Another great thing about the Internet

[snousle]

Depressing statistics!



This is why I'll be leaving Vancouver at 5 AM. Don't know why the asswipes at customs don't do something about this, it surely harms the American economy.

Comments

[danthered.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, but what would you have them do about it?

[snousle.livejournal.com]

Put on more freaking staff! Build more entry ports! Even if processing costs $10/visitor, more visitors means more tax revenue; no matter how elastic the demand for crossing, it would surely make economic sense to reduce the wait, even if it requires new construction. The tax on a gas fill-up alone would probably pay for the cost of meeting demand. As it happens, I can't tell you how many times I've waited an hour or more, only to see half the customs booths sitting there empty.

There may be some incentive for the US to make it difficult to enter, but I cannot imagine what it would be, unless it's keeping Americans from going abroad.

[danthered.livejournal.com]

Security theatre. Long waits create the illusion of security.* Obviously if those wishing to enter the YSM have to wait in a long line, it must mean the border guards are doing a careful, thorough job of keeping out tairists and godless commies and gays.

[danthered.livejournal.com]

*-Sound FX courtesy BearAZ

[jstregyr.livejournal.com]

snousle writes: "There may be some incentive for the US to make it difficult to enter, but I cannot imagine what it would be..."

Don'tcha'know?!?
Terrrrrrrrists!
;-)

[jstregyr.livejournal.com]

Hmm, interesting - LiveJournal's spell-checker generated these suggestions for the correct spelling of "Terrrrrrrrists":

Terrorists, Terrorist's, Tourists, Trusts, Rearrests, Theorists, Trysts, Dearests, Tourist's, Teresita, Teresita's, Trust's, Tsarists, Diarists, Trista, Tarriest, Teariest, Wrists, Trappists, Trista's, Theorist's, Tryst's, Treatises, Deists, Traits, Transits, Trusty's, Trieste's, Diarist's, Wrist's, Trappist's, Treatise's, Terracing's, Deist's, Trait's, Transit's...

I tell you: gotta watch out for those Tsarist tourists with theorist treatises on trappist trysts!

[snousle.livejournal.com]

Lol

[wolfstoy.livejournal.com]

That is why I never use that crossing. When I cross the boarder, it takes at most 5 - 10 minutes.

[snousle.livejournal.com]

Where do you cross? The truck crossing generally has equal wait times, especially since its reported on the Internet.

[wolfstoy.livejournal.com]

I think on the US side it is Lynden, CA is Hamilton. You take 1 east to 13 south from Vancouver. Once it crosses the boarder it turns into WA-539 which then goes south straight into Bellingham.

The only thing to beware of is that the DEA likes set up check points from time to time. I've never had a problem with that though. Sometimes they'll search my car or whatever, but I expect that anyway at the boarder.

[snousle.livejournal.com]

I had not thought of that, thanks! In my mind, Bellingham is straight south, when of course it is actually quite a ways east. Google Maps suggest that if it saves 34 minutes of waiting at the border, then this is the faster route. I can't find wait-time stats for that crossing but the webcam shows no backup at all. Of course, 34 minutes of driving is somehow much preferable to 34 minutes of waiting in line, for reasons that make no sense but are very compelling nonetheless.

(Well, there are certain psychological factors. The other day, I had to restrain myself from assaulting several assholes that forced their way in from the nexus lane at the last moment. I could, of course, get a nexus card but it is very inconvenient to get up there for the interview.)

[bluebear2.livejournal.com]

I know many people who go on the Transcanada SouthEast aways and then go into the States south of Abbotsford just because driving seems like you're getting somewhere but waiting seems like you're not.

So you're in town? Let's meet for coffee or something?

[snousle.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately I am swamped with work and don't have a lot of time this trip!

[bluebear2.livejournal.com]

Aw, too bad. Well, next time.

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

Yeah the Abbotsford-Sumas crossing is a fairly unbusy one (when it's open)... so slow, in fact, that the guards get bored and so they like to do thorough investigations and inspections.

[snousle.livejournal.com]

Also worth noting, though, is that the Lynden crossing does not open until 8 AM.

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

Incidentally, if you ever cross at Lynden, then it's a long straight shot down into Bellingham on the Guide Meridian.

Personally, I prefer Pacific Crossing (truck crossing) because it's usually significantly less busy than Peace Arch.

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

I crossed into the US at Pacific Crossing this past Monday in the mid afternoon, and there was a less than 5 min wait.