Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear?

Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (Full Version)

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DprdJeff -> Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 12:15:23 PM)
I am planning a trip to see my girl in Vancouver, BC and want to take along some of my favorite BDSM toys. Specifically some bondage equipment, outfits, adult diapers, plugs, paddles, etc. I am driving, not flying. Anyone have any experience with crossing the border with these types of items? Would they deny me entry or make me forfeit anything in particular? Anything else I should know? Thanks in advance. =)

leadership527 -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 12:24:31 PM)
They do not ask you about kinky stuff. They're going to ask you about the purpose of your visit, how long you're going to be there, when you're returning. Primarily the reason for these questions is so they can feel confident that you really ARE going to return. They will also ask you about some items like alcohol, tobacco, weapons, food products. Note: Things like folding pocket knives ?may? count as a weapon. If you have something like that in your toy box, then put it somewhere else and declare it. You are WAY better off to tell them about something and let them decide they don't care about it than trying to conceal anything. We've gone over the Canadian/US border quite a few times now and not once have they asked, "So what kinky stuff do you have?" They are more interested in whether you owe duty on something and whether you'll be returning to the states or not.

Palliata -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 1:32:10 PM)
Yeah leadership's spot on. Never crossed the Canadian border but I've crossed a lot of others and they searched me like a thousand times (which I frequently took personally, by the way) and never commented on anything except the possibility of drugs or alcohol. One guy asked me if I had "anything else he might be interested in" when I said no to the drugs question, which I took to mean "anything else illegal" and he went on his merry way when I said no. That said, I never carried anything like a knife so as leadership says you might want to be careful about that. Either hide it somewhere they definitely won't look, or admit to it when asked and plead ignorance if they decide to confiscate it.

leadership527 -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 1:40:49 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Palliata Either hide it somewhere they definitely won't look, or admit to it when asked and plead ignorance if they decide to confiscate it. The first of those options carries some ugly penalties attached for no particular gain. I'd MUCH rather have them confiscate a $15 pocket knife than have them confiscate my visa. Sheez, if they take the knife I'll stop at the first store I see and pickup a new one. No biggie. I am of the opinion that the best way to deal with border folks, BY FAR, is to be absolutely straight and open with them and help them to do their job. That attitude has not only gotten me over the border every time, it's also gotten me "in" when they shouldn't have let me in as well as saved me a about a thousand dollars in import duty. I half way wonder if they are just so happy to be dealing with someone who's not trying to game the system that they waive a lot of stuff.

crazyml -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 1:59:54 PM)
I've come into Toronto from the UK a few times with various bits'n'pieces... and never had any problems. The guys on the border have always seemed most concerned about figuring out whether I planned to work in Canada while I was there, rather than anything else. I really would echo Jeff's advice - play it really really straight with Border people, they have enormous powers to spoil your day!

Palliata -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 2:06:57 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: leadership527 quote: ORIGINAL: Palliata Either hide it somewhere they definitely won't look, or admit to it when asked and plead ignorance if they decide to confiscate it. The first of those options carries some ugly penalties attached for no particular gain. I'd MUCH rather have them confiscate a $15 pocket knife than have them confiscate my visa. Sheez, if they take the knife I'll stop at the first store I see and pickup a new one. No biggie. I am of the opinion that the best way to deal with border folks, BY FAR, is to be absolutely straight and open with them and help them to do their job. That attitude has not only gotten me over the border every time, it's also gotten me "in" when they shouldn't have let me in as well as saved me a about a thousand dollars in import duty. I half way wonder if they are just so happy to be dealing with someone who's not trying to game the system that they waive a lot of stuff. I suppose so. I guess I've become cynical dealing with so many unpleasant and interrogatory border guards. Also, I'm really attached to my pocket knife lol.

IronBear -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 4:09:44 PM)
Triggered metal detectors when a girl went through wearing a steel collar.. Things were cool after it was explained that the collar was a religious item and never got removed.. (Aussie Constitution is a wonderful thing if you understand constitutional law).. My point being that in many areas if things are in the open you are better served.

DprdJeff -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 4:24:54 PM)
Thanks for the replies. I'm a bit cynical of border protection myself. My girl was coming to visit me last week, so we could attended KinkFest in Portland, OR. She got stopped at the border and her stuff searched. When they found a wig and sexy clothing, they ASSUMED she was coming to the states to work as a prostitute. The wig's only purpose was to make her feel more comfortable about not being recognized at KinkFest. They interrogated her for eight hours, refused her food or drink, refused to let her take her medication, chained her up and escorted her back to Canada with an Order of Expedited Removal. That order carries with it an automatic five year ban from re-entering the US. They did all of that on an untrue assumption. As far as I'm concerned US Customs and Border Protection can kiss my ass. They are an embarrassment to the country I love.

leadership527 -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 5:01:38 PM)
wait wait... you're saying that they prevented entry into the US on the basis of a wig? Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with you that US customs is an embarrassment in some ways but that goes WAY past anything I've ever experienced or heard about before. Conveniently enough from your standpoint the Canadian customs are a lot friendlier and more welcoming. Yeah yeah, they put on their game face and ask you all the required questions but they're somehow not quite so "menacing" in the process. Just go into the situation remembering three important things: You're not doing anything wrong. You don't intend to do anything wrong. You're only purpose here at the border is to facilitate them doing their job so you can be on about your way. For every horror story like what you wrote a hundred thousand people pass the border unmolested. They are not there to make your life a living hell. Thinking that gives them way more power in the situation than you want to give them. And most importantly, you're dominant. Be in control of the situation. Don't let them or your own fears/insecurities/paranoias control it.

IronBear -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 5:04:14 PM)
Jolly well said!

DprdJeff -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 5:38:25 PM)
I have no doubt that I will pass through without problem. My girl is very skittish and easily frightened by authority though. As for their basis for removing her... 1. She had a wig and sexy lingerie in her bag. They deemed these items to be wares of a prostitute/model. 2. When asked who she was visiting, she told them the truth and gave them my name. They searched my name in whatever database and learned that I run adult web sites for a living. These two points together gave them the impression that she lied about her reason for visiting and was actually entering the US to work as a pornographic web site. That is actually what they wrote on her Order for Expedited Removal. They even called me while she was there and asked me a bunch of questions. I was completely honest with them, but they still didn't believe her. Absolutely no proof. Just a 'gut feeling' on their part and she's banned for five years. It's ridiculous beyond belief. The worst part is there is no appeal process for expedited removal. The only option is to apply for a 212 waiver, which takes about a year to process and costs $585. No guarantee that it will even be approved.

Rochsub2009 -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 6:17:00 PM)
Sorry to hear that you apparently ran into trouble. I've crossed the border dozens of times. I used to serve a Domme in Toronto. Every now and then, my car was searched (they do random searches). Twice I've had BDSM gear with me. I've seen the border patrol guys hold up my whips, strap-ons, and floggers and show them to one another while they all giggled, but they've never said anything to me about any of them. They merely said "have a good time", and they all giggled. There is nothing illegal about any of these items, so there is no risk in taking them across the border. But frankly, I'd think twice about taking knives, swords, or any other items that could be construed as dangerous weapons. If you really need those items for play, buy them when you get across the border, and then leave them there with your partner until next time. Don't tempt fate unnecessarily.

Palliata -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 9:11:17 PM)
That is deeply and incredibly fucked up..

Kana -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 9:14:37 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DprdJeff Thanks for the replies. I'm a bit cynical of border protection myself. My girl was coming to visit me last week, so we could attended KinkFest in Portland, OR. She got stopped at the border and her stuff searched. When they found a wig and sexy clothing, they ASSUMED she was coming to the states to work as a prostitute. The wig's only purpose was to make her feel more comfortable about not being recognized at KinkFest. They interrogated her for eight hours, refused her food or drink, refused to let her take her medication, chained her up and escorted her back to Canada with an Order of Expedited Removal. That order carries with it an automatic five year ban from re-entering the US. They did all of that on an untrue assumption. As far as I'm concerned US Customs and Border Protection can kiss my ass. They are an embarrassment to the country I love. Yeah, they do that to me, I am gonna have my lawyer talking to them in the A.M. And trust me on this, you folks think I'm a dick, you should meet my lawyer. He's a shark in an Armani suit.

littlewonder -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 9:40:48 PM)
hhmm...am I the only one finding that a little hard to believe? There has to be more to the story than just finding a wig and sexy clothing? How well do you know this girl? Background check? Just seems pretty extreme to me. I know a lot of people who come and go from and to Canada with wigs, sexy outfits, toys, bdsm gear, etc....hell I know people who cross over with hunting rifles and yet not one has ever had a problem. They tell the guards what they're crossing for and the guards just let them through. I have to think there's something else here.

DprdJeff -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/24/2011 9:49:42 PM)
There is nothing else. She is a nervous type of girl. I've known her for quite a while. My best guess is that because she gets scared crossing the border, they assumed she was acting suspicious. When they didn't find anything illegal in her bags, they went out of their way to find something wrong. Direct text from the Notice and Order of Expedited Removal she was served with: "You attempted to enter the United States on 03/17/2011, in order to work as a model on a pornographic web site in Seattle Washington. During the interview you misrepresented your true intentions for enter." That is their official reason for everything. I have copies of the order itself. And since I am the one she was coming to visit and the one running the pornographic web sites they referred to, I would know if she was lying to them. She is far too skittish to appear on any of my sites. She would die of nervousness at the thought of being recognized.

ResidentSadist -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/25/2011 3:11:04 PM)
quote: Anyone have any experience with crossing the border with these types of items? Yes - I lost an Nazi (and other military) dagger collection and some antique medical gear worth more than $10,000. I went to Canada with a trunk full of gear. On the way back, US Customs nailed me and impounded my stuff. I had no receipts to prove country of origin or value. There was ivory and gold on the daggers, jade on the Japanese sex carvings, antique medical gear etc. After evaluating the attorney fees, investigator costs to track down valid receipts, bribes to dealers to forge fake receipts, it was almost a wash. I never got my shit back. Bring receipts for every piece of gear proving you bought it in the USA not Canada. Otherwise those vanilla fuckers at the border will have a means to screw with you and take ALL your shit.

DreamyLadySnow -> RE: Traveling to Canada with BDSM Gear? (3/25/2011 5:10:44 PM)
Your guys care more about these things than our guys. THat said, they've been known to confiscate kinky porn. Lots of kinksters go both ways across the border without a problem.

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