend or what, but I prefer to be honest!

 

[drag n' fly]

Funny this is mentioned. We watched on the news the other night about border crossings. It was discovered Ontario is the most lax for checking people and that they were going to be really cracking down on cross border shoppers coming back. Here in Alberta already some dealerships are refusing to honour warranties on vehicles purchased in the US and some US dealerships are refusing to sell vehicles to Canadian citizens.

 

[disneyfan2]

I'm not sure if it's an urban legend or what, but I prefer to be honest!

i agree, it isn't worth the "red flag" if you really only end up paying duties that are not that much.

I got search recently where they pull my car from the border and into a closed garage, and we , but what i told them was what i had in the car, so i had no hassel at all. but i was still paranoid. What if i had something in my car from home etc.. but nothing was there...

 

[amw]

I just went through this past weekend at Lewiston -- waited 1 hour 15 minutes each direction. They were more stringent on the way over to Buffalo. He asked to see my written confirmation of my hotel stay, and I saw him input the info.

On the way back, they didn't even ask for our passports. I assume the computer had the info on my hotel stay. We were gone 2 days (but not 48 hours) and I told him I had $370 which was the truth. He didn't ask what we bought, just told me to head right through.

I think they were really being hard on the day-trippers, and checking them. It's better to stay over night in the US, and always be honest with your total purchases. Even paying duties is WAY worth it with our dollar right now.

 

[drag n' fly]

Like I have always told my three kids " You will get in a heck of a lot more trouble for lying than you would ever get for telling the truth"

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I figure it's a number game. There are more people passing through to go shopping now so naturally you will hear of more people getting stopped.

Like amw I always stay for the 48 hours now. No more day trips for me. Like Drag n'fly I tell the truth and have all my receipts/paperwork in my hands visible to the guard. I've got a girls weekend planned soon so hope the strategy keeps working for me.

 

[rewok]

Yeah, staying for 48 hours is still the best. Last time I got an hotel with a nice indoor pool for 75$/night. Between the 3 of us, we saved over 350$, which more than paid for the food/lodging, and we had a fun relaxed weekend.

Now if only the Target construction was completed, I'd be there once a month!

 

[LindaM]

We did a roadtrip in mid October, and our kids flew and met us in San Francisco. We ended up bringing back alot of things of our kids (dirty clothes, old clothes not worn, old shoes etc) that my trunk and back seat were full. I thought for sure the customs agents were going to go through everything with a fine tooth comb. I had all receipts for all our hotels and all receipts for everything DH and I bought.

We crossed the border I had our passports and all paperwork ready, there was no other car waiting to cross, so for sure I thought they would scrutinize us.

Customs asked us three questions, where do you live, how long were you in the US, how much do you declare. They did not even ask us for our passports?? I agree with telling the truth, my dd went a little overboard on her shopping and told customs that she spent more than allowed, they let her through with no problems and without paying any duty (Calgary airport).

 

[DisKneeKnut]

Hi, My husband and I went over in Oct to N.Y state, we mostly gambled at the Seneca Casino. We then went over to Port Huron abt 2 weeks ago bringing back a declared item. No problems.

My adult daughter was asked the strangest thing with her recent cross border trip. The Cdn customs officer quizzed her on her licence plate number. She took a little too long responding, said she should be able to recite it right away. Even I have to think about it or take a look at my plate at times. She had declared her goods and was ready to pay for any tax or duty. She rarely takes cross border trips.

Maybe the the officer was tired of asking the same questions all day.

The ironic twist, my daughter works as an officer in a legal occupation in Ont.

 

[OntFamily]

I just went through this past weekend at Lewiston -- waited 1 hour 15 minutes each direction. They were more stringent on the way over to Buffalo. He asked to see my written confirmation of my hotel stay, and I saw him input the info.

On the way back, they didn't even ask for our passports. I assume the computer had the info on my hotel stay.

Canada Customs would not have had your hotel info in their computer, as you gave the hotel info to US Customs (and this info is not readily shared). The primary info that is readily shared is criminal record info.

 

[NikP]

Canada Customs would not have had your hotel info in their computer, as you gave the hotel info to US Customs (and this info is not readily shared). The primary info that is readily shared is criminal record info.

Is this a fact? When we have crossed the boarder in Niagara Falls on a Friday and returned on a Sunday, the boarder agent told us the exact time we crossed over on Friday. From this experiance I just assumed they enter your licence plate number into a common data base. Anyone else have this happen to them?

 

[aGoofyMom]

I know a lot gets tracked by license plate - DH used to drive to Rochester NY for meetings and his plate was flagged - they thought he was working there because he would have to do these day trips. Once I went with him & shopped with a friend, we declared evertyhing, paid the duties, but missed one receipt. They checked the car over afterwards & found the receipt I missed. Victoria's Secret - 3 pair of undies. OOOPPSS! Yes I have declared $300 worth of clothing (we were going to Cuba & I needed stuff!) but I was going to smuggle 3 panties. She let us go.

This past Monday night coming back there were 4 lanes open crossing at Buffalo. Ours was pulling over several vehicles & searching trunks on the spot. They opened an extra lane which was close to us so we moved - and got 3 questions - Citizenship, how long have you been gone, how much are you bringing back? No passports no nothing! And we were packed in to the roof of the car with the 2 extra suitcases we bought to come home!

It seems to still be a little random.
(Of course we also NEVER take DH's car on vacation over the border!)

 

[nosnobunny2006]

I think they're checking more on people coming back, since they know in November most of us go to shop, not to swim in the lakes or hike in the mountains! We went last week-end, spent 2 night to get the 48h/400$ exemption, and the officer asked for all our receipts, the hotel bill, and really checked all of it. Also, since we came back before dinner Sunday, we got a little lecture on the fact that the exemption was for a 48h trip, not 2 days! She didn't ask for our exact departure time, but probably assumed that Friday afternoon we were working... Still let us go.

Also heard of people (friend of a friend) going down for a day, not declaring anything, being searched, and getting slapped with a fine for making a false declaration. They also "mark" you, so get may get searched every time for a few years. I'm not sure if it's an urban legend or what, but I prefer to be honest!

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

 

[nosnobunny2006]

Funny this is mentioned. We watched on the news the other night about border crossings. It was discovered Ontario is the most lax for checking people and that they were going to be really cracking down on cross border shoppers coming back. Here in Alberta already some dealerships are refusing to honour warranties on vehicles purchased in the US and some US dealerships are refusing to sell vehicles to Canadian citizens.

I've also heard this and personally think it's only a threat that can't legally be enforced. We are down in Florida a lot and I've had my Canadian-bought car serviced in the dealership under warranty. If this were true, neither Americans or Canadians would be able to travel with their own car for fear of being denied legitimate warranty repairs. To me it makes no sense once you think it through.

Beth

 

[briar_rose_59]

My adult daughter was asked the strangest thing with her recent cross border trip. The Cdn customs officer quizzed her on her licence plate number. She took a little too long responding, said she should be able to recite it right away. Even I have to think about it or take a look at my plate at times. She had declared her goods and was ready to pay for any tax or duty. She rarely takes cross border trips.

Maybe the the officer was tired of asking the same questions all day.

I believe that mostly happens when a car with a similar description is reported stolen. I guess their way of thinking is if you stole a car, would you bother to memorize the plate #? At least that's the reasoning I've been told.

Anyways, crossing between Windsor (I lived there for around 4 years) and Detroit is a total breeze. I think of all the times I've been over, we only got pulled into secondary (not sure if that's the real name, just what I call it) once, maybe twice, and have never been asked to pay any taxes/duties personally. It's easy to forget there that you are crossing a national border.

 

[drag n' fly]

I've also heard this and personally think it's only a threat that can't legally be enforced. We are down in Florida a lot and I've had my Canadian-bought car serviced in the dealership under warranty. If this were true, neither Americans or Canadians would be able to travel with their own car for fear of being denied legitimate warranty repairs. To me it makes no sense once you think it through.

Beth

I agree with you but Toyota in Calgary has already started doing it with foreign bought vehicles.

 

[nosnobunny2006]

I agree with you but Toyota in Calgary has already started doing it with foreign bought vehicles.

Then that would be the last Toyota I would ever buy and I'd make sure they knew it. If enough people cry foul, they'll listen.

Beth

 

[dsneygirl]

I've also heard this and personally think it's only a threat that can't legally be enforced. We are down in Florida a lot and I've had my Canadian-bought car serviced in the dealership under warranty. If this were true, neither Americans or Canadians would be able to travel with their own car for fear of being denied legitimate warranty repairs. To me it makes no sense once you think it through.

Beth

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

 

[nosnobunny2006]

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

Exactly! Thanks for the back-up.

Beth