Latest Border Blunder? US Bars Loonies Entry to Country

US Customs officials may have prevented thousands of loonies traveling with RVers from entering the US this week.

No, the G-men aren't worried about an influx of mental patients, the loonies in question were Canadian dollars, commonly dubbed "loonies" for the image of the bird that appears on the coin. In actuality, two Canadian couples, each in a motorhome, attempted to make the crossing into the US en route to Mexico. For whatever reason, US officials inquired about how much cash the RVers were carrying, and reports indicate the failed to 'fess up to carrying more than $10,000 in currency.

While it's not illegal to carry that amount of money in or out of the US, federal law requires it be declared. In this case, more than $10,000 in Canadian, US, and Mexican funds were found stashed throughout the motorhomes. According to the Port Huron Times Herald, the RVers new they were obligated to report the cash, yet did not. They were allowed to continue on with a convoy of other RVers, after the cash was put under arrest. For "humanitarian reasons," the border guards allowed an undisclosed amount of cash to continue on with the travelers. As for the rest, the owners will be able to reclaim it--after they jump through hoops, including proving where the money came from.

Arizona RVer dodges 3-year jail bullet over Canadian firearms violation

A U.S. citizen should be grateful he has poor health--it kept him out of a potential three year "visit" to a Canadian prison after he tried to enter the country with a cache of undeclared weapons.

Collie Roe, a 66 year-old self-described firearms instructor from Arizona, thought he'd take a shortcut from Michigan to a New York gun show by cutting across Canada. At the border he declared he was carrying four weapons to a gun show. Customs officials must have smelled a rat, because they searched Roe's RV and towed vehicle. In reality, Roe was toting a total of 16 firearms, a loaded handgun in his pocket, and several more--including 9 mm and .45 caliber handguns--all loaded--in the immediate vicinity of his driver seat.

According to the Times Herald of Port Huron, Roe could have spent the mandatory three-year sentence in jail for his convictions on weapons possession, illegal importation, and customs evasions charges. In light of his poor health, a Canadian court rolled his convictions into what in the US is considered a misdemeanor status. Nevertheless, Roe spent three months in jail, had to pay $5,000 to get his RV and toad released, and his weapons will soon be scrap metal.