When you guys cross the border to the US, do you declare what stereo equipment you have on the Canadian side before you cross?

 

Not unless it is like something new in the box.

You dont have to declare whats in your car.

That would be like declaring your engine or a full tank of gas, would it not?

 

yah u don't need to declare it unless u bought it in the states and are on ur way back home..

 

They never ask me so I don't say. When I drove my tracker, they alwasy said "what is that?" pointing at my wall LOL and I tried to explain it to them but I think they just thought it was a bomb hehe.

 

I don't see why you would have to declare it unless you just purchased it Chris?

Like Buff explained it would be like declarign your engine/full tank of gas etc.

You could always ask them at the border, or call ahead [img]graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]

[ February 18, 2005, 12:23 PM: Message edited by: Blind d(-_-)b ]

 

I only asked because I had problems going over the border on the way to finals last year. The guy was hasseling me because I had a stereo in my car that wasn't declared. Then he started telling me I was a liarer because he didnt understand that "DBdrag racing" wasn't drag racing.. after presenting him with documentation i was pulled over to the side for a nice search and background check..

 

The border agents are fully aware that people cross the border to buy and install stereo equipment. Now for the dude (dudette) that wants to make this their business because it is their job, may just want you to submit to a search (mandatory). Makes life interesting when they find the sales receipt that you are keeping for warranty...... at that point they are no longer nice to you and you are marked for life after that. All because you tried to save some $ by not declaring your new stereo. Is it worth it? "Hi dad, I'm in jail in New York and Bubba just made me his beiatch, send bail money".

 

I think it all depends on how much of a ***** the officer is being. I've gone over the border a few times to catch some Bills games, and have had them look in my trunk to see a bunch of woofers and amps, but they've never said anything to me about it, other than, "is there anything else in there besides speakers?" .
So really, I guess it is the luck of the draw.

 

That guard sounds like a real retard Chris. I suppose just declare it to be on the safe side?

 

You generally wont have a problem leaving the US, its going into the US.

If the Canadian customs give you a hassle coming back into the country, the most they can really do is bill you for taxes/tariffs on the 'blue book' value of the goods they deem to have been purchased in the US (which obviously you would dispute and probably get a refund for at some point)...but I have only ever heard of that happening for liquor and tobacco, or stuff still in its new packaging.

However, going INTO the US, you only really have to declare alcohol, tobacco and food, or anything you're bringing as a gift or for resale (new in box, etc).

In which case, since you are not bringing consumer goods (for resale) into the US, they cant say anything, really, except the usual customs- runaround.

They can of course search you at their own discretion, etc, but they tend to do that a lot nowadays. The hassles going INTO the stats are pretty well decided by how they feel that morning, though. they searched a bit of our **** last weekend and we had a rental car....but they seemed to only do it to show they were doing it, because they basically opened the truck bed, looked inside one bag without touching any clothing, and closed it up again.


Good rule of thumb:

1-Never go to the empty border lane. For some reason every time a border lane is empty, the person feels the need to spend extra time checking you over.
2- Be nice and polite.

May the luck of the Customs gods shine upon you!

Good Luck...
Hate to see them drill holes in someone's wall or box just to 'check' for drugs or something, though.