Canada - Trouble entering the country

[bcubed]

So, Lizard set out to see Ottawa, but was turned back because of an arrest. The arrest was for DWI, and he (wrongly) said that he'd been convicted for it.

What happened is that he'd been placed into a "first-timer" ARD program, whereby he has to keep a clean record for 1yr, after which the charges will be dropped. In order to do this, he had to sign away his right to a speedy trial, which (too late) reminded him he hadn't been convicted! So, lizard is technically "pending" on this arrest, with the presumption of innocence.

Possibly complicating issues is that his car was searched and Salvia divinorum and a pipe used exclusively for smoking it was found. Both were returned after customs was unable to discern the nature of the substance (although Lizard's research shows Salvia legal in both Canada and the state of crossing, he figured he had no percentage in doing some cop's job for him.)

[Spyder]

swiS dosn't clearly understand?? swiY gave the passport, they scanned it, and then saw an arrest pop up on the system? That's how swiS is assuming it went?

What did they think swiY were trying to flee.....even though those ARD programs seem to take forever, and sometimes the charges DON"T go off the record, until swiY bug and bug and bug about it...call after call! (PS: make sure swiY check on that, stay after them)....

Anyway....swiS didn't realize that a Misdem. charge (Not conviction) on the record, was a "Block" to leaving the country, otherwise, the courts would have taken the passport....

How long ago did it happen?

[bcubed]

The arrest was 14 mo ago; the ARD was only started 1 mo ago.

The problem wasn't on the US side, worrying about fleeing; it was Canada, worried about letting a criminal into the country. Since they asked lizard about the arrest, I'm assuming it popped up when he pulled up to the border checkpoint (although perhaps the initial call for further investigation was based on some other suspicion.)

At any event, he was "back-roomed" at BOTH the Canada and US sides (US was pissed when they found nothing--even x-rayed the car).

The fact that neither the US or the Canadian sides were able to ID Salvia (Lizard said, "It's sage") leads me to believe tests for this drug aren't widely disseminated amongst LE types--useful knowledge where Salvia's illegal and hopefully impetus to re-package commercially bought Sally.

I assume there's an asterisk on his record now saying "inspect this guy's car at every opportunity." He could FOIA to find out, but he's unsure if that would look bad in and of itself.

[Spyder]

FOIA ??????

did these bozo's find the Sal. before all this started? Wonder if that's why they did some extra looking?

What swiS is really wondering is, did this background info come-up upon just a scan of the passport, or as mentioned was it some other suspision that they did some "Extra" investigating?....Oh wait, sorry, swiS just re-read the post, wonder if a license plate check or run pulled up something?

Just really curious what info in given on a standard "Scan" of a passport....

Because, as swiB^3 says...could have a ** next to the name now....just wondering what types of things get swiYa that "*"....i.e.convictions, felonys, misdemeanors, etc. or if the scan only lists personal info and if there are any warrents, etc.

Although, on 2nd thought, warrents (Unless federal), would mean that the state would need to be linked to the system, which more than likely not.....

Whole big can of worms here...............S

PS: what is that foia?

thanks....S

[old hippie 56]

"Freedom of Information Act"
and I doubt you get any info from it, can't even find out if a person is on the "no-fly" list until they try to get on a plane.

[Spyder]

LOL...LOL...LOL!!!

That goes to show just how free the information is, when swiS didn't even know what it was...lol

Seriously though, the info gained thru the freedom of info, is almost always (not even almost...but always!), either filtered, edited, or blacked out...based on some theory of security, or some other bullshit.....

That shit is only good for the most basic of info, which can just as easily be gotten from the web.

swiS would just like to see the screen that the customs officer is looking at when one of these passports is scanned......and if there is an "Easy" way that they can just poke into swiYour life....

S

[Panthers007]

Canada tried to block entry to a friend of Bongo's for an arrest for DUI. And that was back in 1990. This isn't a new development. Bongo and Company displayed a large sum of cash and started talking about shopping. They let them all in.