cwsMTK
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SENTRI Hassle?
I just crossed back into the US at San Ysidro, after not being in Baja for a year (life comes at ya fast, was great to be back).
The Agent at the border when he took my cards gave me a hard time saying that SENTRI is only for commuters and that you can't have stuff in the back
of your car? (I had surfboards and the usual camping stuff). Did some policy change? I've been using SENTRI for camping and surfing trips pretty
heavily in the 4 years leading up to this and NEVER been told that (and I've been sent to secondary once BC a friend hadn't activated his Sentri
Card).
I was apologetic and didn't argue but he said a less "understanding" agent would send me to secondary and I could lose my Global Entry/Sentri??
Has anyone heard this before or did I just get some guy having a bad day? He told me that I was supposed to use the Ready Lane instead or General
Traffic 
Also I had been planning to ask the agent about if motrcycle hitch carriers are allowed in Sentri but since this guy was giving me a hard time I
passed. Has anyone done that before?
Thanks
[Edited on 12-30-2024 by cwsMTK]
[Edited on 12-30-2024 by cwsMTK]
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18617
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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If i am packed to gills with toys and camping gear, i use readi or regular lane. Having a full vehicle is a gray area, agents sometimes frown on it.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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mjs
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Location: Off grid in San Felipe
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I've gotten so many different answers from sentri agents about was allowed/ not allowed that I don't think they even know their own rules.
I cross on a regular basis with a roof top tent and have never been questioned about it. Last week with a motorcycle on a hitch carrier, no issue
waived right through. Used to cross regularly with motos and gear in the truck.
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surabi
Elite Nomad
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Sounds like the guy's hemorrhoids were bothering him or he's just one of those officious azzholes who like to hassle you because they can.
"Yes, you are generally allowed to have camping gear when using the SENTRI lane, as long as it is properly packed and doesn't significantly obstruct
the view of your vehicle's interior, allowing for a quick inspection by customs officials; however, individual border agents may still ask to check
your gear depending on the situation.
Key points to remember:
No specific restrictions:
There are no official rules explicitly stating you can't bring camping gear through SENTRI."
So maybe you got hassled if your vehicle was packed to the gills with stuff- seems they want the vehicle to be easily searchable when using Sentri, as
opposed to it looking like a hoarder's home on wheels.
Prohibited items are the same whether using Sentri or not- all the stuff we already know about- fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, firearms and
ammunition, hazardous chemicals, etc., etc.
[Edited on 12-30-2024 by surabi]
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Tioloco
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Quote: Originally posted by mjs  | | I've gotten so many different answers from sentri agents about was allowed/ not allowed that I don't think they even know their own rules.
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That is the real life standard- Inconsistency.
Definitely depends on the day and which agent you talk to/ which POE you are at.
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Maderita
Senior Nomad
Posts: 671
Registered: 12-14-2008
Location: San Diego
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In November, I went through the SENTRI lane with my van. There was camping gear strewn about in the back. The CBP agent didn't like it, saying that
the visual inspection should be able to be conducted in x number of seconds. I don't recall the number of seconds; less than a minute. Perhaps it was
30 or 40 seconds. She appeared irritated as she said that she was entering the warning on the computer and that I could lose my SENTRI card if it
happens again.
I've made 100-200 SENTRI crossings with similar disorganized gear in the van. This is the first time I've been warned. Perhaps CBP is tightening up on
the rules?
CBP seems to have 3 sets of rules:
1. The official rules, which are made available to the public.
2. Their rules, only known to the CBP, which the public can learn about through trial and error, scoldings by the agents, or reading online forums.
3. The agent's subjective interpretation of rules, or the rules which the individual agent decides to enforce that day/hour/minute.
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surabi
Elite Nomad
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That could pretty much be said about most bureaucratic entities, in most countries. Luck of the draw as far as encountering an official who glories in
making things difficult or one who doesn't seem to be interested in throwing their weight around, as long as you haven't done anything wrong. Some
countries seem to require some basic level of never-crack-a-smile, hard-azzness from their officials, while others don't appear to require their
officials to completely hide any semblance of being a normal human.
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BooJumMan
Senior Nomad
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Location: San Diego
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This happened to me out of the blue about 8 years ago, I think I wrote about it on here somewhere. Crossed several times for roughly 5 years prior
with Sentri, packed with camping gear. Never an issue, and never heard of there being a limit or rule against it.
Then crossing back north in SY, a very aggressive border agent ripped me a new one for having too many things and he was unable to search my vehicle
in x seconds / x minutes. I tried to complain to CBP, crossing my entire life, I have never dealt with someone so aggressive and unpleasant. I also
reached out to CBP for a listing of rules, and specifically asked about loaded vehicles. Never got a a reply or found a rule.
Been using Sentri now for close to 15 years and still have not had any other encounters like that one, but it goes through my mind everytime. I have a
friend who will only take READY lane now because of a similar encounter.
In that pre-Google Earth and social media epoch, The Code was adhered to. It was based on a simple verity: if a locale had been transformational for
you, and you had put the hard yards in to get there and to learn it, to know it, why in god�s name would you broadcast the news, thus ruining the
future experience not only for yourself, but for future adventurers?
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Tioloco
Ultra Nomad
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BooJumMan-
Is an unfortunate reality that CBP doesn't respond to complaints about their employees. That fosters more bad encounters with the public.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6352
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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I found out the hard way that it does not pay to argue with the SENTRI CBP agents, even when you are correct.
I showed them (on their own web page) what a rule is as printed by Homeland Security on a CBP bulletin.
I was told that the rule is a matter of interpretation...
And I still lost my SENTRI PASS 4 years ago.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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Tioloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3034
Registered: 7-30-2014
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| Quote: Originally posted by Udo | I found out the hard way that it does not pay to argue with the SENTRI CBP agents, even when you are correct.
I showed them (on their own web page) what a rule is as printed by Homeland Security on a CBP bulletin.
I was told that the rule is a matter of interpretation...
And I still lost my SENTRI PASS 4 years ago. |
Yep and ouch. Is indicative of any government agency with no accountability or oversight. And the fanboys will claim it is all in keeping the country
safe. Sad to see
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3719
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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Made my first SENTRI crossing two days ago (after a 19 month wait for the card) Mexicali West, long line but moved right along and was only about 10
minute total time
Buit, at the final dozen cars the guy never really even stopped the, just a quick glace at cards and go
We had two small pots and a small yard statue in back of SUV along with a large plastic container full of canned grocery stuff
Guy had me foll down windows, tapped on the pots, asked where we had been, etc.
He was extremely pleasant, so we exchanged a few nice words on the visit, etc
But, still was surprised that I held up a never stopping line for a couple minutes due to a couple pots.
No, the back was not jammed to the ceiling and just a cooler, small suitcases and coooler alongside the box of groceri3es.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18617
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: Originally posted by Tioloco | | Quote: Originally posted by Udo | I found out the hard way that it does not pay to argue with the SENTRI CBP agents, even when you are correct.
I showed them (on their own web page) what a rule is as printed by Homeland Security on a CBP bulletin.
I was told that the rule is a matter of interpretation...
And I still lost my SENTRI PASS 4 years ago. |
Yep and ouch. Is indicative of any government agency with no accountability or oversight. And the fanboys will claim it is all in keeping the country
safe. Sad to see |
I know you campers are harmless and you feel you should sail through sentri with your truck packed to the gills,… but smugglers look just like you.
CBP has a job to do, you asked your government to stop the smuggling, this is what you get, so dont complain!
I am amused that some people take offense at CBP doing their job when they cross the border and are offended when get thoroughly inspected,…while
those same people loudly demand their govt increase the border enforcement, and scream loudly for govt to stop the drug smuggling.
If the new admin does what it says it will do, the border inspection inconvenience will grow exponentially. Get ready for border gridlock, it is
likely coming!
P.s. i am more concerned about those border xing xray machines. I suspect they are maintained by lowest bid govt contractor, paying maintenance
workers minimum wage,…. I wonder how much cancer risk is driving through malfunctioning xray machines.
[Edited on 1-1-2025 by mtgoat666]
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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surabi
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5291
Registered: 5-6-2016
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| Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 |
I am amused that some people take offense at CBP doing their job when they cross the border and are offended when get thoroughly inspected,…while
those same people loudly demand their govt increase the border enforcement, and scream loudly for govt to stop the drug smuggling.
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Oh, but it's only the brown people they think should be thoroughly vetted, not good ole' white boys and girls.
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Tioloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3034
Registered: 7-30-2014
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| Quote: Originally posted by surabi | | Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 |
I am amused that some people take offense at CBP doing their job when they cross the border and are offended when get thoroughly inspected,…while
those same people loudly demand their govt increase the border enforcement, and scream loudly for govt to stop the drug smuggling.
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Oh, but it's only the brown people they think should be thoroughly vetted, not good ole' white boys and girls. |
Is there a moderator available to stop this racial hatred? Please take your NEGATIVITY to the OFF TOPIC.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3529
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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| Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner |
He was extremely pleasant, so we exchanged a few nice words on the visit, etc
But, still was surprised that I held up a never stopping line for a couple minutes due to a couple pots.
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You were being profiled. Prob liked you too. Taking a mental break?
Happend to me Mex East. MX looking guy asked routine question, I responded and joked, he joked back, we laughed, it was great and atypical. I
was being profiled and connecting. Fine with me.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3529
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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| Quote: Originally posted by Tioloco | | Quote: Originally posted by Udo | I found out the hard way that it does not pay to argue with the SENTRI CBP agents, even when you are correct.
I showed them (on their own web page) what a rule is as printed by Homeland Security on a CBP bulletin.
I was told that the rule is a matter of interpretation...
And I still lost my SENTRI PASS 4 years ago. |
Yep and ouch. Is indicative of any government agency with no accountability or oversight. And the fanboys will claim it is all in keeping the country
safe. Sad to see |
CBP might have thought showing the bulletin made him wrong and probably considered disrespectful. Big lesson for nomads.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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Tioloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3034
Registered: 7-30-2014
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Lee- Maybe so? But it is never good when a government agency gets to a point where they no longer answer to the public.
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4339
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
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Bottom line is the 'interpretation' is at the discretion of the officer.
Years before Sentri I had printed out all 44 pages of what was legal to bring back and what was not. At the time 'well corked pork' was legal. We
would often stop at Flor de Michoacán for carnitas dinner on way home and bring back leftovers. I would declare and never had a problem but one time
we got called out and I showed the guys in secondary my list from the Customs website. One newer looking guy was going to let us go. A veteran came
over and saw what we had in container. His eyes got big and I could see his pavlovian response kick in. He said he would have to confiscate and
despite what was written it was always 'at the discretion of the officer'. We were standing out side our rig and I said I would throw it in trash. He
said no problem he would do it. As he walked away I asked if he wanted the tortillas too.
We saved thousands of dollars on avocados because you could bring them across if there were no seeds or skin. We would buy kilos of them and cut them
up and put them in large zip locs. Good times.
One time in early days of Sentri wife had one tomato in the cooler that I had not noticed. We got sent to secondary and they were going to take our
cards. They gave us a warning but since then the only thing we bring back is booze.
Last August we crossed Sentri in my F-250 and the booth officer told me he was going to take my card away because I did not have a front license
plate. I told him I had no idea and it must have fallen off on the trip, south. He ended up giving me a warning and told me to replace it our else. I
said I would. Ordered the plates and in meantime took my other rig down. When crossing north we were sent to Secondary and they took my card away and
would not say why only to contact Otay office. They told me I needed to bring truck to office along with paperwork and photos of front and back
plates. Got new plates, made an appointment and went in last month and told them what had happened and they gave me my card back. Never asked to look
at photos, registration or truck. Officer told me to make sure that my vehicles fully confirmed with California DMV rules.
Viva Sentri! Viva Mexico!
Happy New Year!
YMMV
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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dutra
Newbie
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Registered: 9-10-2020
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You guys just have the best luck i love it. Crossed using sentri 3 times last year coming home from bola. I like mexicali east better. Truck with a
chest freezer, fishing gear, coolers, clothes, and fireworks from the cartel controlled San Felipe. Never more than 5-10 minute wait. One guy in the
party doesn’t have sentri. He gets out of line right at the fence and walks over. We have to wait longer for him
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