Stopped at the Border - They checked my phone

[Dyepaintball12]

I often cross the border into Canada, and most of the time it goes fine but sometimes I get sent into immigration.

For those of you who that haven't driven through a border, basically getting "sent to immigration" means they search your car while you wait in a waiting room and a guy at the counter asks you questions.

I go through this on the U.S. side all the time but very rarely while crossing into the Canadian side. Anyway, today the agent in the booth was about my age and was wearing black reflective sunglasses so I knew I was toast. As he is writing up the ticket that says "why" I was being sent my friend who is also driving into Canada calls me so I reach for my phone and immediately the agent says "Don't touch that."

So I get sent into Canadian Immigration.

This Canadian TSA agent starts drilling me. "Why do you look so nervous" "Why do you cross into Canada so often" blah blah it's all finr

Then she says "Why did you reach for your phone at the border?". "Because my friend who is also coming into Canada was calling me." "Where is he now?" "I don't know."

So the agent goes into my car, takes my phone out, and starts looking through it. She asks what my friends name is to make sure he had called, and then starts going through more.

She goes through my emails, my texts, and I don't know what else and is questioning me on it.

"Hmm you said you aren't spending the night... why do you have this email from Casino Windsor saying you are?" "That is for a different night in May"


Anyway, I thought that was kind of F***ed up.

- Dye

 

[blackjack avenger]

Stealthy

Did you see the TSA with the 6 yr old girl, probably is on utube? Not sure what the Canadian law is but seems the agent overstepped.

So now using your phone is considered suspicious?

This is why my phone log is in code:

chucky cheese = pizza shop
grinding baristas = coffee shop
slayin hood rats = grandma

 

[swamper]

That is effed up Dye

 

[Automatic Monkey]

They thought you were dealing drugs.

I am careful about cell phones, how I use them and how I identify people on them. It is your responsibility to not give up other AP's you are in contact with, and part of this is diligent security for your phone and the messages/numbers on it.

 

[MangoJ]

This is why my phone log is in code:

chucky cheese = pizza shop
grinding baristas = coffee shop
slayin hood rats = grandma

Maybe you should have entries like "FBI, Mulder" and "FBI, Scully".

 

[21forme]

A number of years ago, I spent a summer along the Canadian border and frequently bicycled across. Twice, on the way back to the USofA, Canadian customs looked thru my seat pack, removed my seat post to look down the tube, etc. The conversation was kinda funny:
Them: What was the purpose of your trip?
Me: Exercise
Them: How long were you in the country?
Me: About 2 hours
and so on...

 

[zoomie]

They thought you were dealing drugs. [ . . . ]

Probably right. You're young and authorities will hassle young people. I'm not and they damned sure won't and don't. :flame: My daughters are often amazed at the different treatment we receive if we are in separate lines for almost anything vs. together. :grin:

 

[blackjack avenger]

What

My daughters are often amazed

Did you say daughters?
Amazed? Wait till they meet me!:joker:

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Probably right. You're young and authorities will hassle young people. I'm not and they damned sure won't and don't. :flame: My daughters are often amazed at the different treatment we receive if we are in separate lines for almost anything vs. together. :grin:

They hassle me. Comes from a felony weapons charge I had when I was young, of which I was acquitted but those charges stay on your FBI file for life, and the Canadians are sensitive about weapons. So I not only get examined, I get treated as if I might be dangerous.

 

[Dyepaintball12]

chucky cheese = pizza shop
grinding baristas = coffee shop
slayin hood rats = grandma

:laugh:


Yeah AM I am sure they thought I was dealing drugs. But who would I be calling? My drug-dealing partner?

"Hey, ditch the stuff! They're on to us!"

 

[Machinist]

Dye, I'm sure you will lock your phone from now on eh? If your going over there a lot....you need to start talking like those guys at the last Bash.......Eh?????
Maybe also start calling them all by their first names...get used to faces and overwhelm them with friendliness...Shake their hands....patem on their back for such a good job they r doing......
Tell them you are a very sick degenerate gambler....and those bstrds owe ya money!!
Sucks to be young in this business too.......

Machinist

 

[zoomie]

They hassle me. Comes from a felony weapons charge I had when I was young, of which I was acquitted but those charges stay on your FBI file for life, and the Canadians are sensitive about weapons. So I not only get examined, I get treated as if I might be dangerous.

But you are, AM, you are :grin::cool2:

 

[Dyepaintball12]

Dye, I'm sure you will lock your phone from now on eh? If your going over there a lot....you need to start talking like those guys at the last Bash.......Eh?????
Maybe also start calling them all by their first names...get used to faces and overwhelm them with friendliness...Shake their hands....patem on their back for such a good job they r doing......
Tell them you are a very sick degenerate gambler....and those bstrds owe ya money!!
Sucks to be young in this business too.......

Machinist

Oh I was nice. And if my phone was locked I am quite sure she would have made me tell her the password.

Actually while she was questioning me my hands were in my pocket and she said "Take your hands out of your pockets, now."

She was so mad that I didn't have any drugs.

 

[creeping panther]

Dye

You are a clean cut college graduate, what in hell did they do that for!!

Give someone some power and they go stupid and then need an azz kicking to bring them out of it:devil:

And I was thinking about going over tomorrow.

Do they want bizz for there casino or not,,,they sure whine enough about things being slow.

PM me if there is anything I should know.

CP

 

[1357111317]

One tip that might help in the future, if you can, mention something about your lawyer. It can show them that they cant just do whatever they want because your young, because you could call your lawyer if needed. That being said, make sure you know a lawyer you could call because you don't want to get caught bluffing on that.

Also, if you are young and have money on you which you presumably do, you are going to get a lot of heat. Unfortunatel thats the way it is. Claiming to be a poker player can work as most normal people can relate to that and somewhat understand that.

 

[Brock Windsor]

You are a clean cut college graduate, what in hell did they do that for!!

Give someone some power and they go stupid and then need an azz kicking to bring them out of it:devil:

And I was thinking about going over tomorrow.

Do they want bizz for there casino or not,,,they sure whine enough about things being slow.

PM me if there is anything I should know.

CP

Those are high paying federal jobs to work customs in Canada (30-50% more than CBP). Pulling in random visitors to the country makes them look busy for the boss, they have no interest in facilitating commerce and trade and the very notion would be lost on them. If you must play in Windsor I recommend crossing at the bridge and not the tunnel. The bridge guys are busier in both directions since that is the actual trade route, so imo they are less likely to pull in a low risk.
-BW

 

[swamper]

Those are high paying federal jobs to work customs in Canada (30-50% more than CBP). Pulling in random visitors to the country makes them look busy for the boss, they have no interest in facilitating commerce and trade and the very notion would be lost on them. If you must play in Windsor I recommend crossing at the bridge and not the tunnel. The bridge guys are busier in both directions since that is the actual trade route, so imo they are less likely to pull in a low risk.
-BW

The gov. employees I have dealt with are often trying to "prove their existance" by making stinks regarding things of minimal concern or meaning.

 

[paddywhack]

A number of years ago, I spent a summer along the Canadian border and frequently bicycled across. .. The conversation was kinda funny:
Them: What was the purpose of your trip?
Me: Exercise
Them: How long were you in the country?
Me: About 2 hours
and so on...

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

 

[Brock Windsor]

Exchange

PM me if there is anything I should know.

CP

Only getting 95cents for a US dollar now according to Caesars website. Could buy Canadian at par the week before. Was worthwhile so long as you didn't change back at the casino.
-BW

 

[Dyepaintball12]

Well I'm pretty sure you lose any search and seizure rights at the border because they need to have authority to check everything you have for drugs. I would imagine even saying the word "lawyer" would make them very upset, something I would not want to do.

I actually went back to Windsor two days later, the tunnel this time, and again was sent to immigration. The tunnel is much easier and they just have you stand in front of your car, spend about 1 minute searching your car, and then you can leave. At the bridge on both the US and Canadian side they question you and then you have to go into the building and talk to an agent.

I learned never to bring lots of money with me because they really don't like a young kid who is essentially unemployed having that much money.