Boundaries

Spring break is in the air, and it's time to start planning for summer travel, too - ignoring the fact that we had three or four hours of wet, sloppy snow this morning. I'm far from an expert on the legal technicalities of customs and immigration, but it seems timely to mention some border-crossing issues for anyone who might be thinking of visiting Canada by way of Whatcom County.

Whatcom County is a border community, which influences many aspects of life here - the job market and business management at a macro level, and more mundane things like traffic and driving habits, shopping and social life. There are three vehicle border crossings in the county, and you can also cross the border by boat - island commuter and cruise boats and whale-watching tours depart from Fairhaven and Squalicum Harbor, through the San Juan Islands, and on to Vancouver Island. The Bellingham Airport doesn't have commercial international flights, but there are charters and small island-hopper planes.

A passport is required whether you're crossing on land by private car, train or bus, or boarding a boat that crosses an invisible border somewhere out on the water. I once met a disappointed grandfather who had tried to take his young grandson on a spur of the moment visit to Canada. They had been turned back because border control requires an affidavit from a child's parents, giving permission for another adult to cross with a child under eighteen.

I prefer to exchange US money for Canadian before crossing the border just because it saves the trouble of trying to find a bank after I cross, or running into trouble with places that won't accept US currency, or cashiers who might short-change or over-charge people who aren't so quick with cash-handling.

I have taken my bike on a small tour boat to Victoria BC and Vancouver Island (there's an all-you-can-eat salmon dinner on the return trip). A couple of times I've ridden my bike to White Rock, just on the other side of the Blaine border crossing. At the crossing, I cut across the car lanes, parked my bike outside the customs office, and went inside to the desks to cross as a pedestrian rather than a vehicle. I don't carry contraband, but I think "low and slow" is the best approach with police-type people - keep your hands in sight, don't act excitable in any way, and be ready to open your bags and empty your pockets.

Washington state recently legalized possession of personal use amounts of marijuana, and is developing a system for legal medical marijuana growing. Trafficking, possessing, growing or selling larger amounts for recreational use is still illegal, and so is impaired driving.

However, federal law still bans small amounts, which means you can get away with carrying and using dope within the state, but if you're caught trying to cross the border with it, you can still be arrested and fined, though usually not prosecuted for personal use amounts - federal agents generally are interested in larger scale transporting operations.

Canada has a low tolerance for driving violations, and may refuse entry to people who have a DUI record. I've also heard that Canadian border officials are strict about admitting people with a history of mental health problems. Crossing the other direction, from Canada to the US, people are more likely to run into trouble because of marijuana possession, or for a criminal record related to marijuana.

Washington state also recently privatized liquor sales. Previously, beer and wine were sold in grocery and convenience stores, but hard liquor by the bottle was only sold in state-operated liquor stores. Over the past year, the state stores have been closed down and liquor licenses put up for bid. Now practically all grocery stores have added hard liquor to their beer and wine sections. Prices for alcohol have risen, and there is a growing problem with shop-lifting by minors (and adults), including some ugly incidents of assault on store clerks. A young clerk at a grocery store in Ferndale got his arm badly broken when he tried to stop a customer who was walking out with a couple of bottles of booze.

Liquor and other luxury goods sold at Duty Free Stores are not subject to state sales or "sin" taxes, but only if customers are taking their purchase across the border. So it's really only an advantage if you're planning to stay in Canada to party for at least 24 hours.

I get this information from general news stories, rumors and gossip. The point is, be smart and check things out to avoid inconvenience, disappointment or disaster.