clearmysix
Newbie
Posts: 5
Registered: 6-11-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
SENTRI definition of Cargo?
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
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
| 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
Senior Nomad
Posts: 520
Registered: 4-12-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
|
|
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
Newbie
Posts: 5
Registered: 6-11-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
| 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
Senior Nomad
Posts: 520
Registered: 4-12-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
|
|
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
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7084
Registered: 8-5-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
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
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
|
|
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
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 8-24-2010
Location: Tijuana
Member Is Offline
Mood: in search of more
|
|
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
Senior Nomad
Posts: 857
Registered: 4-24-2006
Location: Warner Springs, CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
There was no issue crossing at SY in Feb. with a generator in the bed of my truck.
|
|
|
dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
| 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.
|
|
|
baconjr
Nomad
Posts: 128
Registered: 7-14-2012
Member Is Offline
Mood: Es la vida de perro!
|
|
The Guy who needs a hug.
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
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5900
Registered: 7-18-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
| 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
Nomad
Posts: 180
Registered: 2-27-2013
Location: SADM, Playas de T.J./Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Cautiously Optimistic
|
|
CBP... TSA with guns! (IMHO)
|
|
|
clearmysix
Newbie
Posts: 5
Registered: 6-11-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
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
Senior Nomad
Posts: 520
Registered: 4-12-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
|
|
| 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.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
