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25 The Long Arm of the Law (Read 25074 times)
Skuhl
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The Long Arm of the Law
Jun 9th, 2010 at 1:48pm
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I have been traveling through Ely and into the Quetico for the past 24 years and in the last five I have heard more and more rumblings about US Boarder Patrol officers busting paddlers as they enter back into the US.  The crime, not checking in at US Customs.

Has anyone else heard of this? Anyone fallen prey?

I personally think it's a bit absurd.
  
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Preacher
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Re: The Long Arm of the Law
Reply #1 - Jun 9th, 2010 at 4:02pm
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If you consider how much smuggling goes on, while a hassle it's a necessity.  I have no idea how the border in the parks is monitored.  What's to stop you from paddling/walking across the border and back?  If you do a loop, how would they know you left the country?

A couple years back some asshats with guns behaved like asshats, threatening campers, cranking off rounds.  They crossed the border.  They were charged on both sides.  A good use of the border imo, take asshats like this out of the park on both sides.
  
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Kingfisher
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Re: The Long Arm of the Law
Reply #2 - Jun 9th, 2010 at 4:06pm
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Last year Memorial Day weekend finished a trip with Yellowbird. We went to check in at customs in Ely and found the officer was out of the office and the posted instructions were to come back another time. Well, it was close to closing hours for the custom office so we went into Ely, had dinner, spent the night in a motel, picked up a purchased canoe at VNO and then returned to the customs office early the next morning when they opened. We found several other groups there and had to wait about a half hour to be "readmitted" to the United States of America. Absurd? You be the judge.
  
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pine_knot
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Re: The Long Arm of the Law
Reply #3 - Jun 9th, 2010 at 9:23pm
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Kingfisher wrote on Jun 9th, 2010 at 4:06pm:
Last year Memorial Day weekend finished a trip with Yellowbird. We went to check in at customs in Ely and found the officer was out of the office and the posted instructions were to come back another time. Well, it was close to closing hours for the custom office so we went into Ely, had dinner, spent the night in a motel, picked up a purchased canoe at VNO and then returned to the customs office early the next morning when they opened. We found several other groups there and had to wait about a half hour to be "readmitted" to the United States of America. Absurd? You be the judge.


Yes.  That does seem absurd.  Last year, my son and I exited on July 4.  We arrived Ely customs around 3:00 pm to find a note on the door informing us that the agent was in Ely helping with the parade.  At least he was kind enough to leave his cell number which we called.  He said to hold tight and he'd be back in about 20 minutes.  We waited and were soon on our way back to Ohio.
We usually spend our first night back in Duluth or Madison.  Not sure if we would have adjusted our plans to wait till the next day for customs as you did KF.  Would that mean we could be arrested/cited?  I'm guessing a call to Ely customs from Madison the next morning would not be received well.
  
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Old Salt
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Re: The Long Arm of the Law
Reply #4 - Jun 9th, 2010 at 9:48pm
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While I'm not an attorney, nor do I play one on TV, it seems to me that if you stop during their posted business hours, you have met your obligation. The fact that they were not home is their problem...
  
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Kingfisher
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Re: The Long Arm of the Law
Reply #5 - Jun 10th, 2010 at 12:51am
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Old Salt wrote on Jun 9th, 2010 at 9:48pm:
While I'm not an attorney, nor do I play one on TV, it seems to me that if you stop during their posted business hours, you have met your obligation. The fact that they were not home is their problem...


Old Salt don't quit your day job. I would not want you to argue my case with U.S. Customs
  
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Old Salt
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Re: The Long Arm of the Law
Reply #6 - Jun 10th, 2010 at 2:12am
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Presumed innocence...
  
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Drewfus
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Re: The Long Arm of the Law
Reply #7 - Jun 10th, 2010 at 5:41am
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I'm w. OS. I'd leave a note saying I was there and the date I'll return next year  Grin
  
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Kingfisher
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Re: The Long Arm of the Law
Reply #8 - Jun 10th, 2010 at 8:06am
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Kingfisher wrote on Jun 9th, 2010 at 4:06pm:
Last year Memorial Day weekend finished a trip with Yellowbird. We went to check in at customs in Ely and found the officer was out of the office and the posted instructions were to come back another time. Well, it was close to closing hours for the custom office so we went into Ely, had dinner, spent the night in a motel, picked up a purchased canoe at VNO and then returned to the customs office early the next morning when they opened. We found several other groups there and had to wait about a half hour to be "readmitted" to the United States of America. Absurd? You be the judge.

I should note that we did not spend the night in Ely just to clear customs the next day. We had already decided to drive home the following morning beforehand otherwise I'm sure we would have used the "Old Salt" defense and skipped. Roll Eyes
  
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Snow_Dog
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Re: The Long Arm of the Law
Reply #9 - Jun 10th, 2010 at 1:32pm
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I wave as I pass the building.   Cheesy

Tales of Barney Fife and his strip-searches haven't exactly given me great confidence in the process at Ely.  If I knew he was gone, never to return, and also knew that the new staff would act like normal Customs officials everywhere else I've ever crossed the border, I'd begin to stop in.

I guess I'm not overly concerned that US Customs and the PP Ranger will start comparing notes on who's entered and exited.  I'd be more concerned about U.S. and Canadian Customs comparing notes but I figure an RABC only gives me the right to cross the border and is not proof positive that I ever actually did it.

I always check in when I come out at Crane Lake since they don't hassle you unnecessarily.
  
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