kandeegirl2

i go through the niagra crossing. i have been through there quite a bit over the years. only got pulled in once and it was to leave off a pepper spray thing that someone who came with us had. its not bad at all.

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weava

We have gone through there every time.

Id say we've been pulled over and thoroughly searched 3 out of 5 times going into canada. Im talking scanning our ID's, partial strip search, bullshit questioning... the works.

Coming back to the USA we've never had any issues at all.

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heidibear

ok haha i'm not sure where i heard that information but it seemed silly to me.

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kandeegirl2

not the niagra one the going to niagra its going from the interstate in ny to niagra not the niagra 2 lane border crossing.

snug_bunny

Well it is highly tollerated. I know for people crossing the border over that way it's pretty harsh b/c there isa lot of pot being smuggled in to the usa over there.

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Mrs Skittles

Hi Jen! I miss you oodles as well. Only 4 more months!

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Mr Skittles

what do i have to do to get across with a d.u.i. on my record?

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PapaSmurff

honestly.. i have gone to Canada from Chicago a few times and always drove. I never ever had to deal with anything, only checked my passport (cause im a Polish citizen) and that was all. No scanning no checking other stuff THATS IT..
the only time it was different was when i was fifteen going with my friend who was eighteen and it was late night, i was half asleep, unbottoned shirt and looked like shit.. they asked me to come in and just yelled at me to look more presentable when i cross the border.. ha.. but you guys are making this into a huge thing.. maybe my crossings were just different? but all these threads on problems crossing the boarder are making me worry and i know i shouldnt

CareSieB

Look on the website for the canadian immigration. Driving over is very difficult if they see your DUI, you will need prior authorization and to pay a 200 dollar fee and swear you will not drive in canada, flying is MUCH easier, and no 200 fee, my dad got a DUI in like 1979 and last year had issues getting into canada due to it.

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Hoppapotamus

Thanks for all the replies. I understand I'm probably making this into a way bigger deal than it is, however, I'm worried that I will get turned away at the border, and my weekend will be ruined. I looked into it, and the law on the books is that I will not be able to enter, due to the misdemeanor. The real question though, is whether or not they will enforce it, as the article claims, or they will let it slide. Man, I'd be so crushed if they turned me away.

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CareSieB

get turned away, try again

Weaver

Hoppapotamus, what I would do is just try to relax. You're going to be peeing your pants at the boarder cause you are so worried, if you just play it cool and don't have a care, or at least pretend to be really relaxed, it will make things a whole lot easier!

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TragicPixie

from my SO's experinence the fee for being caught with personal use halluciongen on you 200 canadian: kinda suck but pretty nice from the American perspective all the same!

Not that that's an issue really but fees are pretty common for a *lot* it seems....

OH! I forgot *because* of my SO having the pills - they were turned away at the board but the guards were nice enough not to write that as the reason it turns out a their friend driving has a felony charge from when she was 17 and so she cannot enter Canada for something like five years or has to write a letter or something...

orbz

Peace Love Unity Raving ?

Sorry, but... Ouch. You missed like the most important one. Maybe you should take a few more runs through PLUR before trying to move on to the more complex PLURR.

And to anyone who's "freaking out" about this border thing... whatever you do, don't bottle up that nervous energy on the way to the border crossing or you'll be sweating it out your eyes and wind up having your car dismantled by the side of the road.

It's obviously a big deal for you whether you're allowed across or not, but if it's really such a big deal make sure that you remember that the most likely way to ensure a smooth border crossing is to not let it be a big deal, act like you're going to visit some aunt you don't even really like for a stupid dinner
not like I GOTTA GET TO MY RAAAAAAAVE

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roetheshy

More importantly like Chris says, DO NOT LIE at the border. If they ask, which they probably will, say you are going to a concert performed by Anabolic Frolic in the Toronto Opera House.
On the other note, my boyfriend and I were concerned about his charges preventing us from getting in. We went to the courthouse to check his record, and even with him being arrested 7 times (some felony charges which were dropped) and spending over a year in jail, the only thing on their was some shoplifting charge when he was 19. Even that was listed as adjudication withdrawn.

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4real

are u kidding me my brother and i live in canada and we were going over the rainbow bridge on his b-day to gamble in the states. My brother was charged for possesion of cocaine like a year ago but it wasnt his it was the drivers so his charges were completely dropped he has no criminal record convictions or anything and just because that happened he didnt get over!! So if you were convicted i would be scared! And because of the way American customs treat us I feel Canadians should do the exact same.

Hoppapotamus

American customs have always been known to be way douch-ier than those friendly Canadians. I just hope they haven't started strictly enforcing the rules that have always been in place as the article claims. I have NO idea what to expect, but I am worried. I'll be very let down if I can't get in. Oh, and just because American Customs are assholes, doesn't mean Canadian ones should be. No need to continue the cycle of abuse.

quietasamouse

hey wanted to throw my 2 cents in after reading this entire thread. people were asking about bus, driving, flying.

by bus: sorry no, they check every single ID. when you finally arrive at the [Canadian] border, they make everyone get off the bus WITH your luggage (that means the entire bus is empty for them to search), then they run each and every person through a checkpoint. Your baggage may or may not be X-rayed. I got a question once, "Were the ZIG ZAGS we found on the bus yours?" I responded "No sir, I do not smoke." (True!) What a loaded question!

by flying: of course you will figure they will check your ID, and your baggage will be checked. all flying rules apply. I don't think I have to tell you what they do. Get through customs in the country of departure and it's smooth sailing.

by driving: I find this is the easiest. They will have your plate photographed, meaning they can trace you through your car. They may or may not check your ID (99% chance of checking your ID - however - there is the rare occasion such as driving through canada at 3 in the morning on christmas day, they will not even look at your passport). Be prepared to submit either your passport or your drivers license AND birth certificate (A drivers license alone only proves you know how to drive. It does not prove where you were born, and that's what they want). Know they mostly cross reference your name with your birthdate. If you see them reaching for that little slip of paper in the booth, you're going to have to pull over to be searched. Know it is not a painful process, and they are mostly looking for weapons, or things you haven't declared that you actually have. Which means lying is NOT a good thing. Tell them what you are doing. (Going to a concert.) Tell them how many smokes, how many booze cans, how many suitcases you have in your car and you will be out of there within minutes or at most a half hour if the cute canadian border guards search your car. Be nice!

By WALKING (across the border, which you CAN do!): I noticed someone posted a question regarding this type of transit. I tried this once. I got hassled 500% more than I ever had been driving, flying, or bussing put together!! I simply wanted to walk from the casino in niagara falls to New York to get some american smokes (this is when I did smoke! lol) and walk back to the casino. I had to answer all kinds of questions, they didn't want to let me out of the country or back in once I made it there. NOT recommended!!!!

Good luck, don't fret, be nice, you are tourists! Enjoy your trip!!!

-m

alania.x

I've been from Canada to US and from US to Canada on both Greyhound and Charter busses, and never had my ID checked. They just pulled 2 or 3 random people off to be checked and questioned.

Mind you it's been a few years. Things have probably changed.

dianejapa

^^^ where ever's closest? it's a gamble at the border. sometimes it's easy. sometimes it's hard. i don't imagine any northeast US borders would be that much different from each other. BC versus here, i can see that tho

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dianejapa

my previous blurb was in response to this. it was the bottom of the first page. i didn't read to the end of the thread before i responded. oops. sorry. stoned

Minkis

lawlz

when driving, getting searched by customs isnt too bad as long as you dont have anything that SHOULD make you worry... i.e., drugs,illegal stuff... i think every single hulla i went to, we got searched.. so i know all about it.. answer the questions they ask you, do what they tell you, DONT act suspicious, and you should be good

Hoppapotamus

I'm not worried about going through the border. On a regular day, I look like a librarian. I don't carry drugs in the car, I'm really good at talking to official types, and really good at making confident eye contact. I'm worried that I'll get turned away because they started enforcing the rules I mentioned in my original post.

weava

We go across the Peace Bridge from I-190.

That the one you're talking about?

I've never been to the 2 lane one.