Going to Canada? ... BUSTED!

**smolakian** · 02-23-2007, 07:05 PM

Yeah it sucks fat donkey dick. Especially when there is such a vague set of guidelines. Like for instance: In CO if you get busted for pot you only get a ticket...petty offense. Will that prevent you from crossing the border? Supposedly it doesn't go on your record. Is there even a way to check?

**Woolbury** · 02-23-2007, 07:18 PM

When do they run this search? We went to Canada last week and the customs guy sleepily looked at my pssport, looked at me, and stamped it. BTW, Canada rocked. Curling on TV 24hrs a day.

**rideit** · 02-23-2007, 07:21 PM

Anyone else here like Shooter Jennings?

**BitchStixs** · 02-23-2007, 07:29 PM

Us Canucks can't get into the states the same as you can't get in here if you've had any sorta run in with the cops. Even if you were a kid and you gotta busted with some dope or a DUI or ANYTHING!

WORKS (or doesn't work) BOTH WAYS.

**ski_adk** · 02-23-2007, 08:26 PM

This stuff is some fucking bullshit! It's like some form of judgement day thing where anything you ever did - regardless whether you paid your debt to society - is now held against you for life. So much for liberty, freedom, avoidance of cruel and unusual punishment and forgiveness. And I'm not just railing Canada for it. The U.S. is just as guilty. Isn't the ability to re-integrate into modern society after a conviction and time-served a part of basic human rights, or at least the American Bill of Rights?

I don't have anything to worry about, worst thing I have on my record is a broken plate lamp on my old and former POS Plymouth. But this stuff kinda burns me up a little.

**Tippster** · 02-23-2007, 08:39 PM

We should just get it over with and annex Canada.

**Shaggy** · 02-23-2007, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by Beaver

It's no better goin g south. If you try to get into the USA from Canada with an arrest but no conviction you are not allowed in.

When you get finger prints taken in Canada, an FPS record gets created with your name on it. It's the FPS record that U.S. customs searches for first, and if they find it, they just assume that you must have been convicted of something.

Apparently getting the FPS record deleted in no-conviction scenerios is just a matter of sending a form in, according to a buddy of mine who got pinched and aquited for DUI last year.

Originally Posted by Woolbury

When do they run this search? We went to Canada last week and the customs guy sleepily looked at my pssport, looked at me, and stamped it. BTW, Canada rocked. Curling on TV 24hrs a day.

It depends on the agent, what thier impression is of you, and what side of the bed they woke up on. As a general rule though; "secondary inspection" means trouble if ya have a record.

When I drove out to Whistler from Ontario last September I got asked the standard 3 questions by the U.S. guys (Citizenship, Destination, Duration) and let through without even handing over my passport! This despite a car that was full with most of my possessions. I don't have any records, so I wasn't worried about that. I was worried they'd tear the car apart though..

... The Canadian agent gave me the gears to the point I almost felt I was being interrogated as a murder suspect.

**Shaggy** · 02-23-2007, 09:21 PM

Originally Posted by Buzzworthy

he can't ever vote here is the US.

Is this for real? Get arrested in the U.S. and you loose the right to vote?

That's some fucked up shit right there.

**skinny_kid** · 02-23-2007, 09:32 PM

Shaggy it is only for felony convictions

**Shaggy** · 02-23-2007, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by skinny_kid

Shaggy it is only for felony convictions

That's still kinda fucked up.. is it a forever thing?

**altasnob** · 02-23-2007, 09:55 PM

Most states let felons regain their voting rights after a period of time if they've completed all their obligations (i.e. done their time and paid their fines). Oregon lets you vote once you get off probation.

Also, if you do have a conviction, I'd highly recommend you look into what your options are regarding expunging that record. That's what George Bush did with his DUI from Maine.

ARE YOU CRIMINALLY INADMISSIBLE TO CANADA?
http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-a...uctions-en.asp

**wildstyle** · 02-23-2007, 10:13 PM

"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen......."

**jfost** · 02-23-2007, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by ski_adk

... Isn't the ability to re-integrate into modern society after a conviction and time-served a part of basic human rights, or at least the American Bill of Rights?

Yep. Have a read of the NAFTA text too... theoretically we aren't even supposed to be stopped at the border of our North American neighbors. Oh well, another snow-job from D.C.

**Rusty Nails** · 02-23-2007, 10:20 PM

I would think the US database would check through the NCIC. You will not expunge a conviction from this database once it is in there even if the state makes some changes. Plus, it is almost impossible to expunge an arrest record, yet alone a conviction. Still, why not try?

Though it is a bother, the "rehabilitation" form does not look too tough to fill out. I'd guess that if you had any interest in crossing the border and had some worries, submit the rehab form and you'll be good to go for all future visits.

**smitchell333** · 02-23-2007, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by rideit

Is there any way to run a search on yourself to see what may pop up from back inna day?

(free searches)

Cant remember?

No actually I could use some of that info myself. I pled a low level dui down to reckless driving or something - does THAT bar me from canuckistan?

**rideit** · 02-23-2007, 10:22 PM

I was a freakin' hell raisin' rabble-rouser...but I have no Idea what actually made it onto the 'record'.

They let me get a real estate license,(FBI printing) but man, that isn't saying much!

heh...I just got a picture of a raisin in a satan costume. a 'hell-raisin'.

**cascadianwarrior** · 02-23-2007, 10:25 PM

Back in '94 I was 18 and a freshman at WSU. I ended up getting blotto and pulled some stupid shit that resulted in a theft charge on my record. Not a huge deal but enough to get me pointed back in the right direction.

The following summer I tried to cross into Canada and they pulled me aside, searched the car and sent me to Immigrations. There they told me that based on my record I would not be allowed into Canada and in fact they didn't have to let me back to the US either (WTF? No-mans land?).

Over the next several years I passed back and forth without any probelms, several times getting the '20 questions' or searched but not another trip to Immigrations.

So 3 years ago I was headed up with my wife's family. There were 8 of us between 2 cars and I was driving one. My inlaws get through just fine. When we pull up they ask the usual questions, including if anyone had ever had to speak with an immigration officer. I replied 'no' thinking it was so long ago, not a big deal. WRONG FUCKIN' ANSWER. The boarder agent calls me out on it and tells me I'm trying to 'sneak' into the country and I am in big trouble. We pull into the bay and step in to talk with the friendly Canadian Immigration officers. After an hour and a half of threats of bringing a dog in to search the car and telling me that they could refuse entry they finally let us pass on. Holy shit that sucked and then everyone else wanted to know what the hold up was.

So last year (same border crossing, same President's Day weekend) when we get to the questions I answer truthfully. Once again, inside we go with passports in hand. Another hour later they call me to the window. The Immigration Officer showed me something on the computer screen. He said "In the future, if you are asked it you have been arrested you have to say yes. But if you can tell them you have not been convicted." It turns out that it has since been expunged from my record. That was the best news ever!

This year, no questions and they didn't even ask for our passports on the way in. In fact, my father-in-law Russ fucked up every questions they asked. Agent: "You're all citizens of...." Russ: "Uhhhh....Washington?". Agent: "How many dozens of beer are you bring up?" Russ: "Dozens?.....uhhhh [looks for support].....4?" Agent: "4 dozen. You have 4 dozen beers with you?" Russ: "Yeah, that sounds about right...".

The question I always want to fuck with is:

"Do you have any drugs with you?" Uh, no, we can get them much cheaper up here. Besides, don't you just ship them all down to us anyway? How stupid would I have to be to bring them back?!

**smitchell333** · 02-23-2007, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by rideit

They let me get a real estate license,(FBI printing) but man, that isn't saying much!

Ditto there

Here's my answer - reckless driving is included. In fact "almost all convictions" is pretty broad.

Originally Posted by altasnob

ARE YOU CRIMINALLY INADMISSIBLE TO CANADA?
http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-a...uctions-en.asp

Guess I'll be keeping my $s in the US

**MTT** · 02-23-2007, 10:29 PM

I got a DUI in 1994 in CT. It shows up when you search my SSN.

It was a misdemeanor conviction.

I guess if Canada considers me as some kind of risk for that? OK that’s their right.

I guess I'll spend my Ski$$ elsewhere. I was kind of looking forward to one of those Cat Trips. But? Oh well I'll live.

Thanks for the Beta, saves me allot of money and trouble.

**haydukelives** · 02-23-2007, 11:05 PM

1) enlist 2) desert they may even pay your way and give you a season pass

**gamma** · 02-23-2007, 11:12 PM

Ive had this happen to me in dec 2006.. right b4 nye.. sucked so bad. i can tell u the people at vancouver, bc immigration really are NOT flexible at all. Ive travelled to something like 20 different countries and never ever, ever had any problems. im going to apply for the rehabilitation asap.

**akrdubbs** · 02-23-2007, 11:34 PM

Originally Posted by Imz

I talked my way onto a plane to Calgary last year without my passport (which I forgot at home) and got pounced on by immigration (I also have a scary last name).

I figured no big deal; I'm a citizen of both countries, was born in Calgary- they have to let me in. The Canadians did pretty quickly, trying to get back into the States was a nightmare. Woof.

The border is definitely a different place these days...

That kind of stuff isn't going to fly much longer (or any longer for air travel). I just spent half my day at work reading the new passport restrictions for traveling between the US and Canada/Mexico. You might as well be going to China, for all the good not having a passport is going to do you. It'll be the same thing in a year or two for land/water crossings, also. Those tourists this summer are gonna be SOL trying to get on the cruise ships up here in Alaska without a passport ...

**powder11** · 02-23-2007, 11:35 PM

it is a bit ironic that a country who allows its citizens to smoke dope and shoot heroin in public hassles a bunch of tourists about to drop $ on a vacation

**BigAirSkier1580** · 02-24-2007, 08:16 AM

As was said previously...

Hope we all feel safe now...

**Ferniefreeheels** · 02-24-2007, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by MTT

I got a DUI in 1994 in CT. It shows up when you search my SSN.

It was a misdemeanor conviction.

I guess if Canada considers me as some kind of risk for that? OK that’s their right.

I guess I'll spend my Ski$$ elsewhere. I was kind of looking forward to one of those Cat Trips. But? Oh well I'll live.

Thanks for the Beta, saves me allot of money and trouble.

Ya shouldn't get your panties in a knot about it. If it makes you feel any better we get the same bullshit crossing into the US. It was the Bush administration that brought all this on.

The last time I crossed the border was in aug. There was a group of us on road bikes doing our annual Whitefish century ride. The woman working at the US customs inspected my drivers licence and passport and asked the regular questions. Where are you going? How long are you staying ? etc. Then she asked me if I had any weapons? There I stand beside my bike, clad in spandex and she's asking if I have any guns on me? Immediately a smart ass answer popped into my head...but I refrained and grinned sheepishly and very politely answered "no mam"

I totally agree that it is a pile of crap, but we can't do anything about it. The sad truth is it's gonna get worse yet...this is only the start. You might as well just play their game and do what you have to do to clear your record. Get it done, don't let them take away your freedom to travel.