Crossing The Border

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Re: Crossing The Boarder

When riding to Pennsylvania I use the Peace Bridge and avoid the tolls on 190 through Grand Island. Also, the Anchor Bar in Buffalo is just a few minutes away so I stop in for some wings and gawk at the vintage bikes on display.
 
Re: Crossing The Boarder

jsv650 said:
NEXUS bridge is called the whirlpool bridge - it's the fastest!
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I didn't know that about Whirlpool as I am usually travelling with someone else (non-Nexus) when crossing to NY.
It looks like you have to load up your Nexus card like a gift card to pay the tolls? Is that true?
 
Re: Crossing The Boarder

Pete5000 said:
I didn't know that about Whirlpool as I am usually travelling with someone else (non-Nexus) when crossing to NY.
It looks like you have to load up your Nexus card like a gift card to pay the tolls? Is that true?
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Yes, that's the only way to cross back, is to have money on the card. There's a kiosk right near the gate on the US side.
 
Re: Crossing The Boarder

jsv650 said:
I find the queenston-lewiston always the busiest as that's what everyone's GPS tells them to do.

Peace Bridge is always fast for me, but the rainbow is usually faster though it dumps you in the middle of nowhere.

NEXUS bridge is called the whirlpool bridge - it's the fastest!
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Funny how times change. You're making me feel old. Used to be nobody knew about the Queenston-Lewiston bridge, and NEXUS didn't exist.

Gary64 said:
When riding to Pennsylvania I use the Peace Bridge and avoid the tolls on 190 through Grand Island. Also, the Anchor Bar in Buffalo is just a few minutes away so I stop in for some wings and gawk at the vintage bikes on display.
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Anchor Bar rocks. Best wings ever - it's where they started it all.
 
Re: Crossing The Boarder

Several friends and I skipped work one day and drove down to Michigan for some White Castle (really). Dude in the booth seemed cool. He chuckled and directed us to the nearest location but he sent us in for a secondary check anyway. Officers at secondary weren't amused by our reason for crossing and basically called us idiots before sending us on our way.
 
AF4iK said:
Several friends and I skipped work one day and drove down to Michigan for some White Castle (really). Dude in the booth seemed cool. He chuckled and directed us to the nearest location but he sent us in for a secondary check anyway. Officers at secondary weren't amused by our reason for crossing and basically called us idiots before sending us on our way.
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That sucks. Wife and I went to the olive garden and the guard was making fun of us for liking that crap.
 
I crossed at the Ambassador Bridge on my way to a ChampCar race at Michigan International Speedway several years ago. As I recall it was the year that Scott Goodyear got his only win there, and I was the blendline official at pit-out.

Pulling up to the US Immigration booth, the first question was an easy one - citizenship. The second question was tougher - where are you headed? I couldn't for the life of me remember the name of the town (Brooklyn) in Michigan right next to the track where we were going.

I finally ended up blurting out "we're off to the races!" The border guard laughed, wished us well, and told us to put a few bucks down on the ponies for him too. I didn't try to set him straight on what kind of races we were going to, just said thanks and got out of there post-haste.
 
You guys with Nexus cards crossing the border on your bikes... I just received mine so haven't used it yet, but I'm curious, do you stop and present it to the camera before going to the booth, or just ride straight to the booth. Either nexus or non-nexus lanes.
 
My personal opinion, the terrorist accomplished their objectives. I remember going to the states pre 911. It's a police state there now. Sad.
 
Yup, the old flash your driver's license days are long gone. God damn jihadists.
 
sleezyray said:
My personal opinion, the terrorist accomplished their objectives. I remember going to the states pre 911. It's a police state there now. Sad.
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You mean the American government accomplished their objectives. If someone wanted to actually create terror by terrorist acts, don't you think a handful of "DC sniper" like people around various cities would be better. What better way to being down the American consumer than making them scared crapless of going out to spend money they dont have. Or a nice bomb at a football game.
 
polarized said:
You guys with Nexus cards crossing the border on your bikes... I just received mine so haven't used it yet, but I'm curious, do you stop and present it to the camera before going to the booth, or just ride straight to the booth. Either nexus or non-nexus lanes.
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Present it at the rfid station, then roll to the gate. Know your license plate #, looks stupid/fishy to not remember it :sad7:
 
If I purchase a helmet for $500 using a $480 gift card and have it shipped to Buffalo, would I still declare $500?

Also, I just wanted some clarification. Just because I declare an amount to the Customs Officer, it is still up to him/her if I have to pay taxes/duties on the item right?
 
The officer decides if you can go on your way, or if you need to pull over to pay the taxes. You're supposed to declare the value of goods you're importing, not just the amount of actual cash you spent on it. Try bringing over a car you bought with gift cards and declare $0.
 
Any border issues with shipping your bags separately?

I've fedex'ed bags within the US, but never across a border. It costs a bit extra, but it was totally worth it. I was thinking of riding down after shipping a suitcase to my destination in new york.
 
they'll never ask about a helmet,, everyone has a new looking helmet on! a gift card is cash! so that must be the helmet you got at the Toronto show in the spring! wink wink ,,,, ,,,when you "ship" bags ... you have declared them at that point... with a bonded carrier. IF you send them with your GF or Parents car... and the guards find the bag and ask.. who's is this? they can be put thru the wringer for importing goods oh, and if you are traveling 2 bikes together.. DON"T pull in beside your buddy! ..1 vehicle per inspection! I april, commercial line.. one of my passengers was removed for inspection.. I was cleared to go.. so I had a choice to drop off the other passengers and return ... or see if there was a guestimate of how long he would be detained.... HOLY Freaking dumb ideas... because I walked into the "detention" area.. I was going to the BACK of the line.. and would have to be cleared again! ... man... I did some very respecfull yelling ,, demanding his manager to explain his actions,,,, then just back right out of there! lol .. and they didn't chase me so I was gone... sorry about my passengers luck! lol... when they released him 3hrs later.. he was told he COULD NOT wait in the detention area... and was also warned NOT to walk past a fence .. as he would likely be killed.... detroit .... sigh.. so he was sort of stuck in the parking lot till he was coaxed to actually walk past the fence to meet his ride .. they can be very difficult to get along with if you don't know how to get them "calm down" lol... "relax" and I can tell you ,, both those words won't get you far! hahaha.
 
Re: Crossing The Boarder

Entering the US at the St. Stephen, NB - Calais, Maine crossing every year, I always wait for the border guy to give instructions. It always involves the removal of helmets and sun glasses. This was the case long before 9-11. Never any issues. Show some deference and be polite. They are people to. Coming home the Canadian officers are even easier. Check the plate, declare whatever they think you can carry on a motorcycle (sportbike) and off you go.
 
4iC said:
Entering the US at the St. Stephen, NB - Calais, Maine crossing every year, I always wait for the border guy to give instructions. It always involves the removal of helmets and sun glasses. This was the case long before 9-11. Never any issues. Show some deference and be polite. They are people to. Coming home the Canadian officers are even easier. Check the plate, declare whatever they think you can carry on a motorcycle (sportbike) and off you go.
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I crossed there Tuesday and exactly like you say, declared my forty dollars on odds and ends and was waved on through.

On my trip to the CSBK from PEI and back I made four easy breezy crossings of the border.
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