Ontario senior stews: 6 tomatoes cost him $300

That's because you are one....

Honestly, this could have been handled better. Customs has a job to do, I get that. I also understand that it is almost impossible for Customs agents to speak every language known to man. It is the responsibility of the person entering a country to have a basic knowledge of the languages of the country they are about to enter. There was obviously a language barrier in this particular incident. The Customs official could have done his best to explain the situation, record the names of the various parties, and refused entry on that day. Tell them to try again next week. The refusal of entry, and the recording of their names would of made the point IMHO. We are talking six tomatoes here. Obviously we are not talking about a major smuggling ring here. A $300 fine seems a bit excessive to me.

US tomatoes are for US, Canadian are for Canada. Everything is correct

I'm sure they would have howled a lot louder if they had been refused entry that day.


Just wondering what bleeding heart decided that rules shouldnt be applied, and went
screaming like a little child to the media.

Because everyone thinks that they are "special" and if they'll pay 300 $ for few tomatoes, they'll look like jackass or loser. Making noise, they take care about their pride trying to show that they are not losers. But actually they are what they are. They can put a big word idiot before name in passport and when they'll cross the border, cops will see with who they deal.

Could have been handled better indeed. I hate crossing the Border, mainly because you're not dealing with a Human Being, but some robotized schmuck whose had their humanity and reasoning ability sucked out. There are exceptions, especially in small town Border Crossings, but you never know what to expect when crossing the Border.

I had one moron actually ask me how come I have friends in the States when I live in Canada.

Make a picture of him I would like to see

I would, but I'd be afraid of getting caught taking pictures at customs. One of them might think I was a spy or something

That'll be a good trick, look: If he will catch a "spy", he will be some kind of hero, they'll put his photo on the first page of morning newspaper. So everyone will see his picture They'll help you to do stuff you were trying to make Man, that's the US

It's not really that bad. I've crossed I don't know how many times and I can count the number of real dicks I dealt with at the border on one hand.

I would, but I'd be afraid of getting caught taking pictures at customs. One of them might think I was a spy or something
It was decided in a U.S. court that taking pictures of law enforcement in public while fullfilling their duties is a first amendment right. I'm not sure if that applies to foriegn visitors though.

All the dicks I've dealt with crossing the US - Canadian border have been on the Canadian side. However thanks to 9/11, the days of, 'Where you heading? You all Canadian? Have a nice day', are things of the past.

same, never had a problem going into the US, only coming back.