Driving record, how dare they ask

60MPH · Dec 14, 2011

What business is it of U.S. Customs to ask what my driving record looks like and when was my last conviction for a violation!!! Got it asked today coming into Houlton, ME. Refused to answer was sent to X-ray. Then x-ray did not even x-ray me was told to proceed

. Anyone have a U.S. agent ask what your driving record looks like?

They are pushing the line here and along with the other thread about Canada agents, has me wondering what's going on?? Somethings up. I just have not figured it out yet. Today was the longest I have EVER waited to cross there. It took 45 mins just to get to the window, this crossing usually only has 5 min. wait.

OntarioVanMan · Dec 14, 2011

60MPH said:
What business is it of U.S. Customs to ask what my driving record looks like and when was my last conviction for a violation!!! Got it asked today coming into Houlton, ME. Refused to answer was sent to X-ray. Then x-ray did not even x-ray me was told to proceed . Anyone have a U.S. agent ask what your driving record looks like?

They are pushing the line here and along with the other thread about Canada agents, has me wondering what's going on?? Somethings up. I just have not figured it out yet. Today was the longest I have EVER waited to cross there. It took 45 mins just to get to the window, this crossing usually only has 5 min. wait.

Never got asked that one before..weird...I used to call it the "Question of the Day"....seemed like every day was a crap shoot on what they'd ask....I learned NOT to take it personally and just move along....its just business...

tenntrucker · Dec 15, 2011

60MPH said:
Anyone have a U.S. agent ask what your driving record looks like?

Not yet, but there is always tomorrow.

Sent from my DROID X2

bobwg · Dec 15, 2011

Maybe if you said yes he would look to see if there is a warrant for your arrest you know some people skip town after being being cited and given court date

60MPH · Dec 15, 2011

bobwg said:
Maybe if you said yes he would look to see if there is a warrant for your arrest you know some people skip town after being being cited and given court date

I didn't think of that.

The question it self through me off and after thinking about it last night I came to the conclusion that was the agents intention, to throw me off. He also asked when my DL expired but before I could grad it and look he told me to go to x-ray.

After watching the video Nota linked in the other thread, has me thinking about how I should answer there questions. I can be a little to jolly/easy going at times and a small joke can be taken to the EXTREME, as that Canadian couple found out

OntarioVanMan · Dec 15, 2011

60MPH said:
I didn't think of that.

The question it self through me off and after thinking about it last night I came to the conclusion that was the agents intention, to throw me off. He also asked when my DL expired but before I could grad it and look he told me to go to x-ray.

After watching the video Nota linked in the other thread, has me thinking about how I should answer there questions. I can be a little to jolly/easy going at times and a small joke can be taken to the EXTREME, as that Canadian couple found out

When I crossed all the time way back when...I got too familiar at times with the officers...almost TOO relaxed...
1 laughable question from US officer...

Would you tell me you had drugs if I asked you?

reply: Of course not I'd lie thru my teeth...LOL

at least that was an honest answer he said...go ahead get out of here he laughed...

OntarioVanMan · Dec 15, 2011

Then the time I pulled up to the Can. side and he asked...

So whata we have today?

Oh the usual..you know...

he snickered and said..could you please be more specific?

Then the time the wife and I were going into Canada when we lived there and I had bought a 60 oz bottle of white rum...
I told the officer and he said..well you know you are only allowed 40 oz each...I replied I only had 60 oz so I still can get 20 ozs more....he laughed really good and said...Noooo thats is 40 ozs EACH...I said we are a married couple and so forth...He ended up letting us in without fines...LOL

Lawrence · Dec 15, 2011

We (ExpeditersOnline.com) are hosting a workshop in Monroe, MI with a US/Canada border crossing expert. From I understand with recent US/Canada agreements we will be seeing much more of these types of questions.

Doggie Daddy · Dec 15, 2011

OntarioVanMan said:
Never got asked that one before..weird...I used to call it the "Question of the Day"....seemed like every day was a crap shoot on what they'd ask....I learned NOT to take it personally and just move along....its just business...

We got asked by a U.S. agent "what are all those antenna's for on your truck?"

Wanted to tell him that that's how we keep in contact with the "mother ship", but decided against it as humor is not one of their virtues.

ATeam · Dec 15, 2011

Lawrence said:
We (ExpeditersOnline.com) are hosting a workshop in Monroe, MI with a US/Canada border crossing expert.

Good call!

skyraider · Dec 15, 2011

60MPH said:
What business is it of U.S. Customs to ask what my driving record looks like and when was my last conviction for a violation!!! Got it asked today coming into Houlton, ME. Refused to answer was sent to X-ray. Then x-ray did not even x-ray me was told to proceed . Anyone have a U.S. agent ask what your driving record looks like?

They are pushing the line here and along with the other thread about Canada agents, has me wondering what's going on?? Somethings up. I just have not figured it out yet. Today was the longest I have EVER waited to cross there. It took 45 mins just to get to the window, this crossing usually only has 5 min. wait.

Appears you may have had a goose step Gestapo moment?

OntarioVanMan · Dec 15, 2011

Doggie Daddy said:
We got asked by a U.S. agent "what are all those antenna's for on your truck?"

Wanted to tell him that that's how we keep in contact with the "mother ship", but decided against it as humor is not one of their virtues.

after 5 years of taking "in process" Trunonions....finally one asked me what they were....I've waited sooo long for this question and I could not help myself..told him they were a cross between a turnip and an onion....GO INSIDE and see supervisor.....cost me 1 hour in the "Penalty Box"....LOL..

greg334 · Dec 15, 2011

Lawrence said:
We (ExpeditersOnline.com) are hosting a workshop in Monroe, MI with a US/Canada border crossing expert. From I understand with recent US/Canada agreements we will be seeing much more of these types of questions.

Hey Lawrence, its great to have this but I wonder if we can have more info on the expert and make a suggestion to get maybe FedEx's (other companies) customs people to join in on the conversation to give more of an operational point of view on the subject.

I just seem to think that the word "expert" is a not the right term to be used unless we know more about their expertise and experience crossing the border.

scottm4211 · Dec 15, 2011

greg334 said:
Hey Lawrence, its great to have this but I wonder if we can have more info on the expert and make a suggestion to get maybe FedEx's (other companies) customs people to join in on the conversation to give more of an operational point of view on the subject.

I just seem to think that the word "expert" is a not the right term to be used unless we know more about their expertise and experience crossing the border.

Although I cross 6-10 times a week I can assure you it's not me

cheri1122 · Dec 15, 2011

Doggie Daddy said:
We got asked by a U.S. agent "what are all those antenna's for on your truck?"

Wanted to tell him that that's how we keep in contact with the "mother ship", but decided against it as humor is not one of their virtues.

VERY good call, lol

I was asked what I'd delivered in Canada as I reentered the US, and I said 'auto parts'. Agent asked what kind of parts, I said I didn't know. Next question was 'what if there were drugs in those containers?'! My response: 'Then I'd say Chrysler has some 'splainin to do, eh?'
You're right: not much of a sense of humor at all.

I wasn't detained, but in future, I'll just make something up if I don't know the answer, [or they can't prove it either way.] because I think it's your attitude they're probing, whatever the question.

tumbleweeds · Dec 16, 2011

We have made the decision to handle the border thing by just not crossing the border. We just don't take loads that end in Canada. Or Manhattan, Brooklyn, etc. Which is great news for everyone else. When those loads come up, someone else can make that big money. We are happy just staying in the mid west and sometimes Southeast. Our world is getting smaller and smaller. Someday we will just stay on our own little property, ignore the rest of the world completely.

OntarioVanMan · Dec 16, 2011

tumbleweeds said:
We have made the decision to handle the border thing by just not crossing the border. We just don't take loads that end in Canada. Or Manhattan, Brooklyn, etc. Which is great news for everyone else. When those loads come up, someone else can make that big money. We are happy just staying in the mid west and sometimes Southeast. Our world is getting smaller and smaller. Someday we will just stay on our own little property, ignore the rest of the world completely.

Have you ripped Cali....out of your atlas yet?....I have...don't miss it at all...