Amid a drop in Canadian visitors...

U.S. border patrol officers have been setting up extra checkpoints near crossings between the U.S. and Metro Vancouver.

In an unusual scene, vehicles in the U.S. that are heading north to Canada through the Peace Arch and Pacific Highway crossings are sometimes being stopped by U.S. border patrol before they leave the country and arrive at Canadian customs. In some cases, it has added hours to crossing times.

"They stopped and they asked us to open everything up," said David Crosby, a U.S. resident who crossed into British Columbia on Tuesday in his vehicle.

Crosby said U.S. officials asked him about when he would be returning to the U.S. and whether he'd be bringing anything back with him. This, he said, gave him the impression they were looking to catch people with plans of smuggling.

The added checkpoints come as fewer Canadians travel to the U.S., with many citing tariffs and threats of making Canada the 51st state as their reasons. April saw a 51 per cent drop in cars with B.C. licence plates heading into the U.S. from southwest B.C. compared to the same month last year.

• https://ca.yahoo.com/news/checkpoints-u-border-patrol-raise-

 US Customs at airport entry points have always been wankers - JDK 13:52:35 05/07/25 (0)
 BTW, there are some funny cases - Victor Khomenko 13:13:44 05/07/25 (0)
 Yawn. - Inmate51 12:43:41 05/07/25 (7)

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 US Customs at airport entry points have always been wankers - JDK 13:52:35 05/07/25 (0)
 BTW, there are some funny cases - Victor Khomenko 13:13:44 05/07/25 (0)
 Yawn. - Inmate51 12:43:41 05/07/25 (7)
 Here's the thing and you're probably not aware of this... - kootenay 13:37:51 05/07/25 (2)
 NIcely said - JDK 17:02:42 05/07/25 (1)
 RE: NIcely said - G Squared 18:04:09 05/07/25 (0)
 "And don't video them! They'll seize the videotape" - Chris from Lafayette 13:27:19 05/07/25 (2)
 RE: "And don't video them! They'll seize the videotape" - Inmate51 13:38:18 05/07/25 (1)
 RE: "And don't video them! They'll seize the videotape" - emailtim 21:14:00 05/07/25 (0)
 Yawn indeed - Victor Khomenko 13:06:39 05/07/25 (0)
 RE: Checkpoints by U.S. border patrol raise concerns... - geoff 10:32:27 05/07/25 (0)

Well, people do that all the time, for gas too.

How is that different from crossing the state border for cheaper gas and booze? You never done that?

A guy I know, living in PA, routinely drives for an hour to our Costco store because theirs does not sell wine.

So when I ship something to him it is to a NY address, which is simpler for me. And yes, he still has to drive it through the Canadian customs, but according to him it is both simpler and cheaper.

Reminds me of that funny old French comedy where a guy was born on the border, going through their home kitchen.

• The Law is the Law

There's an unwritten culture that quietly exists between Canadians and Americans who live near the border. It's not something you'll find in textbooks or on official signs, but it's as real as the border crossings themselves. These communities, separated by a line on a map, often share more in common with each other than with the distant capitals that govern them.

Living in close proximity means sharing not just weather patterns, but also economic rhythms and everyday struggles. When times get tough whether it's due to inflation, job loss, or economic downturns neighbors on both sides of the border find ways to help one another, sometimes informally, sometimes without even thinking about it.

Shopping is one of the most visible ways this relationship plays out. Americans often cross into Canada to take advantage of a strong U.S. dollar, especially when the exchange rate is favorable. They stock up on groceries, medications, and other essentials that come cheaper north of the border. Meanwhile, Canadians are legendary for their bargain-hunting instincts. They'll cross into the U.S. not just for the lower prices, but for specific deals—electronics, clothing, gas, and even outlet mall sales. For many, it's as much about the thrill of the hunt as it is about saving money.

But it's not just about consumer habits. There's a quiet camaraderie that forms when people live side by side across a border. Families intermarry, children attend each other's schools through special arrangements, and small-town hockey games see cheers from both sides. These border towns learn to live with dual identities: patriotic, yes, but also practical, neighborly, and interconnected.

In a world that often feels divided, the quiet cooperation between these communities is a reminder that proximity breeds understanding and sometimes, a shared cup of coffee across an invisible line.

Australian travel agents are recommending tourists to the US to travel without any personal electronics ( no laptop, tablet or smartphones) so that US Customs can't search through them and find some stupid reason to refuse entry.

They are recommending we buy a cheap burner phone and sim once in the US. Just like drug couriers do.

Insane.



Trying to hide from entropy
John K

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2022/03/30 Historical Records CENSORED