However, while I’m used to having my bags checked, my last cross-border trip was different. Once again I was called into the back room, and when I got there a lone customs official was already conducting a search of another passenger's bags. I had to "wait behind the red line" and make sure "not to use my cell phone" in "the secured area." Violate these rules and you're in deep you-know-what.
From a distance, then, I watched as the other guy's bags got a good going-over -- the same thing that would be presumably happening to my bags in due time. The customs official was really going to town. He was checking everything -- yanking out clothes, checking through pockets, looking at various packages, and so on. I figured that they must really have something on this guy.
Then I heard the official ask the gentleman for his laptop, which I thought was just to ensure that it wasn’t bought abroad and brought back without paying taxes (which is why you should always carry some sort of proof of purchase with you, or get a special customs card made that stipulates the product was purchased in your home country -- they question these sorts of things). But they weren’t just considering where he’d bought it; they were about to conduct a search of the contents of his computer. You know, the files stored on it! I’d never seen this done before, and my heart skipped a beat. I had a laptop too!
Full story here
[Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on November 9, 2006]
Note: Full story here
Illegal Downloads -- New Concerns For Cross-Border Travelers
Posted on Wednesday, November 08 at 10:36 by rearguardContributed By
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I suppose if we're going to accept a search of pockets that are in a suitcase, we are expected to accept a search of a computer harddrive in a suitcase as well, but should we?
I don't think so. What valid reason would a customs agent have for searching a computer harddrive? You can't hide any tangible items that you may have bought outside the country. You might have entered the purchase of something in your financial software but if you bought it outside the country, then he will find the item if you have not already declared it. If you bought software while outside of Canada, you will have the CD and furthermore, I have often bought software over the internet from outside the country and do not receive a CD and do not pay any brokerage fees, duty or customs taxes of any sort.
Even the RCMP have to have "probable cause" to search you, your home, your vehicle or your personal belongings.
I can see where a search of a computer harddrive could be advantageous to "counter-terrorism" if it were to be conducted before boarding a plane, not upon arrival in your destination.
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Everybody got to deviate from the norm
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frenchy
The government's thinking seems tobe that ANYTHING goes when it comes to a border crosser. You have NO RIGHTS period - zippo (the Charter be damned!), and you can be humiliated with bizarre orders concerning minor deviations of distance from a yellow line, you can have every orifice forcibly raped by some sadistic freak with a latex glove, and all your belongings can be searched inside out - just because you don't smell right, or perhaps you turned on that greasy f*cker with the glove.
The whole thing is sick and twisted, but what's worse is that so many people are seemingly putting up with it as if it's legitimate.
When I read about this shit, all I can think of is that we're living in a modern day version of Nazi Germany but don't know it yet.
I figure if you ever wondered how Germany became a tyranny overnight with almost no meaningful resistance from the general population - well here we are living it up!
Oh ya an I was verbally accosted because I stepped over the red line before being called.
I have had a lot of negative experiences entering my homeland over the years and could go on for hours but one question I've always wanted to ask of a Canada customs agent is... "Is being a f@#%ing @sshole a prerequisite for employment with Canada Customs or is it the job that MAKES you a f@#%ing @sshole?
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Everybody got to deviate from the norm
What came first, the chicken or the egg?