as long as the cellmate is not murd0c's avatar............

I'm surprised nobody has brought up the subject of fake US bills.

I was at the Safeway on Broadway and Commercial buying lottery tickets. Dude comes up and asks if Safeway takes US money. "If it's par, I'll take it," I said. I was thinking 10's or 20's, but this guy whips out a 100 dollar bill. At first I was like, :suspicious:, but upon closer inspection I knew it was good tender. Just in case, I took a snapshot of his licence. Dude looked decent and what the heck, I saved a few bucks. Actually, I have done research on fake US bills, so I was pretty confident.

First tell tale sign is the hidden strip of letters and numbers on the bill that can only be seen when the bill is held up to the light. Under normal light, the strip is not visible. This feature is on all bills, 100 dollar bill reads "US 100". The strip also has a colour when held under UV light.

The feel of the paper is another tell tale sign. Helps to have another US bill on hand for comparison. Then there's the watermark on the right side of the bill. The hundred has Ben Franklin on the front. The watermark should also be Ben Franklin. If it's anyone else, the fake bill was made from whatever low denomination bill that has been bleached and reprinted to be a higher denomination. 100 dolar bill with Abe Lincoln as watermark = :denied:

There's also a pen out there that you can buy that will react, or more like not react with the type of paper US bills are printed on. There's a shitload of info on the Internet. Pretty interesting stuff.

BTW, if you do have a legit 100 dollar bill and want to break it, because a lot of smaller businesses don't accept them due to influx of so many fakes, you can always go to a casino and put the bill into a bill breaker machine. I did this the other day at Silver Reef. Worked like a charm.

so far mixed reviews regarding unpaid speeding tickets and going back into the U.S

anyone else with more experience and knowledge care to chime in?

Found it! My speeding ticket was issued June of 1992. I was supposed to go to court in Issaquah, Wa. if I wanted to dispute the ticket. Never bothered showing up and received warrant for arrest a month and a half later.

No one can really answer such a case specific question. It would be ideal if you had the ticket and could call up the county and find out if there is a warrant issued for your dad's arrest. If you don't have the ticket anymore, good luck find the county and enjoy spending the time calling each and every single county until you reach seattle.

I just re-read tru_blue's post again. There's no mention of a warrant for arrest. It should be all good. Dude, tell your dad to go for it..... just tell him to go alone, first. It's not like he shot the sherrif, but did not shoot no deputay...... it was just a speeding ticket.

For those wondering about how much you can bring back, here's a link to CBSA website.

In there is something most people neglect. You can send gifts to whoever in Canada without duty. Cannot exceed 60 bucks for each gift, but that's 60 bucks less you have to account for when crossing back.


Residents Returning to Canada

I think the border guards got little bit more Anal after this whole media incident
The lady today was asking me shit tons of questions.
At the end of the day she let me go though after declaring $250 mainly groceries for two ppl, & bottle of wine

Bellis fair is having lot of good sale events going on right now btw!

^ that's not right.

Its specific for non-residents. If they have items that they will be gifting to someone in Canada, if the value exceeds $60 it is duty and taxable. For example, if a US citizen is bring across a $1000 camera with the intention of giving it to some one in Canada they will be paying applicable taxes. Canadian residents have 3 different exemption entitlements; 24 hour- $200; 48 hour- $800; 7 days - $800 which can include goods to follow at a later date. Don't confuse resident and non-res exemptions.
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Huh? Did I miss something?

Any predictions on lineups tomorrow morning? Have a bit of a tight schedule driving to Portland and wondering if we should leave a bit earlier to accommodate the weekend line

Friday morning is almost guaranteed 45 minute to an hour wait regardless if its a holiday or not. Leave a bit early just in case.
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This. I drive past the sign on Hwy 91 just past 72nd Ave every day and every Friday it's reporting 45 minutes wait at both Peace Arch and the truck crossing at around 9am. Mon-Thu, it's usually around 30 minutes. Go in the late afternoon/evening and it's guaranteed minimum an hour.

Get to border before 7 am. Spend time traveling or chill at a restaurant rather than spend it in a line up. Nothing more unproductive than being stuck in a line up.

are Americans allowed to bring alcohol as gifts or with them to their friends in Canada? Do they get duty or taxed? Is there a limit on how much alcohol they can bring?
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^ Alcohol is limited to one choice of 2 bottles of wine, a 40, or a 24 pack of beer.

Best way to get cheap tobacco and alcohol (not too sure on this one) is to have a friend who is Status Indian ( First Nations, aboriginal, indigenous, whatever is cool to say these days) and lives on a reserve. When I was a heavy smoker, I got cases of smokes from a friend who lived on a Reserve.

Alcohol = white man's gift to aboriginals. Tobacco = aboriginal's gift to white man. It all evens out, right?

We should have been a bit nicer to Native Russ...............


EDIT: Always wAndered what kind of "firewater" the Europeans first gave the aboriginals....... most likely rum, but hoping it was good stuff, like the best wines from France. The aboriginals in Cuba gave Columbus and his crew Cuban cigars..... Cuban Cigars :fullofwin:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/lis...19fX0sImMiOjV9


....and type in whatever in the search field.

Same situation, I got speeding ticket in 2010 and I wasnt even speeding. Never paid it and drive back and forth to Seattle and Portland a few times a year. I had absolutely no issues at the border whatever, I even got issued my nexus and use it regularly with no issues.

Not according to the agent I dealt with a few years ago, it has to be for the traveller's personal consumption.

It got me an eyeroll wave through.

I got $2000 of car parts to pick up over the next couple weeks. Wish me luck lol.

What are the rules about getting services done in the states? Like installation of parts of car servicing?

If car parts are made in the US, no duties, just taxes. I'm not 100% sure on it, but IMHO, service or installation should not be taxed. You shouldn't be charged taxes on stuff done out of country. A Canadian did not do the work.

You will pay taxes on parts and most likely the duty as well if is is something made outside NA. BTW, Mexican parts are duty free, as well. NAFTA= North American Free Trade Agreement.

So, on Wednesday, I went to the Nooksack Northwood Casino (free slot play for seniors on Wed and Thurs, LOL). I crossed back into Canada via 264th/Guide Meridian (Aldergrove Crossing). Has anyone used East Boundary Road to beat the line up? I've seen some cars do it, but not many. It would be neat, because it's right at the Duty Free Store. Right turn and bam, you're in the lane that splits into two. Plus, I won't have to feel like a heal by going into the Duty Free. I ask because it looks like I can get to Casino using that route, too.

Picking up half a year worth of supplements soon

Any tips? Is there a best day to do it at?

Best day? Friday Afternoon Saturday late morning, when its busy as fuck as they dont want to bother processing you.

I just go in with the mindset that I'm ready to pay taxes since you generally don't pay taxes on your online purchase anyway. If they let me go by, then lucky me that I get some extra money. If not, whatever its still cheaper then getting it locally I'm sure