Ron wrote --

He picked up the computer in Detroit and put it in he back of the car.
No one said "boo" crossing into Canada, but coming back over, he was grilled and if it wasn't for the receipt that showed that the computer was from the U.S., they would have made him pay an import tax on the computer.

In June, '19 I made a round the country trip visiting lots of folks,
some from here on Memories whom I only knew on line. Such as the late Nancy Backus, Jim White, Ed Vance and Daryl.
(There were also lots of other friends I knew around the country as
well, and visiting old places and new ones).
Long story short.
I was in Del Rio, TX and wanted to check out the border.
I parked near the bridge and simply walked across the border.
Vehicles had a short line of cars for inspection but on foot, nothing. Merely had to pay a 25 cent toll on the sidewalk at a turn stile, as opposed
to several dollars if in a car.
On foot there was no customs inspection, no questions, nothing. It was
no different than walking across a bridge in this country from one state to another.
Checked out the Rio Grande (about several feet wide and not deep to
hardly get your ankles wet if you waded across), saw the massive maze like wall in Mexico, turned around and headed back.
I was stopped by Mexican authorities and asked "papers please", in
perfect English.
Papers? What papers?
He said I needed a passport from Mexico into the US.
I had no passport, but did have my drivers license which I handed him.
He asked how long I had been in Mexico and I said just a few minutes, I
had wanted to see the border and the river.
He asked where I was from as he glanced the license and asked where I
was from.
When I said WV he handed it back to me, probably thinking "dumb
hillbilly" and let me pass, but I had to cross to the other side of the bridge.
(One side into Mexico, the other out).
Now I had just walked past him a few minutes before and the only one
walking into Mexico. If he had looked he would have surely seen me.
Meanwhile, as he asked these questions I half expected to find myself in
a Mexican jail, calling a couple of lawyers I know back home to get me out
or spending the rest of my days in some jail.
The guy was nice about and we even joked a bit when I was allowed to continue in. (I asked him why the American side of the bridge was uncovered but the Mexican side at a canopy and shade. He said I needed to talk to the mayor of Del Rio about it. :)
Interesting sidebar.
Walking into Mexico were a long line of cars leaving and going through customs.
Groups of men would appear suddenly cleaning windshields and asking for
tips only to be chased away by men in uniform. After a couple of minutes
they returned and chased off again. This went on several times.
Walking back into the States were small groups of men walking into
Mexico (on the wrong side of the bridge) with lots of straw sombreros. Large ones
on the bottom and smaller ones on the way up forming a pyramid on their
heads and carrying others in their
I thought they must have bought those in Del Rio to sell to tourists in Mexico and got a laugh.
Back in the States I had to pass through a huge bus/airport-type
terminal with American officials merely saying Good Morning as I walked through.
Joe
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Mike wrote --

Your experience was the exact opposite of mine, but it may have had to do with where I was crossing.

I imagine it could have also been due to my crossing into Canada was a
line of cars, going to the Falls I imagine.
Coming back it was late (around 11 p.m.) and about the only car at the
time and maybe the American customs guy was bored. :)
Joe
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Aaron wrote --

I'm glad the Canadian tour bus driver was so decent to you. We're almost interchangeable with Canadians I think.

And it could be they didn't do a head count, or a very good one, when I
was on that bus. :)
Joe
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I imagine it could have also been due to my crossing into Canada was a
line of cars, going to the Falls I imagine.
Coming back it was late (around 11 p.m.) and about the only car at the
time and maybe the American customs guy was bored. :)

Prolly figured you were trying to smuggle prescription drugs, or mary-jane, into the country. :D

Mike


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Mike wrote--

Prolly figured you were trying to smuggle prescription drugs, or mary-jane, into the country. :D

Could be. :)
One time Groucho Marx, before he was well known, was passing through
customs and listed his occupation as "jewel smuggler".
What I don't understand is with all the wide open border between Canada
and the US (and Mexico for a lot) why smugglers would pass through a customs area when there is plenty of open territory elsewhere?
Oh sure, it may not be near some town or anything but with a 4WD it
shouldn't be that difficult.
Oh, I forget to mention yesterday till I sent my post.
I was stopped by border agents between Del Rio and Houston. They were
using an old weigh station and funneled all traffic into it.
I was asked if I were carrying any contraband. (If I were I would of
course told them yes since I'm a honest person).
I was so tempted to say "No, except for the three Mexican midgets in the trunk" but for once wisely kept my mouth shut.
They just checked my ID, looking around inside the car (standing outside)
and let me go.
Joe




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Joe,

Prolly figured you were trying to smuggle prescription drugs, or mary-jane,

in

to the country. :D

Could be. :)

Those 2 words were used quite a bit in the Looney Tunes cartoons. <G>

One time Groucho Marx, before he was well known, was passing through customs and listed his occupation as "jewel smuggler".

Well, I guess both sexes are jewel smugglers...the guys' are below the
belt, and the women's are hidden higher up. <eg>

What I don't understand is with all the wide open border between
Canada and the US (and Mexico for a lot) why smugglers would pass
through a customs area when there is plenty of open territory
elsewhere?

Logic?? :P

Oh, I forget to mention yesterday till I sent my post.

He's becoming.... ... ... ... ... ... ... I forget what the word is. <G>

I was so tempted to say "No, except for the three Mexican midgets in
the trunk" but for once wisely kept my mouth shut.

Sounds like Calvin And Hobbes, telling the police officer about the dead
body in the trunk. <G>

They just checked my ID, looking around inside the car (standing outside) and let me go.

The cop asks the redneck who he pulled over if he had any ID. The
redneck replies "'Bout What??". <G>

Daryl

... Dime: A dollar with all taxes taken out.
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Daryl wrote --

The cop asks the redneck who he pulled over if he had any ID. The
redneck replies "'Bout What??". <G>

And then the blonde who's pulled over and the cop says according to her license she's supposed to wear glasses. She replies, But officer, I have contacts.
He replied "I don't care who you know, you're supposed to wear glasses
when driving".
Once a few years I renewed my license and "failed" the eye test. I use readers with my contacts and it was noted I was to wear glasses and wanted
so much to be stopped and repeat that line. Never was stopped.
Joe
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Joe,

The cop asks the redneck who he pulled over if he had any ID. The
redneck replies "'Bout What??". <G>

And then the blonde who's pulled over and the cop says according to
her license she's supposed to wear glasses. She replies, But officer,
I have contacts.
He replied "I don't care who you know, you're supposed to wear
glasses when driving".

If the cop had been a blonde female, the blonde female driver would've
handed her a makeup mirror instead of her drivers license. Then, the cop would've said "I didn't realize you were a police officer as well...I'm
sorry for pulling you over. You can go on your way". <G>

Once a few years I renewed my license and "failed" the eye test. I
use readers with my contacts and it was noted I was to wear glasses and wanted so much to be stopped and repeat that line. Never was stopped.

One time, I had gone in on my birthday, and they wanted me to take the
vision test without my glasses. I told them that "it explicitly says 'corrective lenses' on here", and said "I have to have the glasses on for
the vision test (they check vision ahead and peripheral vision). Another
time, they were going to grant the license without that restriction, and
I complained vociferously.

Nowadays, I just need reading glasses...although I'm currently dealing
with astigmatism in the right eye. At least my drivers license doesn't
expire until 2027.

Daryl

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Daryl wrote --

handed her a makeup mirror instead of her drivers license. Then, the cop would've said "I didn't realize you were a police officer as well...I'm sorry for pulling you over. You can go on your way". <G>

Or, hey, you look just like me.

One time, I had gone in on my birthday, and they wanted me to take the vision test without my glasses.

I think DMV people are sometimes bored and just like to play with our
minds.
People complain about the DMV, but here I have never had any problems
(other than the one time above) nor a long wait. I'm usually in and out in less than 30 minutes. Once it was 45 minutes but I happened to be there at the wrong time with lots of others.
Joe
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Joe,

Or, hey, you look just like me.

She found her long lost twin sister. <G>

I think DMV people are sometimes bored and just like to play with our minds.

Garfield (the lasagna loving cat) noted 2 important truths, and I've seen these at the Revenue Offices:

1) We shall do no work before it's nine (o'clock).

2) People who don't believe the dead come back to life, should be here at quitting time.

With the latter, once that door locks, they are on their own time...and
they have to take care of everyone inside the building before they can go
home.

People complain about the DMV, but here I have never had any problems (other than the one time above) nor a long wait. I'm usually in and
out in less than 30 minutes. Once it was 45 minutes but I happened to
be there at the wrong time with lots of others.

Some days, you can hit it just right.

At least now, I can renew the tags online.

I'm still waiting for the title on the first one I got after the wreck
(that was traded, due to a parts shortage). I think they only have one
person processing items for all 75 counties.

Daryl

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Daryl wrote --

Garfield (the lasagna loving cat) noted 2 important truths, and I've seen these at the Revenue Offices:

--snip--

2) People who don't believe the dead come back to life, should be here at quitting time.

In the summer of '96 I was a temp at the local Sears (RIP). The
management had a nickname for the regular employees, Dragonflies.
When they were to be working they were "dragging" but when it at quitting time they were "flying". :)
Joe


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