[stily1]

Yo,

Just picked up my Nexus card yesterday and the cop told me it won't work for motorcycles. He stated that all the electronics at the booth are triggered by the mass of a car and won't be triggered by a motorcycle, so you'll always be required to go inside and follow a long list of requirements just as if you arrived at the Nexus booth without a card at all!

Now, it still might be better than pushing your bike in the line for three hours in the flippin' baking sun, but........ anybody got better info???

Also, turns out that you "declare" anything you're bringing back (theoretically down to a chocolate bar, he said) on the card you have to pre-fill out, and even if there's nobody at the booth you slip this card into the slot, and they AUTOMATICALLY CHARGE YOUR CREDIT CARD FOR THE TAXES YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE CHARGED IF YOU GO THROUGH THE NORMAL LINE (provided you didn't buy much), so they're making money off this thing.

Somebody please tell me there's more advantage than this. I'm starting to think this was a waste of $80. :surrender

Also, the cop said that if you arrive at the booth and there isn't an officer but the slot is open, slip your declaration card in and go, but if the slot is closed, then you sit and wait for a cop. But, if a bike doesn't trigger the damned thing, then what? Do you sit there blocking the Nexus lane until somebody notices and comes out?????? Blah!

 

[stily1]

Hm.....well, okay. I wonder why he went to the trouble to tell me all of that, then? In theory they could revoke your card for failing to deposit your declaration slip (so he said), but, clearly that's not happening. Thanks. :rockon

I easily save $200 a year by hearing the border agent say "nah, don't worry about it, go ahead." But that being said, if there's nobody in the booth, why put a form into the slot at all? Keep your form in one pocket, and your card in the other. Pull up and offer the card. If there's someone in the booth, reach into the other pocket and pull out your form. If there isn't, put the card back in your pocket, and ride on.


I would. If it happens often enough, they'll have to increase the sensitivity.

 

[stily1]

Well, I'm at a loss for why the border cop told me all of that, then. Let's hope things aren't about to change or something. I'm tempted to call and ask. He seemed very confident in what he said.

They did tell me that you can now cross the border in the Nexus line in other than your registered vehicle (i.e. a rental car).

I've had Nexus since it started (and had CanPass before that) and have never had a problem going through on my bike.
I did register my bike's plate number on Nexus a while ago and don't know if you still have to do this.

 

[stily1]

I never meant to include *returning* to Canada in a rented US car. I suspect you are right that that would not fly. As a US citizen you can drive a US car into canada as a visitor for up to one month (as I recall), but the instant you're intending to live in Canada you can't cross the border with your vehicle at all! You have to file all sorts of paperwork and wait a minimum of three days while they (claim to) confirm it's your car in the first place.

I only meant to say that as a Canadian with a Nexus pass it appears that now you don't have to have your (Canadian) vehicle registered with Nexus to cross any more. You can drive into the US in a rented (or borrowed) Canadian car.

YOu might wanna double check that... CBS clearly states that it is unlawful for a Canadian Citizen to operate a US registered & plated motor vehicle in Canada. If you cross the border operating a US registered vehicle (ie: a car you rented down there) they state that they will impound it...

Now, this seems totally bizarre, and I can't imagine it happening, but I've been told this by their officials (both in Vancouver and Ottawa) repeatedly.

 

[stily1]

I wouldn't do it without a very official invitation. I don't want to get shot. And I'm not talking about the border guards!

Maybe someone can answer this question. Are bikes allowed to lane split, at the border lineup, to the front of the line?


I've only crossed the border a couple of times on my bike. Both times, at the truck crossing, a man in a orange vest invited me to cut to the front of the line. So, does this happen for everyone? Does this happen everyday? Does it happen for both directions? Does a motorcyclist need to be waved up or invited to the front?