US officials won't enforce new border ID rules

[SpiritAlight 1]

When driving across the border between Canada and the U.S. in a fancy schmancy car, you don't even get asked for I.D.; just a verbal declaration of citizenship and where you are going.

I have tested this "fact".

For example, I borrowed a 535 BMW from a friend in Portland, ME and drove to Montreal a year and a half ago.

I brought a USian friend along who wanted to see the city.

We got to the Canadian border and were just asked citizenship and to have fun in La Belle Province.

I looked at my friend in disbelief, and quickly drove off.

After a minute of driving, both of us in silence, I said, "It's the car! When was the last time you were not asked for a driver's license, something?"

He agreed.

Upon driving back, alone this time as he caught a bus and left sooner, I had just as much ease re-entering.

This was not the only time.

Here I was, a Canadian, with a borrowed USian vehicle and no hassle.

After what transpired at the WA/BC border crossing a year ago, where I got threatened with jail....I blame the fact that I was in an old run down hatchback.

Ha!

Edited February 5, 2008 by SpiritAlight

[SpiritAlight 1]

One more story:

Upon entering the harbour in Nova Scotia on a sailboat (a race from Maine), I showed my BC driver's license and my old QC plasticized birth certificate.

I was on an American team.

The customs' people had no issues, although they did look at me funny.

[Emancipation 2]

The last time we went into to Canada we were asked verbally for our citizenship (we were not asked to provide proof)

and if we had any pets on board..

that's it... no id was shown coming back into the US it's a different story, i always have shown an ID (in my case it's my GC - Hubby (USC) he's only ever shown his DL.. they never ask for his BC

Edited February 5, 2008 by Emancipation

[Marilyn. 340]

The last time we went into to Canada we were asked verbally for our citizenship (we were not asked to provide proof)

and if we had any pets on board..

that's it... no id was shown coming back into the US it's a different story, i always have shown an ID (in my case it's my GC - Hubby (USC) he's only ever shown his DL.. they never ask for his BC

they alway ask my hubby for his BC, coming and going...

geez, they really need to be consistent

[SpiritAlight 1]

Human (in)discretion/discrepancy.

Grrrrrrrrr....

Edited February 5, 2008 by SpiritAlight