May We See Your ID?
Oct 23 2008
Our trip has taken us past many guards — thankfully not the prison type but border and base guards. Our experiences with these guards has me wondering about the ID measures used in controlling entry into the U.S. and military bases.
For instance, this morning we crossed the U.S. border coming from Alberta into Montana. I drove up to the wrong lane and had to walk our passports over to the guard. First, the guard was, well, a jerk. No smile. No greeting. He just gave me a look like, “how could you be so dumb not to drive in the correct lane.” (I didn’t know if the clearance would be high enough, so I took the truck lane, and because it was 8 a.m., there was only one person on duty.)
Anyway, he took my license, swiped the passports, and asked the usual questions: Did you buy any firearms, fruit, alcohol, food, wildlife, etcetera? Now, I’m not expecting every U.S.-border representative to be
Mr. Congeniality, but they are representing the U.S. — so at least offer a smile or ask how our trip was.
What surprised me, though, was he asked how many days we were in the U.S. I inadvertently gave an incorrect amount of four days, when it was actually eight, and he said nothing. I thought he could view this information when he scanned our passports. I wonder what information actually is collected and if it is viewable to U.S.-border representatives when a passport is scanned?
He also didn’t look into the RV or ask to see the rest of the family.
In comparison, the Canadian-border guard in Washington had been very deliberate in his questioning. He noticed my driver’s license (he wanted both a passport and a driver’s license) was from California, but the RV and car plates were from South Dakota. I had to explain the purpose of the trip and the vagaries of state income tax laws in order to satisfy his suspicions.
He also asked if we’d been to Canada before. When I told him we went to Victoria from Whidbey Island two days earlier, he asked why we didn’t just drive up Vancouver Island and go through Vancouver. I didn’t mind the questions because they seemed logical and what a border guard should ask. And he did all this with a smile.
We’ve also found differences at bases also. But I’ll get into that in my next entry.
Happy travels!
Maybe they should make me a US border guard! I was raised in Georgia
in the deep South and we are raised to be friendly and caring. I know how
you all must feel. When we moved up
here to MA from Georgia, we were treated like we were from another planet! Both my parents served in the Army Air Corp during WWII. I was raised to behave and raised strictly but my dad, being a native of
Walhalla,SC was also a wonderful man with a sense of humor that could light up a room! Anyway, that border
guard needs some lessons on politeness! Good grief! But we know how you feel!I wish my dad was still
alive he would have made a wonderful border guard. He used to
be a ranger at the Mt. Mitchell National Park after he retired from
civil service as a communications teacher out at Ft. Gordon, GA!
Take care and hopefully you won’t run into a jerk like that again. But unfortunately there are jerks everywhere you go! LOL!
PS My Dad loved traveling, too, he had a Winnebago and his dream was
to travel to Canada and follow the railway that went east to west across
Canada. Unfortunately, God rest his
soul, he never got to realize that dream, but at least he got to live in his beloved Blue Ridge Mountains for
almost 18 years after he retired!
Marlene, Thanks for the reply and the kind words. Great story about your dad, the Blue Ridge Mountains are a beautiful place. I think you would make a border guard!
Tom
I have entered Canada 3 times with my RV since 2000. Each time, the coach was subjected to a though search such as going through my underwear drawer and looking under rugs and the dashboard. While doing this, inspectors repeatly asked if I have any firearms.
Returning to the U.S. has not been any trouble as they have barely looked at my driver’s license while asking if I had produce, meat, etc that was purchased in Canada.
Think part of my searching is that I was a single, 60ish woman from Texas and they just KNEW that I must be carrying protection. All I have traveling with me is a large white Easter bunny whom I call Harvey.
Which port in Montana did you come through?
Which port in Washington did you come through?
We need to congratulate the officer at the Washington port, and correct the officer at the Montana port.