Boater fined $5K by Homeland Security

[Bruce Moore]

I spotted this story on The Bitter End

Frequent visitor to Friday Harbor will never return
By Sharon Kivisto
The San Juan Islander

(pull quote) "Clark was fined $5,000 April 1, 2009 for failing to dock at the U.S. Customs dock and phone in immediately upon arriving from Canada. He says when he researched the requirements prior to making his first boating trip from Friday Harbor to Victoria, he was told the procedure when arriving after 5 p.m. was to call the phone number posted on the Customs office door."

Full story here.

 

[Lobo]

I am aware of more than one American Tugger coming to the Pacific Northwest and Canada this summer. Most likely you will return to the US via Friday Harbor or Roche Harbor on San Juan Island. I clear through both frequently and here are a few tips:

1. Don't bring birds with you. If you do, you'll know why you shouldn't have when you try and get back into the US.
2. If you are clearing between 0800 and 1700, Roche is open (it may have longer hours, check first).
3. At Roche the Customs shed is on the outside dock/breakwater, is clearly marked. Roche is not manned 24/7 but there is (I believe) a speaker/camera setup you can use when not staffed. During summer Roche is quite busy, be patient and don't take any shortcuts.
4 At Friday Harbor you have 24/7 clearance capability, although live human beings are not 24 hrs. The Customs Dock, like Roche, is on the outside wharf/breakwater, and clearly marked. You tie up there.
5. I cannot over stress that your first touch of land/dock on returning to the US is the Customs dock. No going to your slip, no having lunch, no anchoring, go to Customs.
6. At either, after tying up, only the Master can leave the vessel. The crew remain ON BOARD, not near the boat, nor beside the boat, but ON the boat. Take crew passports with you to the Customs booth.
7. At Friday Harbor, if the humans are not there you talk to a camera. The camera is also focused on the dock so they know if you have violated the PARK HERE FIRST rule. You clear talking to somebody in Blaine, Bellingham or Alabama. It matters not where THEY are -- it matters that you are at the Customs Booth.
8. Anchoring is the same as docking, so don't anchor in US waters until you have cleared back into the US.
9. If for some strange reason you can't connect via the Customs booth at night, don't leave the Customs dock. You might phone the 1-800 number while still there and report the malfunction and perhaps complete clearing. Making up your own rules is not advised.

If you wish, you can personally go into the Customs Office in Friday Harbor (not Roche) before you come to Canada and buy an I-68 (thats the letter "i", not a "1"). You need ID, including passport, and a credit card. For $16 you get a form that is good for one year and allows you to clear back into the US by phone from US waters and without having to report to Roche or Friday unless they require you to do so. The catch is that everybody on the boat must have an I-68 or Nexus card. If one person doesn't have it, then you report as normal.

If you have a Nexus or similar card, you need to have a "BR" number in order to use the phone to return to the US. You can get that number at Friday Harbor Customs office before leaving the US. No cost. All people must attend the Customs Office in person. Don't try to get good service between noon and 1:00 PM as that is when the ferry from Canada arrives and they may be shorthanded in the office.

If you play by the rules, have patience (it does get busy!) and have proper documentation you will find that the Customs personnel in Friday Harbor to be nice people. If you play by your rules, you might be the next $5,000 winner.

Dave
"Lobo"

 

[notaclue]

great advice dave,, but if one were to believe the prior story leading to this thread , i am inclined to agree with its author, not everyone at customs at friday harbor [i have only had good experiences] is friendly. it sounded as though the author ran into a couple of real a-holes if his rendition is accurate. beware of tiny brained beuracrats with a little bit of power. the guy certainly sounded like a national security threat to me... but then again i have[ notaclue] capt. steve embody, 10th sf group ret.

 

[Trinity]

Dave
Thanks for the tips. We will be venturing into Canada this year and although we have done research on what to do with US Customs, it is good to hear from someone who has actually gone through the process.

Nancy

 

[NewMoon]

Our take on border crossings:

You’ll save yourself considerable grief if you understand and graciously comply with the rules for entering Canada from the US, or the US from Canada (and of course they’re different).

As of June 1, 2009, US and Canadian citizens must present a passport or passport card, a trusted traveler (NEXUS, FAST, or SENTRI) program card, or a WHTI-compliant drivers license (so far issued only in WA and a very few other states). Except for those under age 16, birth certificates and citizenship cards are no longer acceptable. Your dog needs a current rabies certificate.

If you’re entering by road, have your documentation handy – don’t make the Customs officers pull you over to climb into your boat and get it. Don’t wear sunglasses when you pull up to the Customs window – they want to see your eyes when questioning you. Smile, don’t express irritation. Answer questions politely, even if they seem repetitive. Lack of cooperation may increase the likelihood of a detailed search, which can take quite a while.

If you’re entering by boat, only the “master” may leave the vessel until Customs has been cleared. Depending on location and circumstances, this may be done over the phone, but it may require a visit from Customs officers.

Entering Canada, many items are prohibited or restricted. We’d suggest you don’t even think about bringing firearms. Long guns can be brought in, but only after going through a permitting process. No handguns. They’ll probably ask you about guns in several ways. Smile and answer nicely.

There are limits on how much alcohol and tobacco you can bring across without being delayed to pay import taxes. Check with Customs for the latest rules. Last I checked for BC, the limit was 1.14 liters of liquor per person, such that two people could bring in three bottles. Wine was limited to 1.5 liters per person, or four bottles for two people. Beer was 24 cans apiece. Coming back into the US, alcohol was limited to one liter per person.

Food is restricted in sometimes surprising ways. For as long as I can remember, we could not bring potatoes across, in either direction. Fresh fruit tends to be a problem, too. Coming into the US, meat has often been prohibited, and citrus as well. More recently the US has been allowing beef, and fruits and vegetables grown in Canada if they are labeled as such. Rules change often, and some don’t seem to make much sense, but it does you no good to object. Find out what the latest rules are before you go - it may save you having to give up a bunch of perfectly good food.

Entering Canada
http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/fpa-apa/law-loi-eng.html
http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub ... 1-eng.html
http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub ... 2-eng.html

Entering the US
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clear ... d_inus.xml
http://www.getyouhome.gov/