Crossing the borders with mods, what to expect?

[ecomodded]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

Add a burger to the bits you want them to look at, as a distraction.

Shhh
They watch haha

[echo-francis]

More details on my thread : Echo-Troll Modding Thread (2005 Toyota Echo)

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by JethroBodine

Just answer their questions honestly and end your sentences with "Sir/Mam".

At least back here that "sir/maam" makes the border agents think you were previously in jail...

[TheEnemy]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I've seen several comments about having a car dismantled and not put back together... no officer has the right to leave your vehicle in a heap of parts, and they would be open to civil action if they did.

The checkpoint between Las Cruces NM and TorC NM has a lift so they can further inspect a vehicle. Going through it I have seen some partly dismantled, tires, seats removed, door panels etc. But yeah if they don't find anything they have to put it back together. If they do find something they just have it towed back and arrest you.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

At least back here that "sir/maam" makes the border agents think you were previously in jail...

Or if you are English that you are the serious criminal head of an international conspiracy as depicted in just about every lazy thriller movie of the last 40 years...

...of course I could be planning something

[larrybuck]

No extreme custom items in my border crossing history aside from a homemade airdam on an '82 VW Quantum diesel wagon.

In the mid 70's I went down to Tijuana, Mexico on my heavily packed motorcycle for about half an hour. I got all these hungry eyes staring at me hard from pedestrians at street corners, as if they couldn't wait for a chance to rob me. I never got off the bike, nor stopped except for red lights. I traveled quite funky in those days, as my bike had the Beverly Hillbillies look as I had several garbage sized blue bags strapped on.
I expected a complete unpack at USA re-entry, but I guess my youthful innocent look, plus too much work, spurred them on to let me fly through.

In '04, when I took the Quantum all the way to Halifax, Nova Scotia, I received a 25 minute search, and questioning upon leaving Maine into New Brunswick.

Later on same trip in Arizona, the car was heavily searched before I got near Hoover Dam.

In about '09 with current CRX, I was treated polite while leaving Washington state NE of Spokane into eastern BC. I had to eat like 6 plums on the spot, as they were a no go.

Re-entry into USA at Montana south of Calgary was like a bad nightmare movie.
There were about 6 vehicles in line in front of me. Immediately in front of me was a pickup with a medium sized travel trailer. When they were done with him, I waited until he was completely gone, then proceeded forward to a stop sign., kind of like THE exact
stop to stop at.
The guy went banana's because I proceeded to there w/o having him direct me to do so!!!

He acted like he wanted to jail me for that!!! Then he wanted to see in the mini cooler
I had next to me. With 2 of them staring, typing in their minds my EMOTIONAL makeup as they fired all of the typical questions, they must have been delighted when to satisfy
the mini cooler issue, I managed to dump most of the cold water from it in my lap while
showing them what fruit was in there! Not my happiest travel moment!

In about '08, I revisited the Hoover Dam scene again; this time in current CRX, and was just waved through after the firearms question.

In 2010, w same CRX, decided to take a more western north route for something different, and to just delete the Hoover Dam part.