Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
A 46 year old Canadian woman has filed a lawsuit against two US Customs Agents, accusing them of groping her after she failed to account for her raspberries. No, I haven't been sniffing excessive amounts of diesel fumes, and yes, you read that correctly. According to UPI, the lady attempted to cross into the US at the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, Michigan when she encountered the customs agents. Making her way to her vacation home in Georgia, she failed report that she was bringing some raspberries with her. Such an egregious breach of US law cannot go unanswered. Federal law on our southern border, of course, is another matter entirely. There you can stroll across the border with raspberries, marijuana, or a platoon of relatives on your back and you'll have government officials on the other side waiting to give you a free education, free medical care, in-state tuition for college, and a voter registration card. But cross the northern border with a nap sack of undeclared berries, and you're likely to get the full TSA.
The undeclared fruit resulted in a two hour ordeal during which, according to Loretta Van Beek, she was ordered to strip and was aggressively searched by two female customs agents. Station WXYZ in Detroit, reports that the 46 year old interior designer was so traumatized by the experience, which denied her of Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure, that she is filing suit.
I've had my own encounters with customs agents at the Canadian border. The Canadian officials were quite friendly and professional. But the agents on the US side were another breed entirely. As a matter of fact, I stopped making cross-border runs into Canada in my 18 wheeler precisely because of the hassle I received from US Customs Agents while trying to get back into my own country. Crossing back into the US several years ago at a check point north of Detroit, an agent with the demeanor of a bulldozer directed me to drive to the back of the building, where he again met me and yelled that I had gone to the wrong building. As a consequence, I was directed to allow him full access to the trailer and the cab of my truck, though I was not permitted to be present during his search. And since no government operation is truly complete without enough paperwork to kill a redwood, I first had to accomplish a number of forms, one of which asked if I had any meat products in my possession. Since I had already disposed of the deli meats in my cooler, I answered no. Then, as this paragon of professionalism was making his way toward my truck, I remembered the can of beanie weenies and so called out to him that I had made a mistake on the form. He regarded me with grave impatience and snapped that my little can of beanie weenies could have landed me in serious trouble with hefty fines or even worse. Having survived that ordeal, I pledged that I would either cease accepting loads into Canada, or wear a turban the next time around. I've since opted for the former option, and haven't made a border crossing since.
While I don't know all the facts in the case of the raspberry-laden interior designer, she certainly has my sympathy.
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Comments :
Dec '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
Perhaps we public servants are just better suited to not actually interfacing with the public.
Jun '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
Most people, I'd say upwards of 95% of the North American population, are trustworthy. So, why can't civil servants seem to get that? Think of it this way: If 5% of the US population refused to pay their taxes by not filing, the collection system would be overwhelmed and chaos would ensue. So, does it make any sense whatsoever to treat people as snivel servants do?
Dec '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
You'd be rather grumpy, too Dave if you had to welcome folks back into the US of A only to have them empty out of that bridge fiasco into beeeeutiful downtown Deetroit city. Bluewater bridge is, typically a much better crossing. That said, I've had my share of cross Canucks at that crossing, as well. Seems the strain of checking a passport, asking a few questions without even attempting to pick up on anything suspicious, and looking at the camera that's pointed at the rear of your vehicle naturally puts you in a foul humor. Much less of an issue in an airport. Maybe it's the fumes!
May '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
Perhaps the key is the raspberries. Did the agents resemble either Fred MacMurray or Humphrey Bogart?
Sep '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
I agree with Dave; I once drove through Canada on my way from New York State to Michigan, and I was treated with the same rudeness. Since then I've opted to go the long way through Pennsylvania and Ohio rather than tolerate these barbarians.
And if you think that's bad, you should see the way they treat private pilots flying small planes over the border. There's no way I'll do that in the near future.
Dec '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
Sad and ironic anecdote time. The weapons facility I work at was my first shore duty while in the navy. Part of the reason I sought employment here when I seperated from the service was my memory of how nice it was to be greated in passing while on the job. We didn't smile and say good morning much on the boat, but everyone was cordial at this place.
Feb '11
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
Prior to 9/11, border crossings were very easy on both sides. It was not uncommon for Buffalonians to cross the border for Chinese Food. When I did crew in high school, we crossed back and forth from Canada all the time. They seemed almost lackadaisical, but they were far from it. They took one look at you and knew exactly who you were, where you came from, and what you were doing. When it's 6 AM on a Sunday morning and you see a little VW covered in rowing stickers with 4 high school kids in it, you know they're going up to Henley Island.
This sort of basic common sense and judgement can't be mass produced. "Procedure" is what you use in place of it, the way someone might duct tape a piece of cardboard over a broken window.
May '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
Living abroad as I do, I occasionally pass thru US Immigration. The facilities are uniformly shabby (welcome to the richest country in the world) and the officers are a little unfriendly. Not all of them, but enough that I get a bad impression.
I get the feeling that the USA is a country that has lost pride in itself. Or maybe living in Japan has raised my expectations about what a government is capable of when it really tries hard.
Jan '11
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
Oh to live in simpler times. My one experience crossing from Canada back home I was given the third degree on the US side regarding my possible involvement smuggling scrimshaw to all the ivory junkies. The Canadians both upon entering and leaving were nothing but Canadian (of course before entering I stashed my .357 in Whitefish, MT and buried my cigarettes under all the camping gear).
May '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
I was going to make the same point! Happy Jack's!
It's still usually not bad going to and from Canada, although I'm speaking as a visitor not as a driver of a commercial vehicle.
I do find it annoying that when you come back they ask how long you've been in Canada, as if they hadn't just scanned your license plate and know exactly when you came in.
And the restriction on fruits and vegetables puzzles me. If you have tropical fruit, it probably came from the same place whether you're in the US or Canada, and if it's local, then the same thing is probably grown on both sides of the border.
Nov '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
I’ve ridden a motorcycle from Colorado to Alaska and explored the Canadian rockies by motorcycle and have discovered for myself that you are quite right about the different treatment one gets upon re-entering the U.S. The problem seems to be mainly at the Southern border. On my trips I’ve gone in and out of Canada and entering Alaska from Canada was never unpleasant.
Because of my being a guest on a sailboat in the Eastern Mediterranean for three months in 2002 I have a number of Middle Eastern country stamps in my passport. When I entered the U.S. somewhere in Eastern Washington State I was given an extremely rude welcome home. I was sitting on the bike with the engine idling and instead of handing me back my passport he threw it at me, which I failed to catch. I had to move the bike to the side and park it and then go look for my passport. All the while the jerk glared at me.
These guys are frustrated, angry, and unhappy people.
Dec '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
TeeJaw :
These guys are frustrated, angry, and unhappy people. · Feb 12 at 9:16am
In this economy, one might think that job security and a pretty darn good benefits package would make them a little more jolly.
May '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
Beenie weenies! My husband was just telling the kids at dinner last night that beenie weenies were his family's favorite Friday night fare.
The one time I encountered a surly northern U.S. Customs Agent was when my husband and I were returning via plane from visiting Calgary and parts north. My husband's job didn't allow him to grow a beard. So, when he took vacations (long ones), he would always sprout whiskers. As we were going through Customs, the agent looked at my husband and said, "You grew a beard," very suspiciously. In the interest of lightening the mood, I piped up, "You should see my legs! I stopped shaving when he did!" He let us right through. Although, he did have that look on his face like he'd thrown up in his mouth...
Oh, here's a big LIKE for this post, Dave!
May '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
Raspberry strip-search. We have lost our minds.
Sep '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
Although, he did have that look on his face like he'd thrown up in his mouth...
May '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
Regardless of what we think of the marketing abilities of border agents, the suit is without merit. There is absolutely no expectation of privacy at the border. Decades of case law have decided that one over and over.
The question is whether the agents acted unreasonably in the extent of the search- but this sounds like someone who is cranky over being detained at all. Sorry, sister.
May '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
I vote we draft FeliciaB as a guest on a Ricochet podcast. If James Lileks and Mark Steyn appeared in the same episode it would be a raucus, hilarious podcast for the ages. Peter Robinson could help herd the cats and Rob Long could steal great lines for his next sitcom.
Sep '10
Re: Beanie Weenies and Raspberries at the Canadian Border
Peter Robinson could help herd the cats
We could make a drinking game out of all the cat shots at Ricochet. Cat-shot? Ricochet? Gah.