Cross-Border Church Visit Costs Man $10,000

Grojlach · 02-11-2004, 01:44 PM

Yes, I'm loving these kinds of topics. And no, I'm in no way implying that the US are the only nation in the world with stupid bureaucrats and rules, I'm just too lazy to translate any Dutch cases.

Cross-Border Church Visit Costs Man $10,000

Crossing the U.S.-Canada border to go to church on a Sunday cost a U.S. citizen $10,000 for breaching Washington's tough new security rules.

The expensive trip to church was a surprise for Richard Albert, a resident of rural Maine who lives so close to the Canadian border the U.S. customs office is right next door to his house.

Like the other half-dozen residents of Township 15 Range 15, crossing the border is a daily ritual for Albert. The nearby Quebec village of St. Pamphile is where they shop, eat and pray.

There are many such situations in rural areas along the largely unguarded 8,900-km (5,530-mile) border between Canada and the United States -- which in some cases actually runs down the middle of streets or through buildings.

As a result, Albert says did not expect any problems three weeks ago when he returned home to the United States after attending mass in Canada, as usual.

The local U.S. customs station is closed on Sundays, so he just drove around the locked gate, as he had done every weekend since the gate appeared last May, following a tightening of border security.

Two days later, Albert was summoned to the customs office, where an officer told him he had been caught on camera crossing the border illegally.

Ottawa has granted special passes to some 300 U.S. citizens in that region so they can enter the country when Canadian customs posts are closed, but the United States canceled a similar program last May.

That forces local residents to make a 200-mile detour along treacherous logging roads to get home via the nearest staffed border checkpoint.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection would not comment specifically on Albert's case because of privacy laws.

"Since 9/11, we've enhanced our security and, yes, some of the situations require inconvenience to people, so we have to go along with what the regulations are," said Janet Rapaport, a public affairs officer with the bureau. She added that local residents had been told about the stricter controls.

Albert has appealed the fine, but he has not attended a Sunday mass since.

"I feel like I'm living in a jail," he said.

Source: Yahoo! News

[ 02-11-2004, 01:45 PM: Message edited by: Grojlach ]

Timber Loftis · 02-11-2004, 02:03 PM

They could just staff the frikkin border with some fatass government workers on Sundays, you know.

Quote:

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection would not comment specifically on Albert's case because of privacy laws.

Translation:
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection would not comment specifically on Albert's case because ~~of privacy laws~~ she was embarrassed.

Cloudbringer · 02-11-2004, 02:22 PM

You know, he might have opened a branch of his church on the US side for that kind of money! Sheesh..that's ridiculous!

Illumina Drathiran'ar · 02-11-2004, 02:54 PM

Nope, this is American bureaucracy at its finest.

I don't know if I want to laugh or cry.

Timber Loftis · 02-11-2004, 03:17 PM

Do neither. Just enjoy the numbness. And go buy something. That always helps. Viva los Estados Unidos!

Illumina Drathiran'ar · 02-11-2004, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Timber Loftis:
Do neither. Just enjoy the numbness. And go buy something. That always helps.

Isn't that what Bush said after 9/11? Feel your numbness, and go buy things?

WillowIX · 02-12-2004, 08:55 AM

Come on! All they have to do is station one worker at the checkpoint for a couple of hours! How arrogant and small minded can one become? Hmm I don't think I want to hear the answer to that question...

Night Stalker · 02-12-2004, 01:24 PM

Never question the depths of stupidity that a beurocracy can sink too ....

Skunk · 02-12-2004, 01:36 PM

The law is the law. If you don't like it, you use your right to lobby and vote to change it.
No-one has a unilateral right to bypass border checks because it is inconvenient.

I'm sympathetic to the needs of people like this, but they would probably be amongst the first to complain when drugs, (illegal) immigrants and terrorist enter the country - asking why the government doesn't do more to stop it...

Blind_Prophet · 02-12-2004, 01:43 PM

Woa... 10,000 for crossing the boarder, thats rather high, but what can you do.

02-11-2004, 02:22 PM	#3
Cloudbringer Ironworks Moderator Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: Upstate NY USA Posts: 19,737	You know, he might have opened a branch of his church on the US side for that kind of money! Sheesh..that's ridiculous! __________________ "Don't take life for granted." Animal (may he rest in peace)

02-11-2004, 02:54 PM	#4
Illumina Drathiran'ar Apophis Join Date: July 10, 2002 Location: I can see the Manhattan skyline from my window. Age: 39 Posts: 4,673	Nope, this is American bureaucracy at its finest. I don't know if I want to laugh or cry. __________________ http://cavestory.org PLAY THIS GAME. Seriously. http://xkcd.com/386/ http://www.xkcd.com/406/ My heart is like my coffee. Black, bitter, icy, and with a straw.

02-11-2004, 03:17 PM	#5
Timber Loftis 40th Level Warrior Join Date: July 11, 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 11,916	Do neither. Just enjoy the numbness. And go buy something. That always helps. Viva los Estados Unidos! __________________

02-12-2004, 08:55 AM	#7
WillowIX Apophis Join Date: July 10, 2001 Location: By a big blue lake, Canada Age: 51 Posts: 4,628	Come on! All they have to do is station one worker at the checkpoint for a couple of hours! How arrogant and small minded can one become? Hmm I don't think I want to hear the answer to that question... __________________ Confuzzled by nature.

02-12-2004, 01:24 PM	#8
Night Stalker Lord Ao Join Date: June 24, 2002 Location: Nevernever Land Age: 51 Posts: 2,002	Never question the depths of stupidity that a beurocracy can sink too .... __________________ [url]\"http://www.duryea.org/pinky/gurkin.wav\" target=\"_blank\">AYPWIP?</a> .... <img border=\"0\" alt=\"[1ponder]\" title=\"\" src=\"graemlins/1ponder.gif\" /> <br />\"I think so Brain, but isn\'t a cucumber that small called a gherkin?\"<br /><br />Shut UP! Pinky!

02-11-2004, 01:44 PM	#1
Grojlach Zartan Join Date: May 2, 2001 Location: Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum Age: 44 Posts: 5,281	Yes, I'm loving these kinds of topics. And no, I'm in no way implying that the US are the only nation in the world with stupid bureaucrats and rules, I'm just too lazy to translate any Dutch cases. Cross-Border Church Visit Costs Man $10,000 Crossing the U.S.-Canada border to go to church on a Sunday cost a U.S. citizen $10,000 for breaching Washington's tough new security rules. The expensive trip to church was a surprise for Richard Albert, a resident of rural Maine who lives so close to the Canadian border the U.S. customs office is right next door to his house. Like the other half-dozen residents of Township 15 Range 15, crossing the border is a daily ritual for Albert. The nearby Quebec village of St. Pamphile is where they shop, eat and pray. There are many such situations in rural areas along the largely unguarded 8,900-km (5,530-mile) border between Canada and the United States -- which in some cases actually runs down the middle of streets or through buildings. As a result, Albert says did not expect any problems three weeks ago when he returned home to the United States after attending mass in Canada, as usual. The local U.S. customs station is closed on Sundays, so he just drove around the locked gate, as he had done every weekend since the gate appeared last May, following a tightening of border security. Two days later, Albert was summoned to the customs office, where an officer told him he had been caught on camera crossing the border illegally. Ottawa has granted special passes to some 300 U.S. citizens in that region so they can enter the country when Canadian customs posts are closed, but the United States canceled a similar program last May. That forces local residents to make a 200-mile detour along treacherous logging roads to get home via the nearest staffed border checkpoint. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection would not comment specifically on Albert's case because of privacy laws. "Since 9/11, we've enhanced our security and, yes, some of the situations require inconvenience to people, so we have to go along with what the regulations are," said Janet Rapaport, a public affairs officer with the bureau. She added that local residents had been told about the stricter controls. Albert has appealed the fine, but he has not attended a Sunday mass since. "I feel like I'm living in a jail," he said. Source: Yahoo! News [ 02-11-2004, 01:45 PM: Message edited by: Grojlach ]

02-12-2004, 01:36 PM	#9
Skunk Banned User Join Date: September 3, 2001 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Age: 63 Posts: 1,463	The law is the law. If you don't like it, you use your right to lobby and vote to change it. No-one has a unilateral right to bypass border checks because it is inconvenient. I'm sympathetic to the needs of people like this, but they would probably be amongst the first to complain when drugs, (illegal) immigrants and terrorist enter the country - asking why the government doesn't do more to stop it...

02-12-2004, 01:43 PM	#10
Blind_Prophet Symbol of Cyric Join Date: November 10, 2001 Location: Yokosuka Japan Age: 39 Posts: 1,168	Woa... 10,000 for crossing the boarder, thats rather high, but what can you do. __________________ The height of narcissism

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
And in Church	Arvon	General Discussion	2	04-28-2006 09:27 AM
Halliburton Contract and COSTS	Timber Loftis	General Discussion	4	01-01-2004 02:09 AM
FFX Yojimbo's special moves and costs.	Firestormalpha	Miscellaneous Games (RPG or not)	9	09-13-2003 01:55 AM
Church and giving	cormack	General Conversation Archives (11/2000 - 01/2005)	11	05-26-2003 10:37 PM
Increaing Mana reserves or decreasing casting costs of spells	Smylingsam	Miscellaneous Games (RPG or not)	6	07-29-2002 12:26 PM