Interestingly the corollary to this story is that a friend bought a car in
Canada last year and was amazed at how simple it was to bring in to the
states! Almost no hassle whatsoever and no taxes as I remember.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jan Van Hoy <vanhilla@PACIFIER.COM>
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@LISTS.PSU.EDU <L-FORWARDLOOK@LISTS.PSU.EDU>
Date: Tuesday, December 14, 1999 11:34 AM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] USA-Canada Adventure
>I'm sorry you seem to have taken offense from my story. Nobody was driving
>while intoxicated, or drinking at all. This was an old charge. Canada
>holds a DWI against the US person for the rest of his life, no entry into
>Canada.
>
>The point remains that taking a car across the US-Canadian border is not a
>simple process.
>
>The Canadians were very friendly, unlike the US customs agents. Friendly
or
>not, there's a lot of expense and red tape.
>
>--Roger van Hoy, '55DeSoto, '42DeSoto, '66Plymouth, '73Duster,
> Washougal, WA, USA
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: don dulmage <big-d@sympatico.ca>
>To: Jan Van Hoy <vanhilla@PACIFIER.COM>
>Date: Tuesday, December 14, 1999 5:54 AM
>Subject: Re: [FWDLK] USA-Canada Adventure
>
>
>>I beg your pardon.The moral is don't DWI.
>>Don
>>
>>> Jan Van Hoy wrote:
>>>
>>> This isn't ForwardLook related strictly speaking, but my true story
>>> might keep some of you from having a mishap. Believe it or not, this
>>> is the short version:
>>>
>>> I sold a parts car to a guy in British Columbia including delivery.
>>> He supposedly checked out customs and told me "no problem," I would
>>> need to pay a 7% import tax at the border.
>>>
>>> Had an uneventful trip until we reached the border crossing at Sumas,
>>> Washington. First, they directed me to park in a nice long covered
>>> parking for "inspection." No problem. Then my friend and I were to
>>> report to the building.
>>>
>>> Once in the building we were directed to immigration, where our
>>> driver's licenses were taken. We were asked if we had ever been
>>> convicted of a crime and both said no. After about 15 minutes he came
>>> back, and started questioning my friend about a DWI. Yes, he'd had a
>>> conviction, but that wasn't a criminal offense. Well it is in Canada,
>>> so my friend was "deported," leaving me alone to drive his truck,
>>> trailer and car to the delivery. He was told that he will be an
>>> "undesirable alien" and not eligible for entry for the rest of his
>>> life unless he gets a waiver from a Canadian magistrate.
>>>
>>> Next was customs. They asked me if the car had air conditioning.
>>> Expecting a car inspection, and fearful of lying considering my
>>> friend's experience, I admitted it did. "Well, that'll be $100 excise
>>> tax on the AC, even if it doesn't work, plus the 7% import tax." They
>>> never did look at the car, check the VIN or anything. It could have
>>> been worth $500 or $50,000, they just took my word for the price.
>>>
>>> Now comes the fun part. After I delivered the car and came back to
>>> the border, the US Customs men were livid. Seems that they had a
>>> "gentlemen's agreement" with the Canadians to call US when a car is
>>> being taken over. US then impounds the car for 72 hours and, if it
>>> clears their stolen car check, there's an EXPORT tax! I lucked out on
>>> that one! Once I got back it was too late for them to do anything to
>>> me.
>>>
>>> The moral of the story is, don't deliver a car to Canada, or if you
>>> do, expect some real hassles.
>>>
>>> --Roger van Hoy, '55DeSoto, '42DeSoto, '66Plymouth, '73Duster,
>>> Washougal, WA, USA
>>>
>>
>
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