[Doreen]

Crossed many times south of Thunder Bay from Minnesota and at International Falls in the “old days”. All without incident.

Since 9/11 though I have some stories to share:

First … friends had a 48 foot Ocean Alexander yacht they berth in Wisconsin and spend the summers on. He was going to clear customs from Lake Huron at a port of entry he’d gone through many times and where the Canadian customs agent knew him by name. This time it was his turn for a full search of the boat. After a few minutes the agent pops up with an undeclared pistol in his hand asking “what’s this!” and why it wasn’t declared. He was allowed to secure the boat under the watchful eyes of an additional customs agent and some provincial police officers. Then the cuffs went on and off to jail he went. (Mind you this would be like putting me or Colt or most of the rest of us in jail!) It was Friday night, his wife was flying in on Sunday, and on Monday he had his court appearance. He was released on substantial bail, the boat was held by Canadian customs, and a court date set. He called me asking if I knew of an immigration attorney in Canada. Of course I do, doesn’t everyone? I was working in Manhattan at the time and one of our corporate attorneys fixed me up with a good Canadian attorney who got the boat released, the charges pled down in a low offense, and a modest fine; but not the handgun. Subsequently they have upgraded to a very nice 60 foot Ocean Alexander. Best part of the story is that my friend shared a cell for the weekend with a Canadian citizen arrested on a drug offense. They still exchange Christmas cards.

Second … we crewed for friends running the Trans-Am series a number of years ago (pre-coach). We crossed into Canada at Niagara Falls without delay and went to Mosport for the race. Upon our return we crossed back to the US at Sarnia. We pulled up to the gate and the border agent asked lots of questions which we answered. About the time I expected to be sent on our way a young soldier looking guy in full battle fatigues, brandishing a large automatic weapon, lots of pouches on his clothing and belt probably holding large magazines of ammo and grenades, with a very angry expression on his face. Quickly I noticed four more similarly dressed military types surrounding the car. He asked Cathie directly why she lied about not having a nuclear medical procedure. He asked Cathie to get out of the car, I was directed to park the car and wait in a room in the building. Cathie was taken to “a room”. I was told she was being interviewed by senior border control agents, but not told about what or why. I noticed what looked like a more senior agent go to the room. Shortly after that she came out and the agents told us we were free to go. She told me that she’d forgotten to tell the agents that she’d had a procedure on her thyroid (about five or six months before) which apparently used some kind of nuclear stuff that was still in her body and was picked up by detectors we never saw. She said eventually the agents told her what their detector “found”, she remembered the procedure and told her what happened. The senior agent and another one who I never saw said something like “Oh you had the ‘this in that procedure’ that uses a nuclear component that lingers in your body. If you fly in the next few months or cross a border you need to tell TSA or border patrol you had it. Sorry to inconvenience you.”

Read all the border crossing rules thoroughly. Disclose all firearms when crossing into Canada. Remember any medial procedures you’ve had in the last year.