Latest Breaking News
In reply to the discussion: British holidaymakers 'traumatised' after arrest at US border [View all]OnlinePoker
(5,729 posts)I was only "detained" for 3 hours but it was iffy. I had a rusty old 1969 VW Van and was heading for the ferry terminal at Tsawwassen to go to Vancouver Island. I got turned around and ended up on the road to Point Roberts. I realized my mistake when I found I was approaching the customs checkpoint. Not wanting to go to the States, I saw a road to the right so took it to look for a turnaround. Next thing I know, I have 3 border patrol vehicles on my ass and am stopped with guns in their hands. It turns out that road, even though it was on the Canadian side of the checkpoint was actually in the U.S. and I had illegally entered the U.S. They went over my van and all my possessions with drug dogs and had me in a little interview room reading me the riot act. The only thing that saved me was I was on my way to a new posting with the Canadian Navy and had a leave pass that actually said I could enter the States during the leave. If I didn't, I would have been in shit with my superiors as well. In the end, they let me go and I wasn't allowed into the States for 20 months.
I looked on Google Earth and that road is still there. I can't get to Street view, but it looks like there is now a barricade there. I'm sure I wasn't the first nor the last person to make that mistake.