You're not, one of the first things they do when you get referred in is take your phone, or tell you to keep it in your pocket.

most of the complaints are towards duties/taxes coming back...which is under Canadian authority

Bullshit. A second/subsequent customs infraction will lead to a high percentage if penalty associated to the terms or release of your goods. So it'llbe at least 50%. Also the 7 year term also starts over. These ssecondary examinations are for land and airports.

Criminal charges will result if you grossly undervalue your goods or if drugs and or weapons are involved.
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Agreed. Just answer politely and straight forward. I haven't been searched before.

There is a process for a damage complaint. Its fairly simple and straight forward. I'm sure your friend inquired about it. What was the response? Are you sure we're getting the full story here?

No offense but generally speaking when I hear "it happened to a friend" I always question the credibility and genuineness of the story.
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i;ve only heard of horror stories of shit getting ripped apart
in the events that my vehicle was searched, nothing was shredded...
I believe its an extreme case...

Anyone know where you can watch the border security canada show online?

youtube is all Australian or USA

I have a dashcam and it records everything. Never thought of it as a big deal.


EDIT: nvm....... recording them taking your car apart is a no no. I get it.

I've never had issues with Canada or US Customs at the border and I cross everyweek to either get gas, groceries or to pick up parcels. Just be polite, have all your documentation ready and answer any questions truthfully. If you have nothing to hide, there is nothing to be scared of.

I've only been pulled in once as Canada Customs didn't believe I stayed 2 days in Portland for Black Friday. Once I showed them my hotel bookings, they let me go on my way.

It's exactly the same as when you travel to another country. Don't act like an ass to their custom officers and usually there isn't a problem.

The show will be airing on GlobalTV in the next week or two. That might make it more accessible online - likely thru the global website.

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I'm saying that if they are going to under-declare, at least make something believable.

Declaring something at 1/10 or even 1/100th of its value isn't going to fly.

You're looking at it the wrong way.

If you understand that every purchase is subject to customs, then you should look at the times where you DON'T get pulled in to pay customs as a bonus.

so far I have not been hit with duty and yesterday I brought back a motorcycle worth $690 declared it for full amount and was on my way back home. I usually only bring back $200 worth of goods that I pick up from my mailbox and i'm there and back within 20 mins. I think as long as you give them straight answers you will be good.

on the way there yesterday I did get a dick officer who was harassing everyone. when it was my turn i was told to turn off my car and asked stupid questions like "why do you have a mailbox in the states :derp:" then he asked my friend and I what we do for a living as soon as my buddy said he worked for customs we were on our way lol

Despite having nothing to hide and a clean record, I always get stressed out when crossing the border into the States.

The last time I went, after asking me where I was going, the officer asked "Why?" to all of my responses - at least 5-6 times! It was starting to get uncomfortable to say the least.

Then my 4 yr old, sitting in the back (with the window down of course) spoke out, "Why so many whys?"

The officer laughed and said, "Because that's my job!" Then he sent us on our way.

In hindsight, it was a pretty ballsy thing for my son to do, but it did ease the tension I was experiencing.

Edit: Oops, realized this thread is talking about coming back into Canada, and not going into US...

Your son is funny.
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I remember one time I went across the border with a buddy who always talks out of his ass speaking to cops etc and surprisingly enough has talked his way out of tickets and things in the past, we had no reason to lie at all but of course he has to go ahead and make some story up about going shopping etc to the border agent ending in the line

"Oh you know, we're just gonna go blow the day away"

Yeaaaaaa... U can pull over to the side
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what happens if I purchase something over 1000$ and ship it to my friend in the states and get them to drive it over here to Canada for me ? Would they have to declare still?
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Yes, and they would still have to pay 12% HST on it even though they live in the states.

Motorcycles are duty free even if it is made with a vin that doesnt begin with a 1,2,3,4, or 5

Some of you make it sound like duty and taxes are the same thing, they are not.

When you bring an item back into Canada you are subject to duty and taxes. Now, if that item is made in the USA, under NAFTA that item is duty free, but still taxable.

ie. You go to premium outlets and buy $150 of clothes. Presuming all of the clothes are made in China you are subject to pay duty and taxes on the $150, which would be a shit load. But, generally you only pay taxes and they rarely charge you duty.

Just a FYI.

whos down to try this?

so essentially you will have to pay tax in the states, then our HST tax and duty? or do they refund you the US tax and just charge you canadian tax?

Correct. You can potentially be dinged three times: US tax, CAD tax, then CAD duty. But, I have only seen/heard of one person getting charged duty and tax. It was a girl in front of me at point roberts who bought really expensive heels ($300). She was charged tax and duty by a rookie CBSA as he was following the book.

CBSA will not refund you any tax you pay in the USA.
You can only get a refund for CAD tax/duty if you own a business.

... or duties and taxes are collected in lieu of a seizure. Was there a story with this girl who was charged D+Ts?
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Story as in a news story?
If so, no.

It was just a personal account.

I was picking up stuff at Point Roberts and got sent in to pay taxes. The girl was next to me so I could hear the entire conversation, she got a rookie CBSA agent and he asked her what she bought (and as far as I could tell she was just sent in to pay taxes as well, just like me). She said heels for a friends wedding. The CBSA agent looked at the heels and they were made in China I think or somewhere other than USA/Cad, I can't recall. The border guard then told her about NAFTA and that these heels were subject to duty and he wrote her up to pay duties and taxes. She was choked. He then instructed her she would either pay the duty and taxes or declare she was going to abandon the item. She ended up just paying both.

I got this chubby asian guy and after some time he went over to see what was going on because the girl was making a scene. I heard him tell the rookie guy that they don't normally charge people duty and the rookie told him, but i'm just following procedure and then the asian CBSA agent was like err, okay.

I was then worried I would be charged duty as well... Luckily I wasn't.