Need info on DUI and getting into Canada

It is as bad as it sounds. Depends on which prov you go into and if they decide to poke around. Been through one prov. one day and couldn't get into another the same day. Was a hassle to just to get back into the us after that. Depends on how far you are traveling to get there. If you go a ways to get to Canada and end up not getting in it might be worth it to get the permit. I'm finally free of that situation though.

I've heard it is a big hassle as you mentioned above.
On a lighter note I find it amusing Canada has such strick entry rules regarding dui since Canadians are some of the biggest booze hounds I've every known

Does anyone know exactly what you have to do to get across if the offense is less than 5 years old and this is their first offense of any kind.

i heard that it was something like 5 years. do you know if the same is true for a minor? we planning on taking a trip up there and someone said that you can't get in with minor or dui.

ws

You can get to the border and if they do not poke around you can get through. I know guys that were turned around and went to a different port an got in.

If you do not want to risk it you have to contact one of the Canadian Consulates in the US. I do not know the web address off hand. Tell them the offense and ask for a Temporay Visotors permit. They are about $150 bucks and it is only good for the one time you are there.

They are getting tough going through. I had a friend that could not get through at Warroad because he wrote a $4 NSF check in 1999. It was all paid an legit too. They look at your criminal histroy, match your crime up with the Canadian equivlent, and base it on that. A DUI is a felony in Canada. Basically they get to decide if you get to pay the $150 bribe to get in.

I don't think I would risk trying to sneak across without telling the friendly Canuck border patrol.

Failing to declare the DUI, or other infraction that puts you on their black list, and skipping the paperwork is not worth the risk of being turned into an example by the Mounties.

I have the number to the Emerson, Manitoba Port of Entry. This port is on I-29 just North of Pembina, ND on the Canadian side. They are very busy so they should be able to answer all your questions. 1-204-373-2197. Best time to call is Mon.-Fri. 8-4 and ask for an Immigration Officer. I know there are fees for Dui and other minor offenses. Hope this helps.

rbranstner,
I'm guessing your buddy is planning a fishing trip to Canada and is wondering if he will be allowed to pass through customs when he arrives. If that is correct, why would you ask for advice on FBO? As you can see from the above posts there is a difference in opinion on this, and you would have to decide who knows what they are talking about, and who is full of sh**.

I cross the border fairly often and do know the official Canadian law regarding this, but instead of me telling you something that you could either believe or not believe, you'd be better off checking with Canadian customs, they are the ones who will either deny or allow your friends entry into their country.

Oh, by the way, it's called extortion if someone else besides a government does it, and Huntingbucks is getting pretty close to answering your question!!

Bowhuntin,
I agree. I thought I would post so anyone could get there own questions answered straight from the horse

Bowhuntin,

Darn good point.

Legal advice from me will be worth every bit that you pay for it!

Justa na obeservation here, but there are attorneys who are members of this site. Don't see them offering up the free legal advice very often.

Seems people are always far more willing to be online experts in professions they did not spend a small fortune and a good portion of their life to learn. I guess I am not really much better, there are lots of FBO topics that I deal with on a professional basis, but tend to keep a good keyboard or two away from on the internet!

Apparently I am a great typist and should offer up some free online courses!

Just two beers and two left hands full of thumbs and yo too could typs six words a minute....incorrectly......

Huntingbucks,
Are you from the area? I go through at Pembina pretty often, and also at Warroad. Pembina is one of the busiest ports there is on the USA/Canadian border, so it is sometimes better to go through the Noyes port a mile east of Pembina, but why take a chance on a fishing trip if you have vacation scheduled and everything?

Allen,
Hope you didn't take offense to my post, you gave the best advice, or at least the best next to mine!!! There are lots of experts on here, that's for sure, the trick is to figure out which ones know what they're talking about, and which are full of sh** up to the ears!!!

Bowhuntin,
I am from that area. I know that number to the Canadian Officers is correct. And is available by calling any US Port of Entry and asking. Just trying to be a nice guy and help a few people out looking for help.

Naw, no offense taken. I too try to stay away from specific legal advice unless I can cite the actual passages in the law. Just don't know the actual phone number for the Canadian version of border patrol


On a humorous note: A number of years ago I had to go back and forth to Canada for work. This really raises red flags at the border. Words like "work visas" were really hot issue to them with their unemployment rates. Well, I was already employed in the U.S. and just had to go up to Canada as part of work. So after repetitively getting grilled over why I didn't need a work visa, I pulled into the entrance one time and when asked if I had anything to "declare" I said "yeah, I hate coming to Canada!". It took the poor gal by such surprise she let me pass by just wishing me a happy day. It was the first time in many trips that I didn't undergo the hour plus grilling in the border shack over why I was going to Canada.

About a mile or two up the road I had to actually pull over because I was laughing so hard at my own terseness with the gal. I think I sat there for almost 5 minutes until I got my composure back.

I think it was also the ONLY time I had actually included an hour in my travel time for the grilling at the border. Funny how things work out for me at times.

Huntingbucks,
Nice of you to help out, hope anyone who has questions takes your advice and calls customs so they get it from the horses mouth.

whats not funny is that we have to go through all the Canadian stuff and at the same time our borders are being crossed by thousands of people that have done way worse than been caught for a dui. Yet we have to be scruitinized just to take a foshing trip to Canada. Something is entirely wrong with this picture.

Here's how it works. You pull up to the port. They automatically run the plates on the vehicle and match it with the drivers license of the driver. Most cases that's all that happens. If that checks fine, your in. Ocassionally they will ask for others licenses. Sometimes they run the license numbers, sometimes not. They usually just look to make sure you appear to be who you are. If they run the license and a DUI shows up that is less than 10 years old, here's what happens. They will deny you access to Canada. When you complain, they will say "well you can apply for a one time admittance for $150. However there is no guarantee you will get in and if you don't we keep the $150." Chances are better the older the DUI is. If it's fresh, probably not. You are more likely to be ID'd if your pulling a boat, because chances are they will pull you to the side and look the vehicle over. While doing that they will ID you.

When you pull up to the port of entry they run the plates on the vehicle and the information they get is a history of that vehicles border crossings, such as where and how many times, any wants or warrants of the registered owner, the owners name and address, and also a history of the owners border crossings if they own more than one vehicle. Very seldom have I ever been asked to produce a drivers license, actually I can't ever remember being asked for it. They will ask where you live, citizen of what country, any cigarettes or firearms on board, and any live bait if pulling a boat or in posession of fishing equipment. If they ask if you've had a DUI don't lie because the answer to that question is at their fingertips. And don't plan on crossing.

Bowhuntin, how are you? Do you think it's different for hunting as opposed to fishing? When we go up to hunt, we have the Canadian PAL and zip right through (also have our guns registered), but those who go with us without the PAL get asked a lot of questions, have to produce ID. I have heard it is easier to get through while fishing. My brother has had a DUI (within the last 10 years), and he got in last fall. They didn't even ask him, he did, however, have a backup plan at the border to be picked up so his friends could continue on if he couldn't.

Also, can't you get a special exemption from the Queen?