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Alligator strap seized at border crossing
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JwRosenthal
·Oh, these are art pieces? I was thinking something entirely different 😗
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Wryfox
·Oh, these are art pieces? I was thinking something entirely different 😗
Anything's a dildo if your brave enough...😲🙄 😉😎
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kkt
·That is correct, although the State of Louisiana is suing California over this law. Alligators and crocodiles have been legally farmed in Louisiana and Florida for many years (see this scene from 1973's James Bond film, "Live and Let Die").
As I understand it, the ban is on shipping and importation. So technically, if you legally purchased a watch on an alligator band in the US before your trip, it should be OK as you are not importing it. I think the issue that @Deafboy had was that his wife was not wearing the watch at the border and they did not have a receipt showing the watch and band were purchased before their trip.
There is supposed to be a way for you to declare items that you own legally before you leave the US, so that those items may be brought back into the US without confiscation or duty. I haven't seen that customs form in many years, and it may not exist anymore.
Best practice is to not wear reptile products when you leave on an international trip (yes, even to Canada or Mexico) and keep copies of any receipts for watches you take with you. This would include shoes, belts and handbags, too.
gatorcpa
But if I bought a vintage watch used, how does having my receipt prove it's not fake?
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerIt's not just reptile products - watches with MOP dials have been affected as well from what I understand.
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Jayrock26v2
·Yesterday my wife and I drove across the Canadian border to the US on our return to our home in Boston. The border agent decided to have the vehicle and its contents searched. Apparently they did this to all vehicles that day. Anyway, my wife had a few watches in her luggage, including a Reverso with an JLC alligator strap. They decided to confiscate the strap because of the possibility of being an endangered species. The strap showed wear and was clearly used. In fact my wife bought the watch used several years ago with this strap and once considered replacing it. The border agents spent well over an hour trying to figure out what to do with the strap and procedures to follow. Anyway, we had to cut the strap from the watch and leave it with the border agents. 🙁
So we were quite surprised by the whole incident. Never expected this to happen. If my wife had worn the watch (instead of being stored in the luggage) it probably would have gone unnoticed. Alligator straps are quite common in luxury watches, yet I don't think people cross borders with CITES certificates to prevent confiscation of their watches.
I wonder if this kind of incident has happened to other OF members.
Share your thoughts!
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Evitzee
·About five years ago we were on a road trip from Texas through CA, OR, WA and then took the ferry over to Victoria, BC. The customs people saw the TX plates and immediately asked if we were carrying firearms. Answered 'no' but they told us to pull the SUV over for more inspection. They asked us again if we were carrying firearms, answered 'no' again. But they were convinced that a vehicle from TX had to have a couple of yahoos in it transporting guns. They picked through the vehicle as my wife and I sat on a nearby picnic table. After about 15 minutes they gave up and sent us on our way. What they didn't ask is if we had any alcohol, we had about eight bottles of California wine tucked here and there which was over the limit. They didn't ask, we didn't volunteer and they never spotted it. Most of these people are itching to find something, it makes their time go faster.
But when I used to fly in and out of Halifax three or four times a year they never asked anything, I don't believe I was ever stopped on arrival in the three years I did that. Nor on the reverse trip to Newark. Roll of the dice.
Don't think Canadian customs people are any better, or worse, than any other. Pretty low key overall.
But when I used to fly in and out of Halifax three or four times a year they never asked anything, I don't believe I was ever stopped on arrival in the three years I did that. Nor on the reverse trip to Newark. Roll of the dice.
Don't think Canadian customs people are any better, or worse, than any other. Pretty low key overall.
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Vercingetorix
··Spam Risk
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blufinz52
··Hears dead people, not watch rotors.A good friend of mine was returning from Canada and the customs agent asked if he had any alcohol in the car. He said "Only what's in me." He said the agent paused for a second, then said "Pull over there, shut the car off and get out of the car." His comment to me was "They have no sense of humor."
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerAbout five years ago we were on a road trip from Texas through CA, OR, WA and then took the ferry over to Victoria, BC. The customs people saw the TX plates and immediately asked if we were carrying firearms. Answered 'no' but they told us to pull the SUV over for more inspection. They asked us again if we were carrying firearms, answered 'no' again. But they were convinced that a vehicle from TX had to have a couple of yahoos in it transporting guns. They picked through the vehicle as my wife and I sat on a nearby picnic table. After about 15 minutes they gave up and sent us on our way. What they didn't ask is if we had any alcohol, we had about eight bottles of California wine tucked here and there which was over the limit. They didn't ask, we didn't volunteer and they never spotted it. Most of these people are itching to find something, it makes their time go faster.
But when I used to fly in and out of Halifax three or four times a year they never asked anything, I don't believe I was ever stopped on arrival in the three years I did that. Nor on the reverse trip to Newark. Roll of the dice.
Don't think Canadian customs people are any better, or worse, than any other. Pretty low key overall.
There's a reason they were looking for guns...
Most gun crime here is committed with guns smuggled here from the US...
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Evitzee
·There's a reason they were looking for guns...
Most gun crime here is committed with guns smuggled here from the US...
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Vercingetorix
··Spam RiskI got stopped coming into the US carrying firewood. The border guy determined that what we actually had was milled lumber and let us go. He asked us about where we were from and we said Oregon City. He asked us if we had ever heard of the 505 tavern which we of course we had. From then on things were ok. The 505 is both the address of the bar and the time for drinking for the paper mill across the street.
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MRC
·There is a special place in hell for all Speedmaster reduced owners.
We have these four horsemen to command, you may have heard of them.
They now have your name on their little list. Well not so little, but they'll get round to you. Oh yeeesss.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerA good friend of mine was returning from Canada and the customs agent asked if he had any alcohol in the car. He said "Only what's in me." He said the agent paused for a second, then said "Pull over there, shut the car off and get out of the car." His comment to me was "They have no sense of humor."
Joking around at customs is never a good idea...there's really no place where you have fewer rights.
Mostly trips over the border are non-events in my experience, and if I'm going to have any issues, it will be on the way back into Canada, not entering the US.
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Vercingetorix
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Walrus
·Sorry I tried to read if someone asked but did they take the time to properly remove the band. I had US customs slice open a bag when I told them I had no fresh fruit coming back from China, I thought I was being truthful my wife neglected to tell me she had a damn Chinese supermarket in the bag. I was luck he could he gave me a pretty serious fine I just was truthful and told him it was just a miscommunication with my wife and I was unaware I was not attempting to deceive him. He just took all the food and said he understood my plight and wished me a good day.
I used to have good luck with Canadian customs they would always ask about tobacco and booze I’d take out one Cuban cigar and say “I have this I meant to smoke prior to leaving but didn’t have a chance.” I wouldn’t mention the five boxes of miscellaneous Cubans I had hidden.
I had numerous Canadian custom interactions when I’d see the Red Sox play the blue jays and they would actively talk sports with me. I would only go the humor route if they initiated it which they actually did a few times. Once me and four buddies saw the Dead in Canada, Let’s just say my three amigos decided to check out another dimension which I strongly advised them against to no avail. I had to take lead, I was the point man as I was sober as the day was long. My buddies were having a deep discussion about bubble gum which the Canadian customs guy found hilarious. He asked me if I could get them all home safely I said I would do my best and he waved us all through.
Now Chinese customs actually squeezed out my toothpaste. I am pretty sure that young Chinese customs guy was trying to make me miss my flight and he was smirking and kept looking at me. You know you just have to take it. They had threatened me upon entering China as I had a copy of the economist and NYT and was scolded for bringing western propaganda into China and was told I could be fined/jailed/denied entry. I had read everything already just tucked it in my carry on not thinking propaganda could put me in jail. I guess I’ll stop know but I’m saving this part for my auto biography as I’m sure everyone is fascinated by my babble.
Bottom line thus far I have found both US and Canadian customs to be about equal and was never treated unfairly. That watch strap thing is weird though.
I used to have good luck with Canadian customs they would always ask about tobacco and booze I’d take out one Cuban cigar and say “I have this I meant to smoke prior to leaving but didn’t have a chance.” I wouldn’t mention the five boxes of miscellaneous Cubans I had hidden.
I had numerous Canadian custom interactions when I’d see the Red Sox play the blue jays and they would actively talk sports with me. I would only go the humor route if they initiated it which they actually did a few times. Once me and four buddies saw the Dead in Canada, Let’s just say my three amigos decided to check out another dimension which I strongly advised them against to no avail. I had to take lead, I was the point man as I was sober as the day was long. My buddies were having a deep discussion about bubble gum which the Canadian customs guy found hilarious. He asked me if I could get them all home safely I said I would do my best and he waved us all through.
Now Chinese customs actually squeezed out my toothpaste. I am pretty sure that young Chinese customs guy was trying to make me miss my flight and he was smirking and kept looking at me. You know you just have to take it. They had threatened me upon entering China as I had a copy of the economist and NYT and was scolded for bringing western propaganda into China and was told I could be fined/jailed/denied entry. I had read everything already just tucked it in my carry on not thinking propaganda could put me in jail. I guess I’ll stop know but I’m saving this part for my auto biography as I’m sure everyone is fascinated by my babble.
Bottom line thus far I have found both US and Canadian customs to be about equal and was never treated unfairly. That watch strap thing is weird though.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerI used to have good luck with Canadian customs they would always ask about tobacco and booze I’d take out one Cuban cigar and say “I have this I meant to smoke prior to leaving but didn’t have a chance.” I wouldn’t mention the five boxes of miscellaneous Cubans I had hidden.
Do you mean US customs? Cuban cigars are readily available here, so Canada customs wouldn’t care about the cigar being Cuban.
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Walrus
·Do you mean US customs? Cuban cigars are readily available here, so Canada customs wouldn’t care about the cigar being Cuban.
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