Canada Border Crossing
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock, CO
It's considered the equivalent of a felony up there (used to live in Toronto). On the other hand, I had a Canadian friend refused at the US border for a 40 year old assault charge from a bar fight when he was 18.
Note that it is up to the individual officer's discretion whether to pull up a background check. A buddy with me on my recent Prudhoe Bay trip was allowed into Canada to go up to Alaska - we crossed at mid-day with 6 riders. When he tried to return from Alaska to Canada solo at midnight, the officer was bored (he was the only vehicle at that crossing that time of night) and found his 30 year old DUI - he wasn't allowed to cross, even though it was his only way home. He went back to the same crossing the next day at noon with a full traffic back up and was allowed in - that officer didn't pull his background.
I used to travel internationally for business so have crossed many, many borders, including Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Sad to say that the ONLY times I have been faced with rude, arrogant, power-abusing guards has been at the US borders when coming home. Really sad to say that it happened at least a quarter of the time. We hassle citizens crossing legally at legitimate border crossings while letting others pour over the unprotected areas. Go figure.
Note that it is up to the individual officer's discretion whether to pull up a background check. A buddy with me on my recent Prudhoe Bay trip was allowed into Canada to go up to Alaska - we crossed at mid-day with 6 riders. When he tried to return from Alaska to Canada solo at midnight, the officer was bored (he was the only vehicle at that crossing that time of night) and found his 30 year old DUI - he wasn't allowed to cross, even though it was his only way home. He went back to the same crossing the next day at noon with a full traffic back up and was allowed in - that officer didn't pull his background.
I used to travel internationally for business so have crossed many, many borders, including Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Sad to say that the ONLY times I have been faced with rude, arrogant, power-abusing guards has been at the US borders when coming home. Really sad to say that it happened at least a quarter of the time. We hassle citizens crossing legally at legitimate border crossings while letting others pour over the unprotected areas. Go figure.
Crazy isn't it. I felt like a criminal when I was coming back into the US after visiting B.C. last year. They take their jobs very seriously at the Canadian border. Not so much down here.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 551
Likes: 10
From: Toronto, Ontario
Ditto what everybody else said. We aren't like a strange, foreign country, so you won't get any surprises from our border guards. Just be respectful and forthright, and you won't have any problems- they usually don't hassle riders much (unless they are flying 1% colors).
Regarding the knife or anything similar, here is the key- If they ask, "What's that for?", and you say "self defence", than legally it becomes a weapon, and will be seized. Just know how to answer the question ahead of time.
Like the others said, border guards don't check insurance and probably don't even know about state inspections (which we don't have, at least not in Ontario). But having said that, I would say you may as well remove the inspection tag thing just to avoid any confusion if you were stopped by the police.
Regarding the knife or anything similar, here is the key- If they ask, "What's that for?", and you say "self defence", than legally it becomes a weapon, and will be seized. Just know how to answer the question ahead of time.
Like the others said, border guards don't check insurance and probably don't even know about state inspections (which we don't have, at least not in Ontario). But having said that, I would say you may as well remove the inspection tag thing just to avoid any confusion if you were stopped by the police.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,051
Likes: 50
From: Florence, MT (Bitterroot Valley)
They don't care about vehicle inspection, but they're pretty serious about guns, DWI's, and any kind of weapon. Why is it we can't have that same kind of vigor when enforcing our borders?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,464
Likes: 4
From: On. Canada
You have more to worry about entering the USA again on the way home, then entering canada, providing you don't have a rap sheet or gun with you.
There are dip- sh*** on both sides of the bridge. Then there are the ones that are friendly and don't like to lecture you for going on a bike ride without your wife and kids. That happened to me on the way to FL a few years ago... entering the US.
But in the end, stay friendly, answer questions in a short direct way and shut the engine down
There are dip- sh*** on both sides of the bridge. Then there are the ones that are friendly and don't like to lecture you for going on a bike ride without your wife and kids. That happened to me on the way to FL a few years ago... entering the US.
But in the end, stay friendly, answer questions in a short direct way and shut the engine down
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 551
Likes: 10
From: Toronto, Ontario
Yeah, but we import too many criminals from all over the world, and don't kick them out quick enough once when they start racking up convictions.
Our laws have become better (stricter) since the present Federal Government got a majority of seats, so they are passing lots of "US style" tough on crime legislation now.
I won't even open up the can of worms about the whole gun control issue, but I will say the fact that there is strict regulations for gun ownership here and there isn't in the US, is the reason why Americans are scrutinized so hard about guns when crossing north. Most of our illegal guns here are smuggled in from the US.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, IL
Nope they don`t...I had DWI`s in 1982,84 and 2001.(sober since 2001 by the way)..I went to Canada many times including 2002,3,4,5,7,8, and 2010 with no problems. Then in 2011 i was brought into immigration and treated like i was trying to tunnel under the falls with a backpack of heroin. They told me very harshly that they don`t allow criminals into Canada and if i ever try to come back they will arrest me, hold me in immigration until i have a hearing, then deport me. Needless to say i`m never going back! Fine with me, there`s plenty to see in the good ole USA.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,464
Likes: 4
From: On. Canada
Apparently only if you're a US citizen. No idea how that works, since they let tons of criminals from other contries into canada.(Chinese triad/russian mafia/eta...eta...
