Canadian American Border/Customs Area
On Saturday afternoon I drove down to the States with my parents to do some shopping. You’re normally allowed a certain amount of goods that each person can bring in without paying any taxes and we had purchased a few hundred dollars worth of stuff. We drove back late and night and when we reached the customs area there were 2 open lanes. I chose the lane on the left.
I don’t normally do this, but yesterday for some reason (probably because I explained the double-slit experiment to someone the day before), I thought to myself: “I wonder why I chose this lane and not the other one?” While waiting in the customs queue, I noticed that the hand handing back the passports appeared to be feminine so I was glad that at the very least I had chosen the lane with the female agent (I’ll explain why this is a good thing another time).
As I reached the counter, the girl took the passports and asked us the usual questions. We were honest and told her the amounts that we had purchased. She then proceeded to explain that if you don’t stay at least 24 hours you have to pay taxes and that clothes are taxed at 17%! Here’s where it gets good… The customs agent in the lane on the left coincidentally/luckily happened to be an old coworker of mine that I hadn’t seen for a few years and she remembered me! I’ll let you guess how much tax I had to pay… 
She did, however, tell me to be careful for next time. 
yHaving crossed the border many times my worst and the best happend 1st crossing back,female custom guard didn’t like my face and took my car apart hoping for a big find,noting was found and I had to put everyting back in its place myself!2nd time female guard asked the usual and I did tell the truht but ommited 1 item and my daugther spilled the beans by telling about what I forgot,this time I was blessed and was cleared to go and not having to pay,and yes there was at lest six lane open so I just went to the one with less cars,these two crossings stand out because I would never expect what I was going to get!
Happenstance
Happy New Year Ian, Best wishes.
I hate standing in line. At the airport, I feel like i’m traveling first class when I move through the U.S. residents lane while glancing over the non-u.s. residents lane which goes on for miles…
brother jack – Thankfully, I’ve been pretty lucky every time I’ve gone in and out of the US by car. Except for that time when I went to New York city and I was traveling with my cousin, E and 2 Arabs…
That’s a story for another time though…
Damon Z – I can’t stand lines either! US vs. Non-US residents lane eh? I didn’t really notice this. I DID notice it in Europe though when the foreigners have to stand in a separate line until they check in all the locals!!
Gotta love having connections at the border. My favorite story involved me telling an American border guard that I’m an American citizen going to work in California but I have zero documentation to prove it. I’ll never forget how small he made me feel when he said, “So, let me get this straight. You’re telling me you’re a citizen going to earn money in California but you’re not prepared to show me any documentation. How do you expect me to let you in?”
Thankfully before the tears were fully flowing I happened to recognize a guard I knew so I just croaked out, “she knows me, will you let me in if she knows me?!?”
Sigh. I’m surprised sometimes at my own idiocy.
Cyara (not sure why I lost the name of the commenter during the upgrade) – Sounds like a funny story! Do I take it they let you in because you knew “that girl” ?? lol