Mathews I don' t doubt that your are one of the few guys at the border that treats people with respect, you have certainly done it here on this forum ever since I came on, I thank you guys for the hard work you do in protecting our borders, but I got to curse you in the same breath, its just that I get so humilated when an agent goes through my wallet and cheque book and questions me on whom I am writing cheques to, but now when I cross the border, I keep it simple, I carry no wallet, 1 credit card, Atm card, passport, ( and less than 10 thousand in cash,) the less paperwork,... the better.
I have seen how crossing the border has changed since 9-11, its tight now, now there is 3 agents at my vehicle, and sometimes even a lab, sniffing around my truck, one agent is asking me the routine questions, one is at the back of my truck, and there is another agent is at the passenger side, a few years ago, one agent would do all the questioning, but I guess times have changed and any person coming across could be a potential threat, but I get so tired of the lack of diplomacy exonarted by the U.S. side, it seems like the Canadian side doesn' t drill me near as hard as the U.S when I come back into the States. I know you guys have a job to do , but its when an agent, as I said earlier,... wants to mess with me and detain me for some time, he can easily do it with " Catch 22" , ( the fourth amendment). No,... I don' t ever get smart in the replies, even though I have a raw spot in my mouth from biteing my lip in holding back. Sometimes I have to be in Alberta, or B.C and back to the states, and I guess thats what causes suspicion, but I gotta say you guys are hard, but like I say, thanks for keeping us safe, but I do it under protest. Take care my friend, Bobby