First of all let me explain, the 49th parallel is the straight line border between Canada and the United states Of America. It’s the longest friendly international border in the world and for the most part in is really a paperwork exercise although both countries do police the crossings diligently for the obvious reasons.
Even though both counties recognise the importance of trade between each other, there are still rules to follow for both Companies and individuals.
As a commercial driver you will be asked a series of questions a the Immigration booth.
Where do you live?
Is there anyone else in the cab with you?
Have you ever been arrested?
Do you have any guns or firearms?
How long have you been in the USA/Canada?
What did you buy when you were there?
Do you have any meat or vegetables?
Do you have any tobacco or alcohol?
Dont want to scare anyone but once when i was at the border, i saw a guy being arrested for not delaring a pastrami sandwich, sounds crazy but there you go...............
Then you are waved through to an X-Ray machine, then as an individual you are free to go on your way, once you have declared your manifest at customs.
However, if you are carrying meat or meat products, you then have to get the meat cleared for import into the USA/Canada. This is done at a Meat Inspection facility, in the USA it’s a building normally quite close to the border complex its self and you HAVE to go there no matter what !!!!!
Coming back into Canada, there are several facilities dotted around the country and they are not normally any where near the border. When you cross the border coming north you will stop after clearing immigration and customs, park up and go across to your broker who tells you whether the load or part of the load as to be inspected or not, they also tell you where it has to be inspected.
Anyway these border crossings normally have 2 towns.
For example:
Sweet grass Montana and Coutts Alberta.
Two separate towns in the same place and the 2 countries share a customs building, not only are the in separate sides of the building but also on different levels and movement between the 2 is strictly controlled.
So when you go South you cross through Sweetgrass and when you cross North you cross through Coutts.
Then you are waved through to an X-Ray machine, then as an individual you are free to go on your way, once you have declared your manifest at customs.
However, if you are carrying meat or meat products, you then have to get the meat cleared for import into the USA/Canada. This is done at a Meat Inspection facility, in the USA it’s a building normally quite close to the border complex its self and you HAVE to go there no matter what !!!!!
Coming back into Canada, there are several facilities dotted around the country and they are not normally any where near the border. When you cross the border coming north you will stop after clearing immigration and customs, park up and go across to your broker who tells you whether the load or part of the load as to be inspected or not, they also tell you where it has to be inspected.
Anyway these border crossings normally have 2 towns.
For example:
Sweet grass Montana and Coutts Alberta.
Two separate towns in the same place and the 2 countries share a customs building, not only are the in separate sides of the building but also on different levels and movement between the 2 is strictly controlled.
So when you go South you cross through Sweetgrass and when you cross North you cross through Coutts.
Yes, but Lyndon did he get his pastrami sandwich back at the end of it? cause thats all that matters LOL
ReplyDeleteNah, the sandwich copped it in the shootout.
ReplyDeleteonly one part of the lower 48 states or continental u.s. is above the 49th parallel. Anyone care to name it?
ReplyDeleteonly one part of the lower 48 states or continental u.s. is above the 49th parallel. Anyone care to name it?
ReplyDeleteHi Jim
ReplyDeleteIs it Magnuson's Island
Northwest Angle in Minnesota. Or at the top of MN
ReplyDelete