Going From US into Canada with scanner?

[kelltara]

I searched for an answer and I found one dealing with going from Canada to US. One suggestion was to obtain a green card for , at least, the scanner.

If I travel to Canada from the US is there any special issues I have to be aware of concerning the scanner?
Is there a US version of the green card? and if so, should I do the same for my laptop? or is this a non issue.
Thank you.

 

[hfxChris]

As far as I know it's a non-issue, but I'll let somebody else answer with a little more authority on the subject...

 

[davidmc36]

The only issue I am aware of is there is a law against having a mobile scanner in your car in Manitoba.

 

[SigIntel8600]

I searched for an answer and I found one dealing with going from Canada to US. One suggestion was to obtain a green card for , at least, the scanner.

If I travel to Canada from the US is there any special issues I have to be aware of concerning the scanner?
Is there a US version of the green card? and if so, should I do the same for my laptop? or is this a non issue.
Thank you.

I crossed the border into Canada with a Yeasu VX7 a couple of years ago when me and a few buddies went fishing. Our entire vehicle was searched by the Canadians. Not a peep about the Yaesu that was in the glovebox. Now the extra Coors lights we had in our cooler and forgot to mention. WOW. Almost two hours later we were on our way with a steep fine and a good a$$ chewing. When we got to the lodge, we were MF ing everyone from the Queen on down (LOL). The guy who owns the lodge (very cool dude) said no wonder we got stopped, we were trying to smuggle that water (Coors Light) into his country. Very funny, eh?. The bottom line..............If you have it, Declare it.

 

[N9JIG]

Every time I have crossed the border in my vehicle loaded with radios and a half dozen antennas they never bothered me. Occasionally they ask out of curiosity what they are for, I just say I am a ham and they say Oh, OK (what a geek!).

They have never asked me for a license, permit or anything.

 

[midnightcaller]

I have been to Canada a few times with my radios, never had a problem with the radios had more of a problem when I told him I was just going to Mcdonalds across the boarder

 

[vabiro]

I have been to Canada a few times with my radios, never had a problem with the radios had more of a problem when I told him I was just going to Mcdonalds across the boarder

There aren't enough Mcdonalds in the US to choose from?

 

[j86u]

I've been across the border quite a few times with a scanner and once had my PRO 162 in my car when it was searched and nothing was said about.

 

[TIZ6]

There aren't enough Mcdonalds in the US to choose from?

And people think I'm nuts for crossing the border for White Castle.

 

[hs1125]

I have been crossing for the last 3 yrs at least twice a week and never have had a problem

 

[LowbandGuy]

When I traveled to the US in February security spotted my Ham HT packed in my suitcase as it went through the Xray machine. They had me open the suitcase although they didn't look at the radio directly, they did swab the inside of my suitcase and put the sample in a machine to analyze the sample. Maybe they thought it was some kind of detonator with explosives! Gives one a weird feeling to see this happening.

 

[davidmc36]

When I traveled to the US in February security spotted my Ham HT packed in my suitcase as it went through the Xray machine. They had me open the suitcase although they didn't look at the radio directly, they did swab the inside of my suitcase and put the sample in a machine to analyze the sample. Maybe they thought it was some kind of detonator with explosives! Gives one a weird feeling to see this happening.

I get sniffed nearly every time in security. With scanner, GPS, PDA, laptop, vid-cam, battteries, chargers, cables to connect it all. Something they do quite often depending on how much crap you have. Sometimes they just do randoms too.

 

[vabiro]

When I traveled to the US in February security spotted my Ham HT packed in my suitcase as it went through the Xray machine. They had me open the suitcase although they didn't look at the radio directly, they did swab the inside of my suitcase and put the sample in a machine to analyze the sample. Maybe they thought it was some kind of detonator with explosives! Gives one a weird feeling to see this happening.

I was driving across to the US and had my Yaesu VX-7R in the cup holder. The US Customs guy said "What's That?" I said it's a ham radio. He asked "Who's on the other end", which seemed harder to answer to his satisfaction.

He seemed to want me to answer, "the guy in the car behind", but had a hard time grasping the idea that there was no one person in particular that I was talking to.

Made me think very deeply about how I was going to answer that question if asked again, and why I was carrying a radio around to talk to no one in particular :lol:

Victor

 

[jimlawrence]

I have crossed the border between Vermont and Quebec, New York and Ontario, Michigan and Ontario, Montana/North Dakota and Saskatchewan and Washington and British Columbia many times in the past seven years.

I have never ever had a bit of trouble about my radios from either US or Canadian customs. I've even made the mistake of having one running when I was talking to Canadian customs once. oops. Still, not a problem.

The "green card" that's mentioned above is a card you get from US customs that shows that you had the radios in your possession when you left the US. Stop at US customs on your way out of the country, take the radio(s) in with you and tell them you want a card that shows that you had them when you left the country. They'll write down the serial numbers of each unit and give you the form back.

You'll use it when you come back into the US. If US CBP agent wants proof that you didn't buy the radios in Canada and that you had them with you when you left the US, you'll be all set.

 

[rankin39]

I've never had a problem going in or out of Canada or Australia. US Customs has never created problems for me either. I've had both ham gear and scanners; they just ignore them, even in MB. I had a ham license, but no one has ever asked to see it.

Bob, WoNXN (ex-VK3FLW)

 

[DaveNF2G]

I've crossed many times at the New York borders in Buffalo and Lewiston. My car has ham radio callsign plates on it, so questions about radios or antennae are rare. I have only been asked about electronic equipment twice going into Canada, and only one of those officials cared to see my ham license itself. The US officials have never asked (so far).

 

[kelltara]

Does the Green card just applies to the radio or is it a good idea for camera and laptop also -- just in case
With my luck who knows

I don't have my Ham license yet but got one of the study manuals and am working on that, although I doubt I'll have it before I head across the border.

 

[Star56]

I was cruising around one night in the Detroit area and decided spontaneously to hop on over to Windsor for a quick spin. I have my Yaesu 120 with me on the front seat, pulled up in line...one guy ahead of me taking to border person....when I realize I have my Glock 19/laser sight holstered to my leg. YIKES!!! I could not turn around or back out. Sweating I pull up to the gate...explain the radio...try not to look too freaked out.....roll through......drive around thinking about how many laws/international I have violated accidently in the past 20 minutes. Drive back across...no problem.....take a deep breath and head back home!

 

[SCPD]

And people think I'm nuts for crossing the border for White Castle.

I was born in the western U.S. and have lived in four of its states. I always thought that McDonald's had the worst hamburgers. Then I traveled to St. Louis some years back and was encouraged to try White Castle. I could not believe that my nephew, who was temporarily living there, had made the recommendation to go there, then I saw the "gotcha" look on his face when we returned to his house. I didn't think anyone could low ball McDonald's but I was wrong.

You are not just nuts, you are certifiable and very, very sick.