And don't talk to Customs & Border Patrol, either!

[Winchster]

In a previous life, I worked for US Customs as a customs inspector. One of the reasons we were trained to ask questions wasn't because we were really interested in your trip, but to find inconsistencies in your answers. This would help determine whether or not you got to go through the "green" door or the "red" door. At least with USC, it was all about enticing passengers to trip up.

I'm not proud of this, and this weighed heavily on my conscience, which is one of the reasons why I left. Some people have no qualms about trying to entrap others, and these individuals make good federal LEOs. I realized that I would either have to ignore my conscience or find another line of work. I chose the latter.

Personally, having read the article and having been on both sides of the Customs desk, I'd not recommend this tactic unless (1) you're an attorney, and/or (2) you know full well what you're doing. CBP has search and seizure powers that supercede some 4th Amendment protections (so-called "border search exceptions"). They can make your life rather miserable. I can't begin to tell you how many "breaks" compliant passengers received, and how many secondary inspections passengers with an attitude got.

These are just two small examples of the federal government overstepping its authority. The constitution still applies. And whether or not I'm an attorney or not, I whole-heartedly agree with the guys stance, response and telling the customs people to fly a kite. If we don't exercise our freedoms, they will disappear.

kahrfreak, congratulations on having a conscience and finding other employment.

[OldCurlyWolf]

Why is politeness supposed to be a one-way street? The officer (LEO or otherwise) can be as rude, nasty, or confrontational as he wants to be, yet you're supposed to be Caspar Milquetoast. The police can lie to you, but it's illegal to lie to them, even without being under oath. Seems backwards to me.

I guess because I see politeness as being as much about self respect as it is about being respectful to the other person.

I saw a news item recently that purported that a judge had ruled politeness to a police officer as consent to search. I don't think I will be anything more than barely civil to a LEO who wants a consent to search..

[pbwalker]

I always carry a HD video camera (like the Flip or the Vado) for situations where there is ANY contact with any LEO. Cops lie, cheat, and are conniving. (Not all...but all it takes is one rotten apple to ruin a bushel). So I carry it for my protection. I also turn on my cell phone voice recorder and send it up to the web. So they can find all they want, but won't be able to retrieve it.

You can't be too careful these days.

ETA: By "find all they want", I mean all the recording devices I have running at the time.

[jdhz28]

I travel out of the country about 10 to 15 times a year. Never have I been questioned about the reason for my visit upon entry into any other country, nor should I be asked when I return home. It doesn't bother me much, but the man has a point. These guys are on the front lines trying to "protect" us....okay, and how many rights have citizens in other countries given up in the name of safety and security? It happens here, need I mention the Patriot Act. People say if you aren't a bad guy then it shouldn't matter. With infringement upon our rights growing rampant in this country, you may wake up one day and be on the governments "bad guy" list. Maybe because you failed to surrender your arms in a martial law situation. People say it cant happen. Look at Egypt, they are tearing themselves apart, simply for trying to protest. Although, it was sound advice mentioned in an earlier comment about not being a lawyer. I applaud the man, even though he is a of a jerk.

[RoyGBiv]

Back a few years ago I was traveling frequently to Mexico for work. I hated it, but, it had to be done. Something about Mexico and my stomach that just doesn't make a happy match. I like Mexican food, but Mexico doesn't like me eating there. I've traveled many other places and eaten some very odd stuff [Andrew Zimmer type stuff], but Mexico has been my nemesis.

In all of my previous travels (lots), I'd never been sent to secondary screening.

So, I'm coming back from Guadalajara into DFW with a terrible case of Montezuma's revenge. Feeling horrible, light-headed, queasy, unsteady. I must have looked a wreck too. I hand my passport to the guy at passport control and after a normal amount of time he hands them back to me and says "good luck". Not the usual "Welcome Back". This comment didn't register with me until later.

So I pick up my bag and go to exit, handing my customs declaration over to the agent near the exit. I notice a small alarm sounding... Sounded like an oven timer... The agent shows me a small beeper and says "Sorry, but you have been selected RANDOMLY for additional screening." Then I remember the "good luck" comment. So I said "Randomly?, Yeah right." and rolled my eyes. The agent started to explain how his little beeper was "random", but feeling as I did, I had no inclination for his lies and just told him "I'm coming along peaceably, don't worry about it."... I was off to a good start, eh?

Long story short.... They spent about 20 minutes inspecting my one bag, and my laptop/backpack. All the time I can feel myself swaying and sweating, and trying desperately not to hurl. Thankfully, my stomach was empty as I hadn't eaten anything in 24 hours or so...

After thoroughly checking my bag the inspector looks me with the "bad cop stare" and says "Before I check this bag again, is there anything you want to tell me?" I replied evenly, "The only thing even remotely illegal in that bag is the Cuban cigar SMOKE on my clothes, and if you don't hurry this along, you might want to step back so I don't puke on your shoes." My "I'm not joking around here either" stare must have told him that I meant every word. He said "ok, have a nice day", and sent me on my way...

I was also treated like a criminal once when I actually had something to declare. I filled out the form, went over to the "goods to declare" line to pay the duties and was promptly searched and investigated. When I finally had enough I said, loudly and angrily, "is this how you normally treat people who are up front about declaring excess goods?".. One of the managers overheard me and came over. I explained [still angrily] that I was done being treated like a smuggler for properly declaring my excess goods, and wondered rhetorically "now I know why people don't bother filling in customs forms properly".. The manager went over to a computer and, I assume, looked up my passport records. A minute later he handed me my documents, apologized for the "misunderstanding" and sent me over to the pay window.

These incidents happened about 8-9 years ago, close together...
So far, I've not had any similar issues coming home.

Overall, yes, I think our BPS guys could be more polite. But, honestly, if you've not done anything wrong, refusing to answer a few "feeler" questions just to make a point is asking for a headache... If you have the time and inclination to make that stand, I say "more power to you"... After 14 hours on a flight home from Taipei, I just want to make my connection and get into bed...

[Bart]

I travel out of the country about 10 to 15 times a year. Never have I been questioned about the reason for my visit upon entry into any other country, nor should I be asked when I return home.

I always get asked the reason for my visit by the other country's immigration official. When I answer business I always get asked additional questions about the nature of my business. When I answer pleasure or tourism they sometimes ask additional questions but not always. The foreign official has a legitimate reason to know my business in their country. The US official has no legitimate reason to know what I did outside his jurisdiction, although they do have a legitimate reason to control what I "import" in my baggage. To avoid the hassle of a full inspection, which is legitimate, I'm willing to answer a few questions that aren't really their business. But everyone has to pick their own battles.