[Newsbot]

Title: New U.S. border rules kick in Monday
Category: Uncle Sam
Posted By: tritium
Date: 2009-05-31 07:50:41

[GreenTiger]

I dislike these new birder regulations intensly. I mourn the loss of the ability to easily cross the border.

[martin14]

funny how Europe is busy tearing down borders, while the US is putting them up..

[Brenda]

Ohhh, is that all?
Show passport, fill out visa waiver, get mugshot taken, fingerprinted, show proof of Canadian residency...

And you are complaining about needing a passport or an EDL?

[Pseudonym]

I wouldn't mind showing my passport to cross the border if I actually believed they would apply this regulation uniformly.

[Strutz]

GreenTiger GreenTiger:

I dislike these new birder regulations intensly. I mourn the loss of the ability to easily cross the border.

Agreed. I remember the good ole days (20 years ago) when a friend of mine and I would take a drive to Bellingham for something to do and wander around Bellis Fair Mall, have lunch and buy some Jelly Belly jelly beans (before they were available in Canada). We would claim them at the border when asked if we made any purchases and the Canadian border guards would just laugh and wave us through. No such thing as joking at the border anymore. On the way down we'd just say we were going for a drive and would likely have some lunch and the U.S. border guards would just ask if we were Canadian and then say "Have a nice drive".

I must admit it has been about 10 years since I've been across the line and I live about an hour drive from the border. Too much hassle now. Too much suspicion.

[martin14]

'95 or '96.. drive from Van to Mexico, Puerta Vallarta.

Through 2 borders, and back. 6 month tourist visa for Mexico, all with
a driver's license.

Like to see that happen today.

[bootlegga]

martin14 martin14:

'95 or '96.. drive from Van to Mexico, Puerta Vallarta.

Through 2 borders, and back. 6 month tourist visa for Mexico, all with
a driver's license.

Like to see that happen today.

No doubt. I remember crossing in 2003 to go to Arizona and the border guard just grilled us, with about 50 questions. It was a totally different story back in 96, driving from Edmonton to San Diego and back.

I've driven across the border dozens of times, and will continue to do so, but this law will kill those spur of the moment trips (like when you're camping at Waterton NP or hanging out in Vancouver).

[Brenda]

50! Holy! All they are asking me is what I am gonna do in the US (getting gas), how long I am gonna stay (half an hour...) and what I do for a living. Oh, and if I have fooditems with me that I shouldn't have.

[bootlegga]

I couldn't believe it myself.

The border guard wanted to know where we lived, worked, how long we'd been there, where we were going, for how long, which hotel we were staying at, for how long, did we have an itinerary, why did we have a cooler, did we have fruit/veggie/meat, etc. Then he repeated them for my buddy. We probably sat at the border for 15 minutes.

[TattoodGirl]

I am pulled into the "office" everytime I cross and my car gets searched. I am so sick of it...I am considering not going down to Washington anymore and paying the extra to fly out of YVR.

[novachick]

Well color me blonde and stupid. I thought this passport thing went into effect on Jan 1 of this year. Crrrrrrrrrrrrap I could have went to New York when I was in Montreal after all

[ShepherdsDog]

You didn't fall for their 'body cavity search line' did you?

[Regina]

.....or the skin tip breathalyzer.

[TattoodGirl]

Geeez you two...you guys are on a roll tonight...you both drinking together? and if so where is my drink?