10. November 2008 by admin.

This morning is was once again reminded that some US Customs Officers like to know what you have for lunch.  Fortunately, my lunch passed the inspection or the officer wasn’t really that hungry for my lunch.

However, occasionally we see officers that like to enforce the no fruit rule.  First, if I choose to bring an orange with me to work, it’s for my personal consumption.  I do not plan on giving to anyone else.  Second, when was the last time you heard about anyone eating an orange grown in Canada?  I know where in the southern most part of the country but there are no orange trees here!  Third, I’ve seen Customs officers confiscate oranges that were clearly grown in the Florida because of the sticker on their skin. 

So next time you think about bring an orange to work across the border, make prepared to lose it to the bright yellow quarantined trash container!

Posted in Lunch, US Customs | 2 Comments »

6. November 2008 by admin.

Earlier this week I was reminded that everything entering the United States is subject to search by Custom’s officials.  Don’t get me wrong, I understand that in the best interests of the United States and its safety, it is important to have strict rules to abide by to protect the health and safety of its citizen.  But my lunch?

Almost everyday I bring a lunch across the border with me.  During the recent rise of the Canadian dollar to par and beyond, I have been doing all of my grocery shopping in Michigan.  Being paid in US dollars, it was simply cheaper to cross the border, pay the toll, drive the extra miles to grocery shop.  I estimate that I saved hundreds of dollars over the past year.  This means that the eco-friendly bag that transports my lunch contains foods grown, processed and manufactured in the US or at a minimum meeting all US Agricultural standards.

But on Tuesday morning, I was asked what was in my bag.  “Lunch,” I replied.  I generally try to answer all officers questions with one word answers whenever possible.  “Place it up here,” was the response.  I don’t know about you but I really don’t like anyone poking their fingers through my lunch.  Fortunately, for me the bananas were in clear sight and the contents of the bag were not spreadout over the table.  My lunch, for the most part, remained untouched.

This incident reminded me of previous encounters with the Lunch Police.  I’ll save those stories which I’ve entitled, “The Hat Man,” “Where’s the Beef,” “Tossed Salad,” and “Florida Oranges” for another days entry.

By the way, I’m not sure what happened at the border today.  There was no traffic or backup.  Very odd!

Thanks for stopping by — I hope that you’ll come back often!

Posted in Lunch, US Customs | 1 Comment »

3. November 2008 by admin.

Yes, it’s official now — we’ve moved on to “11″ at US Customs!  Those number “10’s” were getting a bit ratty and someone even doodled the one I had last week.  I said to the Customs Officer, wow, we’re upto “11″ today.  His response, it’s a new month.  What a great idea they have, hand cards to exiting bus passengers with a stamp of the numeric value of the month.  I wonder how high in the chain of command that had to go? 

Tomorrow is election day.  Soon, the picture of the current President will be replaced with the newly elected President Obama.  I can’t wait to see that happen.  I hope that some of the ideas that current administration has instituted will be seriously reviewed. 

But as for US Customs, they have 28 days to print the number “12.”  I certainly hope that it will be printed on green or red 3×5 cards to get us in the holiday season.

Posted in US Customs | 1 Comment »

28. October 2008 by admin.

For the past couple of weeks, US Customs/Immigration/Border Protections officials have instituted a new procedure for Tunnel Bus passengers.   For those not familiar with riding the Tunnel Bus and clearing American Customs from the bus, let me first explain the procedure prior to this new initiative. 

Upon reaching US Customs on the Tunnel Bus, passengers must alight from the bus, enter the US Immigration Office and present their citizenship and employment papers to an officer.  The officer usually asks several questions, such as where were you, where you’re going and what you’re bringing into the country.  There are many stories of various questions and answers that I’ll share in the coming days and weeks about the questions one gets asked!  The officer than hands back your papers and you are allowed to re-board the bus for the short ride through downtown Detroit.  Yes, this is something that Tunnel Bus passengers must go through everyday just to go to work.  I often ask myself how many others have to go through this much, just to go to work. 

About 2 or 3 weeks ago, that normal procedure was augmented.  Now, after the officer clears you for entry and returns your paperwork, he or she is suppose to hand you a half of 3×5 card with the number “10″ stamped in the middle of it.  Before boarding the bus, you are to hand the ”10″ card to the officer stationed by the door.  In all fairness to the officers, I understand why this is being done.  Evidently, there was an incident several weeks ago where someone who was not cleared by an officer re-boarded the bus and left.  The “perfect 10″ solution was born.

After the first couple of days of this “10″ procedure, one quickly realizes that it is a complete waste of time and taxpayer dollars.  It now takes 2 officers to clear the Tunnel Bus, one to check your paperwork and one to collect a number “10.”  Most of the time, bus passengers have to remind the officer to provide them a “10″ so that the officer by the door doesn’t send them back to be cleared again.  This is simply stupid.  The officer by the door has a clear view of all the officers clearing bus passengers.  In fact, he or she can probably hear the conversation between officer and passenger.  Obviously if the walk back towards the bus without being directed for additional screening, doesn’t common sense say they have been cleared? 

Now let’s talk about the paper and “10.”  There’s nothing special about the “10.”  It’s a 3×5 card cut in half with a stamped “10.”  Remembering back to my elementary school days, I think we would have done something like this in second grade.  I wouldn’t have to work very hard to create my own “10.” 

I hope that this silliness will end.  What a waste of tax dollars having two officers clear 20 passengers every 20 minutes.  Really, Homeland Security cannot come up with a better way to track passengers without 3×5 cards.  I can certainly see them spending millions of dollars on motion detectors, cameras and radiation sniffing devices at the border.  Really a 3×5 card with a “10″ on it?  I did hear one Custom’s Officer say that they were going to bring in “11″ soon.  This is how we protect our borders? 

Posted in US Customs | 1 Comment »