Sorry, but the BCE folks are in the right here, even if the first guy was a little too abrupt and curt.
This Canadian was deliberately trying to start a fight and make an issue. He got what he deserved. When you enter the USA, you play by our rules and you answer the questions without the attitude and the smart-ass responses. If you think these guys were nasty to him, you should try that with the Canadians when entering their country.
These guys are trying to protect our country. If you think their job is to be a Welcome Wagon for Canadian a$$holes, spend a day with them at the border and see what crap they have to put up with.
The good news here is that this guy and his wife are now on the list and will be denied entry into the United States from now on. Good riddance to them. Maybe their story will straighten out other Canadians coming here with a chip on their shoulders.
IMHO, your a nut.
Since when did we start imposing civil/criminal punishments without a trial? I'm pretty sure the Sixth amendment has something to say about that.
Since when did we start inflicting de facto exile/banishment for getting into an argument with the police? I'm pretty sure the Eighth amendment has something to say about that.
I certainly didn't spend 9 years in the Army to allow the police/border-patrol to ignore the Constitution I swore to defend.
Crap, buddy, absolute crap!
>> Sorry, but the BCE folks are in the right here... If you think their job is to be a Welcome Wagon for Canadian a$$holes
+1.
The folks that have their knickers in a bunch on this thread are confusing the SUBSTANTIAL rights of a US citizen already in this country with the rights of a FOREIGNER desiring to ENTER this country. THEIR rights are essentially ZERO, until they’re admitted.
If you’re a smartass Canadian and his wife, you do NOT have any God-given (or constitutionally guaranteed) right to go down to Niagra and shop! Get over it, Loonie.
Of course you’re a wetback sneaking into the country, your rights are over and above the rights of a US citizen these days, but that sorry state of affairs is adequately covered in other threads. :-)
They were under the impression that “this is America”. No, that WAS America. Now the guy at the top is a thug and he sets the tone so every little bureaucrat in a uniform thinks he can be one. Granted, the Canadian man was a bit flip but his behavior in no way warranted the little Hitler routine he got from all 3 border agents.
By the way, a friend and I got even worse treatment from Canadian border agents when we flew into a western province. Very similar bureaucrat-out-of-control stuff with absolutely no foundation. Being polite and answering questions did not help. I thought at the time, man I’m glad I’m American. Ironic, isn’t it?
I’ve crossed that very border about 10 times a year since I was a baby. I’ve crossed there (and at the Peace Bridge) in cars, on bicycles and on foot. Whats been hammered into me as long as I can remember is...DON’T BE AN A..HOLE WITH THE BORDER PEOPLE!!!
This isn’t a new rule. I don’t think that jerk would have been treated much different in 1965. If I acted that way towards a CDN officer, I’d expect the same.
They also prod and provoke just to get a sense of who you are, sample questions I’ve really been asked:
“are you bringing any business machines with you?”
“ do you have any weapons,hand grenades etc with you?”
“ how much vodka is in that orange juice?
This guy failed the Ahole test and this is what has always happened on the bridges when you do.
I always wondered what WWCA stood for.
He was a douche bag. Just the tone of his voice should have gotten him strip searched.
The last time I went through was particularly harrowing. I have to mention that I have a border card that "pre clears" me for US travel, something like a "trusted traveller" card. It is issued by the US government and they have prints and photos of me. They were pre-inspecting cars before you reached the booths, it was either an exercise or they had some kind of intelligence they were acting on. The car in front of me was given particular scrutiny, trunk searched, and then the officer walked the car over for secondary inspection. When my turn finally came, I held my card up to the reader and proceeded to the booth. As I held my ID card out the window the conversation went like this:
Me: "Hello"
Officer: Staring at his computer screen, not taking my ID: "What is your last name?
Me: "FPC" (I was able to answer correctly without hesitation)
Officer: "Is this your car?
Me: "Yes"
Officer: "Have a nice day"
Me: "You too."
You have to realize that, when you cross the border you are attempting to enter another country. They can ask you anything they want and search you without any cause. You have to govern yourself accordingly and things will usually work out. There is no advantage to mouthing off to these guys, they have all the cards and you are at their mercy. That's just how it is.
For every Canadian who gets hassled at the border there is a story of an American getting the business coming into Canada. It happens.
People going to a Mall should never be asked what store your are going. That is a trick question. I can’t remember what stores are in a mall if you ask me. I just don’t care to memorize the names. Who would care that much? I F’n don’t care that much about any group of mall stores.
I've been through this exact same border crossing many times and the U.S. guards there *are* complete @$$holes. It doesn't matter where you are from or how polite and cooperative you are. They like their authority and they use everything as a pretext to exercise it for the sake of exercising it. A little "hello, and welcome to the United States? May I ask the purpose of your visit today?" would go a long way.
Guy sounds like a spoiled brat to boot. And frankly, I've never met a Canadian with this type of attitude - ever.
Most, if not all of them fear all authority and submit like little sheep. (And yes, I do enjoy the company of Canadians)
I couldn’t agree with you more.