us / canada border control

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo91XS5pVj8

what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck

i don't even know how to begin to explain how fucked up this is, i mean, this might be something some of you hear about every day (americans), but to me, fucking hell, this is idiocracy x a billion.

I am glad to live in Europe.

Unfortunately this is probably an all too common occurrence. the border is this really weird space, which doesn't follow normal customs or anything like that. Look at your passport. Most of them will say something like "the (government official) requests all those whom it may concern, to allow the bearer to pass freely without hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary"

Which is clearly bullshit, looking at this video. The problem is that guards have the right to deny entry based on nothing so much as a gut reaction. You cannot appeal this decision immediately, and while in this case, going shopping is something the couple can do again, what if on needed to visit sick family, or for work?

There's been lots written on the issues with borders as forms of control. An interesting (though maddening to read) article was writtten about Canadian borders which I could upload if anybody is interested.

  On 5/20/2010 at 11:44 PM, chenGOD said:

The problem is that guards have the right to deny entry based on nothing so much as a gut reaction.

Someone needs to make a little change here.

  On 5/20/2010 at 11:48 PM, ruiagnelo said:

  On 5/20/2010 at 11:44 PM, chenGOD said:

The problem is that guards have the right to deny entry based on nothing so much as a gut reaction.

 

Someone needs to make a little change here.

Yes indeed.

Well... good.

if the guy actually remained calm, didn't talk fast or try to cause a problem or 'question' anything he would have been only there for an hour at the most. it was 100% his own fault, you don't fuck around at the border crossing

  On 5/20/2010 at 11:58 PM, chax said:

it was 100% his own fault, you don't fuck around at the border crossing

That is not true. Think before you talk.

yeah, had to go through the US / Canada border patrol in Rochester, NY. which pissed me off, because we weren't going into Canada - we were travelling from Buffalo, NY to Elmira, NY.

The guy is being pretty uncooperative from the get-go. Not giving an excuse for anything, just saying. I'm only 2 minutes into it.

  On 5/20/2010 at 11:58 PM, chax said:

if the guy actually remained calm, didn't talk fast or try to cause a problem or 'question' anything he would have been only there for an hour at the most. it was 100% his own fault, you don't fuck around at the border crossing

Yes bend over and take it.

the guard pulled him out of the car for not knowing which fucking shops he was going to in a shopping mall.

And how is he being uncooperative from the get-go? By *shock* asking questions of the authorities? You know they're here to serve us right, not the other way round?

it sounds like a bunch of bullies purposefully misinterpreting feedback from their target until he becomes passive or submissive.

This is why the terrorist have already won.

I live 40 minutes from the border and used to go to Canada all the time. Crossing the border was about as complicated as going through a toll. Even the customs officers were dressed like toll booth operators.

Then 9/11 happened.

All of a sudden, the customs officers become "homeland security" and get new scary uniforms: head to toe black military fatigues with shiny combat boots and hand guns, with military buzz cuts, and exchanges like this occur all the time.

My fiancee's aunt lives in Canada and we sometimes go there for holidays. One Xmas we were headed to her aunt's and were asked where we were headed:

Me: "we're visiting her aunt in Windsor for Xmas."

Fascist asshole: "where."

Me: "uh... In Windsor"

Fascist: "where in Windsor? Are you just having Xmas in the street?!" (sarcastic fuck)

Me: "what?! No, you mean the address? I don't know the street address, i just know how to get there."

And so on. Totally put me in a pissy mood for the rest of the day.

Fuck homeland security. They aren't doing anyone any good. They sure as hell ain't stopping any terrorists.

You used to only need a drivers license at most to get across. Often they wouldn't even ask for ID. Now you need a passport.

Last fall I crossed from Spain to france by car and they didn't even ask me to stop. They just waved me through.

I fucking hate this place sometimes.

  On 5/21/2010 at 12:22 AM, chenGOD said:

  On 5/20/2010 at 11:58 PM, chax said:

if the guy actually remained calm, didn't talk fast or try to cause a problem or 'question' anything he would have been only there for an hour at the most. it was 100% his own fault, you don't fuck around at the border crossing

 

Yes bend over and take it.

the guard pulled him out of the car for not knowing which fucking shops he was going to in a shopping mall.

 

And how is he being uncooperative from the get-go? By *shock* asking questions of the authorities? You know they're here to serve us right, not the other way round?

His tone was uncooperative. Yes the border guards do try to irritate people, and that's BS, but getting defensive never helps when talking to law enforcement.

Yes, it did escalate to a level it shouldn't have, and no, it's not all the guy's fault. But at the beginning, he was a bit snarky with the cop. It's fine saying "I don't know which shop we are going to, bla blah" but the tone he used and then saying "does it matter" isn't going to get you through security very fast. That's just the reality of it.

Many years ago I got pulled over piss drunk, got some field sobriety tests, even a breathalizer, but was very cooperative and even well coordinated, but there's no way I passed the breathalizer. The cop let me go with a ticket for an illegal u-turn. A little cooperation can go a long way. Of course you never know when you'll end up with dick cop, that's true.

Yeah. I mean this guy was recording for a reason, right. It's quite likely he was looking for a fight so he could post it on YouTube.

It's just easier to jump on the officer but both sides are to blame, he should have left the smartass responses in Canada.

sure, the guy in question is kind of an asshole, but the officer was far and away more unreasonable. border security guys couldn't even hack it to become cops, so you've basically got a bunch of bitter retards with guns who have even less regulation than the police. it's a recipe for lunacy.

  On 5/21/2010 at 12:32 AM, sidewinder said:

  On 5/21/2010 at 12:22 AM, chenGOD said:

  On 5/20/2010 at 11:58 PM, chax said:

if the guy actually remained calm, didn't talk fast or try to cause a problem or 'question' anything he would have been only there for an hour at the most. it was 100% his own fault, you don't fuck around at the border crossing

 

Yes bend over and take it.

the guard pulled him out of the car for not knowing which fucking shops he was going to in a shopping mall.

 

And how is he being uncooperative from the get-go? By *shock* asking questions of the authorities? You know they're here to serve us right, not the other way round?

His tone was uncooperative. Yes the border guards do try to irritate people, and that's BS, but getting defensive never helps when talking to law enforcement.

 

Yes, it did escalate to a level it shouldn't have, and no, it's not all the guy's fault. But at the beginning, he was a bit snarky with the cop. It's fine saying "I don't know which shop we are going to, bla blah" but the tone he used and then saying "does it matter" isn't going to get you through security very fast. That's just the reality of it.

 

Many years ago I got pulled over piss drunk, got some field sobriety tests, even a breathalizer, but was very cooperative and even well coordinated, but there's no way I passed the breathalizer. The cop let me go with a ticket for an illegal u-turn. A little cooperation can go a long way. Of course you never know when you'll end up with dick cop, that's true.

  On 5/21/2010 at 12:34 AM, blicero said:

Yeah. I mean this guy was recording for a reason, right. It's quite likely he was looking for a fight so he could post it on YouTube.

regardless of whether or not he was "looking for a fight", the guy did nothing other than question the supposed authority with which he was being detained.

the border cop was being an arsehole for wanting to know which shops specifically they were going to. rather than getting all gestapo on this guy, maybe he should've just outlined that as a border patrol officer it is his job to ask these kind of questions, and maybe offer a polite apology for taking up this guys time.

but no, he was a prick.

I will say that in my experience crossing between Washington state and B.C., it's always the American guards on the way to the US that are more strict and really trying to catch you off guard with their questions. The Canadian guards tend to be much more easy-going.

I heard that since they heightened security for the Olympics, you can't even get into Canada with a misdemeanor on your record now?! I haven't tried going to B.C. since last year, and I'm scared now. My record is "supposed" to be clean because of probation time, but you never know what info they have access to. Probably everything.

  On 5/21/2010 at 12:32 AM, sidewinder said:

  On 5/21/2010 at 12:22 AM, chenGOD said:

  On 5/20/2010 at 11:58 PM, chax said:

if the guy actually remained calm, didn't talk fast or try to cause a problem or 'question' anything he would have been only there for an hour at the most. it was 100% his own fault, you don't fuck around at the border crossing

 

Yes bend over and take it.

the guard pulled him out of the car for not knowing which fucking shops he was going to in a shopping mall.

 

And how is he being uncooperative from the get-go? By *shock* asking questions of the authorities? You know they're here to serve us right, not the other way round?

His tone was uncooperative. Yes the border guards do try to irritate people, and that's BS, but getting defensive never helps when talking to law enforcement.

 

Yes, it did escalate to a level it shouldn't have, and no, it's not all the guy's fault. But at the beginning, he was a bit snarky with the cop. It's fine saying "I don't know which shop we are going to, bla blah" but the tone he used and then saying "does it matter" isn't going to get you through security very fast. That's just the reality of it.

 

Many years ago I got pulled over piss drunk, got some field sobriety tests, even a breathalizer, but was very cooperative and even well coordinated, but there's no way I passed the breathalizer. The cop let me go with a ticket for an illegal u-turn. A little cooperation can go a long way. Of course you never know when you'll end up with dick cop, that's true.

Tone? His tone of voice? He asked him "Does it matter?" at which point the border guard says "give me the keys" or something like that. Tone of voice, that's no reason for a supposedly trained officer of the law pulling someone out of the car. He wasn't doing anything illegal.

the problem is, YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS AT THE BORDER.

This needs to be changed, stat.

I'm supposed to be going to the states in june to visit some friends..this shit freaks me out. I'll still go of course, cause fuck letting fear get in the way, but what if I get a border guard who's having a bad day cause his wife found the stash of tranny porn on his computer? Or his daughter's a communist lesbian?

When you can be detained at the whim of an officer, something is fucked up with the situation.

printed on the first page of my UK Passport

so if i am detained in a similar manner, either the border patrol is in breach of this, or our passports mean fuck all.

i'm leaning more towards the latter.

  On 5/20/2010 at 11:44 PM, chenGOD said:

Look at your passport. Most of them will say something like "the (government official) requests all those whom it may concern, to allow the bearer to pass freely without hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary"

 

Which is clearly bullshit, looking at this video.

at myself

at least i'm corroborating what you said anyways

  On 5/21/2010 at 12:47 AM, chenGOD said:

 

the problem is, YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS AT THE BORDER.

This needs to be changed, stat.

 

this is the bottom line right here

Having gone through customs no less than 40-50 times the past couple years - I can say this... Don't fuck around with border patrol/control. They can (and usually will if you give them a reason to) severaly put a hamper on your day.

Still though - this shit is ridiculous.

Few years back, I was in Germany, I had already gone through customs, and as I was on my way out of the airport, a man stood in front of me, put his hand out, and stuck it in my chest. I had my normal reaction, which was to slap the guys hand out of my way and say "what the fuck!", he muttered something in german and several other men surrounded me... he then lifted the bottom of his shirt to show me a badge. My reacton prompted a rather unfreindly entry into the country.

As some have said.. The terrorists have already won.