Crossing the boarder with DUI?

[UP_CARP]

Group of us looking to head from the states to BC to ride. A couple of the guys in the group have had DUI's in the past.

We have been hearing conflicting reports about if they will be granted access to Canada at the border. We went so far as calling the crossing (Portal, ND) to ask them. The border guards on duty wouldn't give a straight answer and indicated it would depend on the mood of the guard at the time.

Anyone on here have any first hand experience or information?

 

[norsepeak]

We've been to B.C. many, many times and every time the first question is "have you every had a DUI?" From my experience they won't let you in with a DUI on your record.

 

[hilpulr]

DUI

I had 1 granted it was 25 years ago. I have been to Canada numerous times in the last 5 years and never had a problem at all. Never even been asked about it. Just my experience

 

[GSPLewie]

There are some new rules out regarding them. I believe it's 3-5 years since incident with clean record and should be okay. It's on their travel website.

 

[Madtown]

My understanding is a lot still depends on the boarder guard you get. I also thought 10 years had to pass if you got a DUI before you were allowed in.

 

[Mafesto]

A little off topic,
I was told last week that they have ZERO tolerance for drinking while snowmobiling, what's that all aboot?

 

[2XM3]

http://www.canadaduientrylaw.com/



10 years+ and you still may not get in, they ask you if you had one and you BS them your in bigger trouble

 

[skidooboy]

not worth the gamble. they can, and will turn you around at the border. your options are don't take the guys that have the issues, or have a back up plan, when you get turned away. you can try the don't ask don't tell. it may work a time or two. but, if they ask, and you b.s then they run a search on the infraction, and find them, you are ALL in a world of hurt.

you can ask for a supervisor, and request a pardon for this trip, they could still deny entry, or you will have to pay a penalty but, the trip isn't ruined. after the first pardon, the persons info is in the border log, and they cant get across until they get a full pardon from the Canadian govt.

we go across about 2-3 times a month. get the wrong officer, you wont get across. good luck. Ski

 

[Pro-8250]

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/402/~/entering-the-u.s.-and-canada-with-dui-offenses

 

[Pro-8250]

A little off topic,
I was told last week that they have ZERO tolerance for drinking while snowmobiling, what's that all aboot?

I have snowmobiled in Ontario and Quebec several times and we were always told that without permit you cannot have or consume alcohol on Queens land. I know of some friends that were camping on an island in Ontario and had empty beer cans in the garbage bag and were busted because they were on queens land. This was 10-20 years ago. Maybe it's changed. Oh and by the way, most of Canada is Queens land I believe.
Here is a few pictures of some Dryden, Ontario locals we ran into on the trail early. They were boozing it up on the trail and had plenty to share and invited us and picked us up that night at our motel and drove us to their house and we ate and drank free all night and luckily for us they did give us a ride back to our motel. Really nice people!

 

[Jaynelson]

Like others have said - if you give it a try, don't BS them if asked, just be straight up, and don't give them attitude. Other than getting a true pardon, you won't get a better answer than what they gave you on the phone. I have gotten through both sides with an expired passport before no problem, so they do have some lienience on these things. I would make sure the rest of your sh1t is tight too...registrations for sleds, vehicles, trailers...passports...etc.

Never heard of the drinking thing in western Canada. don't think its really any different than the laws in the states.

 

[dragonflats]

Went to BC last February one member of our party had 18 year old DUI entered with no issues

Sent from my VK810 4G using Tapatalk

 

[srt20]

Group of us looking to head from the states to BC to ride. A couple of the guys in the group have had DUI's in the past.

We have been hearing conflicting reports about if they will be granted access to Canada at the border. We went so far as calling the crossing (Portal, ND) to ask them. The border guards on duty wouldn't give a straight answer and indicated it would depend on the mood of the guard at the time.

Anyone on here have any first hand experience or information?

A friend of mine is an attorney is Ontario. He can get DUI's taken care of so people can legally enter Canada without issues ever again.
I have a sheet he gave me outlining the details, I have to see if I can find it and post a pic if anybody is interested.

IIRC its like $750 US if he does it all for you, and he has a deal thats less if you do a bunch of the paperwork and mailing yourself. I don't recall what he charges for that.
Im not positive on that $750 number either.


If interested let me know and I can get you in contact with him.

 

[snowracer21]

Group of us looking to head from the states to BC to ride. A couple of the guys in the group have had DUI's in the past.

We have been hearing conflicting reports about if they will be granted access to Canada at the border. We went so far as calling the crossing (Portal, ND) to ask them. The border guards on duty wouldn't give a straight answer and indicated it would depend on the mood of the guard at the time.

Anyone on here have any first hand experience or information?

So, heres the thing, first of all, were they convicted of DUI? Or was is pled down to reckless driving or something liek that?

2nd, how long ago was it? A good rule of thumb is 5 years from the conviction before you can enter.

When you present yourself for admission to Canada, they swipe your passport, then they MAY ask you if anyone has been arrested before. don't lie, because if you lie, and they refer you to secondary anyways, you're screwed.

If they don't ask, you are golden. If they do ask, and you say you've been arrested (and convicted) of a DUI, they will refer you to secondary, they will then run a background check. Now, sometimes the state that you got the DUI in doesn't share info with Canada. So it might not even show. You cannot call and ask them to run your info for you, you actually have to go to the port and present yourself for admission into Canada.

Best advice, tell your buddies with recent DUIs to drive to the border and have a reason to go to Canada (maybe to check out a sleds at a dealership close to the border etc)

I've had two buddies who had DUIs and both were let into Canada within 3 years of their conviction date, but your mileage will vary.

Heres the thing, the canadians need to balance their laws and their economy. They know a group of guys coming to snowmobile are going to spend a good amount of money in the local economy, so, it may be in their best interest to grant you admission.

NOW, if your buddies have recent convictions for Assault, Theft, Forgery etc, they WILL NOT let you in.

hope this helps

 

[UP_CARP]

Thanks guys. Great information.

 

[glowa]

I am a little confused and actually shocked how Canadian border officers have access to the DUI records of person from another country (USA in this case). I would expect that your countries are closely cooperating but that seems too much!!

 

[mountainhorse]

DUI is a felony in Canada... the US and Candada share, as they should IMO, information and criminal records.

5 years ago... friend and sled were left at border because he had a DUI that he did not tell us about.... after being asked... and the Canadian border caught him... his only comment was... "it was 10 years ago ... I thought that dropped off"

I have heard of some people getting through without problems that were not truthful when asked however.

Hit and miss is my only take-away.

.

 

[NorthMNSledder]

Three things I have learned in the 20 plus years of crossing the border on a regular bases.

- Don't lie to border patrol if asked about DUI's. We left a buddy once who lied to our group in Baudette for the week while we continued on our trip.

- Don't lie about how much fish you have. Buddy learned this the hard way.

- DON'T EVER ride with a buddy who says they have no guns in the truck only to find out there is a handgun in the center console. That was a long day.


But Like others have said. I have seen guys turned away and some never asked. Kind of hit and miss.

 

[hughesfoundation]

I live very close to the border and cross often. In the last 40 years have never been asked if I had a DUI but then again I have not. Like others have said the way you present yourself makes a big difference to them and some days you will be put through the ringer no matter what. Do not lie, do not make up any stories, it seems they are more interested in guns and ammo but they may be looking at that NRA sticker in my window. As far as drinking....the comment makes me laugh, the guys I know and ride with up there drink way more than anyone I know down here. They carry almost no tools because they would rather have the beer and tools take up too much room.

 

[BoonDockinSummit]

Canada is the only country that restricts entry specifically for a drinking violation. FYI, the clock starts from when probation ended not the day they were pulled over or their last court date.