I'll show you, customs agent

[EuropeanFootballMale]

http://knifetricks.blogspot.com/2010...answering.html

Any customs lawyers here? This guy seems like he's a jerky paranoid tool, but it got me to wondering if just having a passport really is a magic ticket to getting back into the country with no questions asked.

[Coastal Ute]

Well, he sure showed them!

Am I slave to my country if I comply and answer a few questions regarding my business outside of the country? I don't think so, and I could really care less. Apparently this guy thought otherwise.

EDIT: Oh yeah, he's from Sherman Oaks. Explains a lot.

[il Padrino Ute]

My kind of guy.

[RobinFinderson]

My kind of guy.

[Coastal Ute]

Finderson and Il Pad, what would you say are the motives behind this kind of thing? Just curious.

[EuropeanFootballMale]

Well, he sure showed them!

Am I slave to my country if I comply and answer a few questions regarding my business outside of the country? I don't think so, and I could really care less. Apparently this guy thought otherwise.

EDIT: Oh yeah, he's from Sherman Oaks. Explains a lot.

I'm with you. Guy seems like a dick. His whole "don't ever say anything to a federal agent or the IRS will get you" seems like full blown paranoia. It also requires Feds who are corrupt enough to twist anything you say into a lie, but who are unwilling to lie about what you said.

[RobinFinderson]

Finderson and Il Pad, what would you say are the motives behind this kind of thing? Just curious.

I support what the dude did for the same reason I wouldn't ever let a cop into my house without a warrant, or to search my car without probable cause... the more we let police do these things with our permission, the more they think they have the right to do these things. Individual police are generally good people, but police as an institution are often abusive of citizens, and need to be reminded from time to time of the limits of their authority. Not everyone has the time to sit in detention for three hours over a stunt like this, but it is good that people do it once in a while, and everyone should take their turn at some point.

[Coastal Ute]

I support what the dude did for the same reason I wouldn't ever let a cop into my house without a warrant, or to search my car without probable cause... the more we let police do these things with our permission, the more they think they have the right to do these things. Individual police are generally good people, but police as an institution are often abusive of citizens, and need to be reminded from time to time of the limits of their authority. Not everyone has the time to sit in detention for three hours over a stunt like this, but it is good that people do it once in a while, and everyone should take their turn at some point.

Uh oh, uh oh! Guilt word!

I understand where you're coming from, but to date I really haven't had an experience that would apply here. I just don't get what all of the fuss is about. I suppose if my name was John Lennon, I wasn't dead, and I felt the U.S. Government was out to get me, I'd feel a little differently about it. Maybe. Maybe I'd divorce Yoko Ono though, too.

[RobinFinderson]

Uh oh, uh oh! Guilt word!

I understand where you're coming from, but to date I really haven't had an experience that would apply here. I just don't get what all of the fuss is about. I suppose if my name was John Lennon, I wasn't dead, and I felt the U.S. Government was out to get me, I'd feel a little differently about it. Maybe. Maybe I'd divorce Yoko Ono though, too.

Sometimes the exercise of rights is simply that -- exercise. It keeps us limber and ready.

[Coastal Ute]

Sometimes the exercise of rights is simply that -- exercise. It keeps us limber and ready.

I am awaiting the time where a police officer pulls me over and asks me to search my car and I say "No". Heard about that one a little while ago. Sounds like it could be an adventure.

[Commando]

I am awaiting the time where a police officer pulls me over and asks me to search my car and I say "No". Heard about that one a little while ago. Sounds like it could be an adventure.

I did it a couple years ago. Damn it felt good! Eff you, shitty Idaho State Trooper who pulled me over on the freeway for no reason and tried to search my car w/out probable cause!

[beefytee]

As someone who has dealt with Border guards many times. I agree that both Canadian and American border guards can be royal jerks.

I haven't had any bad experiences with any others but also haven't had much exposure.

[EuropeanFootballMale]

Sometimes the exercise of rights is simply that -- exercise. It keeps us limber and ready.

The exercise of what right? The right to not say whether you packed your own bags? I was hoping that someone here would know something about the legal matters involved, but I'm not too convinced that a passport and a filled out customs form are all that can ever be required for a U.S. citizen to enter the country. In fact I thought a U.S. passport was used to show proof of U.S. citizenship and the request of the U.S. government that the holder be allowed to travel to other countries, not some magical document to ward off U.S. customs agent questions.

[Coastal Ute]

The exercise of what right? The right to not say whether you packed your own bags? I was hoping that someone here would know something about the legal matters involved, but I'm not too convinced that a passport and a filled out customs form are all that can ever be required for a U.S. citizen to enter the country. In fact I thought a U.S. passport was used to show proof of U.S. citizenship and the request of the U.S. government that the holder be allowed to travel to other countries, not some magical document to ward off U.S. customs agent questions.

I'm sorry I failed you.

This hurts.

[falafel]

The exercise of what right? The right to not say whether you packed your own bags? I was hoping that someone here would know something about the legal matters involved, but I'm not too convinced that a passport and a filled out customs form are all that can ever be required for a U.S. citizen to enter the country. In fact I thought a U.S. passport was used to show proof of U.S. citizenship and the request of the U.S. government that the holder be allowed to travel to other countries, not some magical document to ward off U.S. customs agent questions.

I'm not sure what rights are implicated, but I think there's some truth to the guy's position that the government doesn't have the right to interrogate you without some kind of probable cause. They had no reason to believe (apparently) that this guy had done anything illegal in China or that he was a danger to the U.S., yet they wanted to know all about his trip and acted like he was required to satisfy their curiosity.

I know there are legitimate reasons to interrogate a U.S. citizen returning home, but this guy didn't present any of them, IMO. I kind of like his obstinateness. I admire it a bit. But I would never do it. Mostly because I wouldn't want to sit around for 3 hours after a 14 hour flight from China.