BajaNomad

SENTRI definition of Cargo?

clearmysix - 6-11-2014 at 08:47 PM

Hello All,

I went on a camping/surf trip a few weeks ago. My friend and I have done this many times and have had excellent experiences and have never been to secondary inspection.

This trip we came up to the border line and the SENTRI CBP officer asked us if we had anything to declare. We said no (we just had surfboards, tent, empty cooler).

She looked into our 4runner full of these things and said "I can't confirm you have nothing to declare, go to secondary"

UGGG.

So in secondary they asked why we were there and then stated "Oh well you have CARGO, you can't have CARGO and go through SENTRI, ONLY PASSENGERS ALLOWED."

They proceed to tear through the vehicle, find nothing, tell us we are going to get written up for various things...and then let us go with a verbal warning.

What's the deal with that? Has anyone else had issues with going on a trip and using SENTRI?

Thanks!

rts551 - 6-11-2014 at 09:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by clearmysix
Hello All,

I went on a camping/surf trip a few weeks ago. My friend and I have done this many times and have had excellent experiences and have never been to secondary inspection.

This trip we came up to the border line and the SENTRI CBP officer asked us if we had anything to declare. We said no (we just had surfboards, tent, empty cooler).

She looked into our 4runner full of these things and said "I can't confirm you have nothing to declare, go to secondary"

UGGG.

So in secondary they asked why we were there and then stated "Oh well you have CARGO, you can't have CARGO and go through SENTRI, ONLY PASSENGERS ALLOWED."

They proceed to tear through the vehicle, find nothing, tell us we are going to get written up for various things...and then let us go with a verbal warning.

What's the deal with that? Has anyone else had issues with going on a trip and using SENTRI?

Thanks!


I don't get it.. If they found nothing...how d you get written up for various things?

tjsue - 6-11-2014 at 10:24 PM

I just moved back to San Diego from Tijuana, and moved five van load of boxes and household items through the Sentri lanes. I asked the first time and was told yes, but yet, another CBP said no, and sent me to secondary. Out of all my trips, I was only sent to secondary one time.

The day that I went to clean my apartment, I was sent to secondary going into TJ, and the only items in my van were my bike (10 speed, and a pet carrier).

clearmysix - 6-11-2014 at 10:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rts551

I don't get it.. If they found nothing...how d you get written up for various things?


I think we got the wrong guy at secondary. For instance, he opened the back of the truck and looked at the cooler and said "Oh I wonder what's in here, probably eggs and meat...We are going to get you for that..."

He was just very threatening and then when they found nothing they let us go.

He was also the guy that reiterated that we did the WRONG THING BY GOING INTO SENTRI WITH CAMPING GEAR - HE CONSIDERED IT CARGO.

tjsue - 6-12-2014 at 06:54 AM

It just depends on who you get that day. I found that most of them either just wave you through or ask. Some of them will stop you, but unless you have nothing to hide, it's nothing to worry about.

Like I said, I went through Sentri five times with a Chevy Astrovan packed to the ceiling with boxes and other stuff, and only got stopped once. And they didn't find anything.

They have a job to do, so just go along with them, they have a hard job.

SFandH - 6-12-2014 at 06:59 AM

SENTRI is an acronym for:

Secured Electronic Network for Traveler's Rapid Inspection (SENTRI)

Its main purpose is rapid inspection.

A car full of stuff defeats the purpose.

bajaguy - 6-12-2014 at 07:08 AM

In about 30 years of crossing, all of my 3 trips to secondary were the result of female CBP booth agents.

The best one was returning from a trip to the Old Mill in San Quintin:

Booth agent: What is in the ice chest?

Me: Dirty clothes

Booth agent: Pull into Secondary

Secondary agent: Why were you sent here?

Me: Dirty clothes in the ice chest

Secondary agent: (with a straight face) You know that is a serious violation
Can I look into the ice chest??

Me: be my guest

Secondary agent: Yup, dirty clothes.......who sent you here??

Me: A female booth agent

Secondary agent: She must be having a bad day. Thank you for your patience, have a nice trip home and drive safely.

bajalearner - 6-12-2014 at 07:46 AM

I estimate crossing at SY 1400 times over the last 3 years. I have 3 unprofessional encounters with 3 agents. All 3 were females. One sent me secondary and accused me not following her orders. Her supervisor reviewed my side and dropped it. All 3 agents tore into me like I was a piece of dirt before I ever said a word.

I guess the ratio F to Male agents is 10% or less??? So a fraction are females and I have had 3 agents b-tch at me and all 3 were female. What are the odds of that? Something's wrong with that. I have had experienced other female officers with professional attitudes and sense.

And I will add, the encounter where she accused me of not following her orders; I wrote a 2 page complaint against her, mailed it their internal affairs and as of 2 years, I have not heard a word back from them. Gestapo

[Edited on 6-12-2014 by bajalearner]

55steve - 6-12-2014 at 09:13 AM

There was no issue crossing at SY in Feb. with a generator in the bed of my truck.

dasubergeek - 6-13-2014 at 11:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalearner
I estimate crossing at SY 1400 times over the last 3 years. I have 3 unprofessional encounters with 3 agents. All 3 were females. One sent me secondary and accused me not following her orders. Her supervisor reviewed my side and dropped it. All 3 agents tore into me like I was a piece of dirt before I ever said a word.

I guess the ratio F to Male agents is 10% or less??? So a fraction are females and I have had 3 agents b-tch at me and all 3 were female. What are the odds of that? Something's wrong with that. I have had experienced other female officers with professional attitudes and sense.

And I will add, the encounter where she accused me of not following her orders; I wrote a 2 page complaint against her, mailed it their internal affairs and as of 2 years, I have not heard a word back from them. Gestapo

[Edited on 6-12-2014 by bajalearner]


I haven't had that issue. I'm pretty sure everybody knows about the ONE GUY at Otay SENTRI... yep... that one. Man, that guy needs a hug. Or a beer. One of those.

The Guy who needs a hug.

baconjr - 6-14-2014 at 08:33 AM

We have dogs who travel with us in Mexico. My wife (with a SENTRI pass) was almost pulled into secondary because the dogs slept through the crossing. The agent accused her of trying to smuggle dogs because they were not barking and in his face. We have had issues with this guy before and he is a real jerk.
Quote:
Originally posted by dasubergeek
Quote:
Originally posted by bajalearner
I estimate crossing at SY 1400 times over the last 3 years. I have 3 unprofessional encounters with 3 agents. All 3 were females. One sent me secondary and accused me not following her orders. Her supervisor reviewed my side and dropped it. All 3 agents tore into me like I was a piece of dirt before I ever said a word.

I guess the ratio F to Male agents is 10% or less??? So a fraction are females and I have had 3 agents b-tch at me and all 3 were female. What are the odds of that? Something's wrong with that. I have had experienced other female officers with professional attitudes and sense.

And I will add, the encounter where she accused me of not following her orders; I wrote a 2 page complaint against her, mailed it their internal affairs and as of 2 years, I have not heard a word back from them. Gestapo

[Edited on 6-12-2014 by bajalearner]


I haven't had that issue. I'm pretty sure everybody knows about the ONE GUY at Otay SENTRI... yep... that one. Man, that guy needs a hug. Or a beer. One of those.

Ateo - 6-14-2014 at 08:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalearner
I estimate crossing at SY 1400 times over the last 3 years.

[Edited on 6-12-2014 by bajalearner]


That's an average of 1.27 crossings per day. WOW.

DocRey - 6-14-2014 at 12:59 PM

CBP... TSA with guns! (IMHO):fire:

clearmysix - 6-14-2014 at 07:28 PM

Thanks for the replies. It appears that for this question the answer is that Cargo is allowed (as in normal camping/surfing/survival stuff) in the SENTRI lane.

And the other thing is that the CBP agent you get can make or ruin your day.

tjsue - 6-15-2014 at 10:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by clearmysix
Thanks for the replies. It appears that for this question the answer is that Cargo is allowed (as in normal camping/surfing/survival stuff) in the SENTRI lane.

And the other thing is that the CBP agent you get can make or ruin your day.


This is true, especially the female officers.