REMINDER: DWI/DUI?? Problems at border.

[StillH20 Eye]

Just a friendly reminder. If you are planning a group fishing trip, make sure that all in your group are aware of border restrictions as to past DUI/DWI.

While I know this topic has been addressed at length, there is always someone who seems to miss the punchline, which is: "Unless you have done the paperwork and been declared "rehabilitated" ($150 or so tax), YOU WILL/MAY NOT GET ACROSS IF YOUR ID IS CHECKED." A person in our group found out the hard way that a 10 year old DUI cost him a weekend in the motel at Int'l Falls, and his buddies missed that day's fishing dinking around at the border. Tough lesson worth reminding others about.

[Hemlock]

Thanks Stillwater...always good to remind people of that tough one.

DUI's are a felony in Canada and if you've had one in the US you are deemed "inadmissable". You are "usually" granted admission if the paperwork is done prior.

Two things to remember here: one, I'm just saying "usually" because in my first hand conversations with CDN customs, that's the answer I've been given when asked. Second thing to remember is: people with DUI's sometimes fall through the cracks at the border. I got married in Manitoba last summer. Many people from MN were invited and a couple had DUI's. Everybody made it to the wedding just fine.

[Kidd]

Was he denied admittance or just not willing, or able, to pay the $150.00?

[ZapBranigan]

They need to cross on a weekday because the personel are not available on a Sat Eve or Sunday. May not have the right person there on a Sat Morn. Definitly worth taking care of in advance. On a bus trip they told us to check all this out but sure enough out of 30 people on the bus 3 had trouble held us up for 4 hrs filling out papers and arranging payments. If it would have run much longer the bus would have left them to find their own transport.

The rest of us were not too happy with those individuals they probably had a pretty lousy trip anyway after ticking us all off early on in the trip.

You don't want to be THAT guy even if you think you can pay and go as soon as you get to the border.

[fishyguy]

I had a conversation with a Canadian Border officer at the All Canada Show and she stated that if it is under 5 yrs there is no way in. If it is over 5 yrs. you may apply for admission but it probably would not be processed in time for our trip in June. She was definately discouraging us from bringing our guy along with us although we have never had licences checked in 15 yrs. She made mention of new technology this year but I don't know what that would be since running a license and computer checks have been aroung forever.

[Hemlock]

The information she gave you is true, however might not prove to be the case when you clear customs. It's a #'s game. Kinda like cards. You may clear just fine (even if they look at your license, which all they are doing there is making sure the picture/name coincide with the scared face of the guy in the passenger seat, etc.) You may get nailed, and then it's an uphill slippery slope from there.

[Kidd]

Thanks for the info. There are two DUI's in the group, one is less than a year and the second is around 5yrs. I may tell them to drive up together in their own truck.

[Hemlock]

For all I've said today, you wouldn't find them in my truck attempting to cross. Not if we were on our way north for a fishing trip.

[ZapBranigan]

Another thing to do is take a early trip up for those guys and work with the border guys to get clearance ahead of your actual trip. Be up front with the guys and see what it takes to make sure they can make it across for the real trip. long trip but it beats going all the way up and being turned away on the way to your actual trip.

[leechlake]

I went through this last year in organizing an even for customers and one person had a dui. Officially you need to get rehabilitated per the Canadian govt, it's not something you can just take care of at the border. I know sometimes it's handled that way but sometimes it's not. There is paperwork to be filled out, an explanation of rehab and money to pay. It takes 3-6 months to have the investigation completed and you aren't always deemed rehabd especially if it's less than 5 years. I believe we got the paperwork on line and it was a pain in the butt but that's what we had to do. It's one thing to leave a buddy at the border but it would have been kind of difficult to leave a customer at the border.

[pegleg]

Here's what I would recommend and it is a lot less hassle and less costly than all the other ideas on this site. Have your buddies get a passport. When asked at the border for an i.d. give the border patrols your passport. DUI's are not recorded on your passport because they are not felonies in the U.S. Try it - it works...

[MAITOI]

The last time I crossed the border at International Falls I showed them my passport and they said they wanted to see my drivers license. That was July of 04.

[Gissert]

I use my passport when crossing, there have been times where they have also asked for my drivers lisc.

[pegleg]

Were you driving when they asked you for your drivers license? I have crossed a number of times going into Manitoba and always used my passport with never being asked for my drivers license. Although this is inside the building at customs when we are declaring over the amount of allowable goods. I just think it is sort of funny that you could fly in to Canada and at the airport all you show is your passport if you have one. They never ask questions at the airport about your "driving record"....

[Gissert]

We were driving, crossing at Rainy River. I had a passport, the other guy did not.

The pulled us both inside, took our dirvers liscences and disappeared in a room with them. They came out about 10 minutes later and wished us a good trip. I am sure they were running our history.

This was in March of 2002, to tensions were still prety high after 9/11.

When flying, I have never had my drivers liscense asked for.

[snowgoose]

I have been through all of this.

I delt with the Emerson Manitoba border crossing because thay have the staff that declairs if you are rehabilitated or not.

If you have a conviction that is more than 5 years old call the Emerson Crossing and they will fax you the paperwork you need to fill out.

Fax that info back to them along with a letter stating why and how you have been rehabilitated. They will read your paperwork and deam if you can be declared rehabilitated. They will contact you and let you know when this is done.

Then make a trip to the border on a week day during normal business hours. They will take your $200.00 canadian! Take a picture of you, and attach it to a letter that you carry with you every time you go to Canada.

You also can get the paperwork you need off the internet. Do a search for crossing into Canada with DWI's. You will be directed to a goverment site with the info you need.

It took me about 3 months from the begining to the end of the process. It is a real pain. But then again, I was the one that broke the law years ago!

Hope this helps!

[pj4]

so is this a one time crossing pass or good till ??

[snowgoose]

This is good forever, or until you get anougher DUI!

[jt24]

I just had a buddy of mine ask me about this stuff yesterday. He got a DWI last year and was wondering if he could get into canada to go fishing this summer. I told him i didnt really know but had read some of this. So can he get across or not? I doubt he will go if it takes alot of paperwork. Thanks for any info.

[Hemlock]

There is no for sure answer you can recieve on your buddy until you are at the border.

In theory your buddy is inadmisable to Canada. The paperwork can only even be attempted if the DUI is more than 5 years old. As stated earlier, they don't catch everything though.

[fishyguy]

We are going through the same thing with one of our guys.

Since it is newer than 5 years it boils down to this:

There is no paperwork option for rehab. until it is older than 5 years

Any attempt to cross is a risk that they will catch you

If they find out you attempted to cross knowing it was illegal, then you and anyone in your party who also knew about this is subject to arrest and detention until a hearing. We were told that if you have one weeks vacation and were arrested, the one week would not be enough time.

Obviously, this is extreme worst case, but we should all know what is at risk. Play dumb on the knowledge, be honest and respectful with the officer (they don't want to go through the arrest process), and worst case is morre than likely the guilty party being asked to turn around and go home.

[Dave1]

From what Ive seen, Canada doesn't police there own people very well. A friend was checking out some campgrounds when he was there for a wedding and said the drinking in the campgrounds was so rampant he wouldn't stay there with his family.

The costs and limits are rediculous. Canada can keep their fish.

[kettlekid]

Does anybody know if it makes any difference if someone got a DWI when they were under 18 and now want to go into Canada 3 years later. Does anyone know if that shows up or like here is it not shown. I ask because a young friend of mine wants to go to crow lake with us and has passed the last two years because of this issue. He was 17 when he got the ticket and now is 21.

[Gissert]

If they run his drivers lisc, the DUI will probably show up. Sometimes they check this stuff, sometimes they dont.

Your best bet is to contact Immigration Canada and just ask before you go. If they ask him at the border, and he truthfully tells them about the DUI, entrance will probably be blocked.

If he answers no, and they run a check on his history and find out about it, it could be a long day for your entire party.

[tntn3]

Does anyone no if there is a time limit. What About 15 or more years ago? Do you have to go through the same procedure? I read somewhere that even President Bush needed to fill out the paperwork. But I also read somewhere that after 15 years you are automatically considered rehabilitated.