Traveling to South Padre, what about CBP

[Glockster]

I travel there several times a year, and in fact if you're going this weekend we may well pass each other on the road as I am going there in the morning! As stated above, they do not have stops on the way down, only on the way back up. To be blunt, if you do not fit the profile they will waive you off before you even have your car completely stopped. Having said that, I would advise against speeding going to and from there, particularly as you cross the bridge onto SPI. But they often also have heavy speed limit enforcement (the locals) anywhere South of Corpus Christi and you are much more likely to be stopped by them than CBP.

[AJSully421]

I have been stopped on 77 NB in Sarita.

"Are you a US Citizen ?"

"Yes Sir."

"Have a great day."

[flowrie]

A little off topic, but two years ago I flew out of Brownsville, a border agent asked for my ID prior to the TSA check point. I open my wallet to get my DL and he saw my CHL ID. He quickly became suspicious and wanted to know why I had two IDs. I explained it was my CHL ID and also informed him I had no weapon on me.
He told me he had never seen a CHL ID. He just saw my picture on the ID and thought I might be carrying two different IDs.
We were both polite to each other, I went on and boarded the plane. No problems. I was just surprised he had never seen a CHL ID before ( I know, LTC now, but CHL back then).

[Abraham]

What's the point of these checkpoints?

Surely, it isn't to stop further illegal alien incursions, is it?

If so, it's failing miserably.

[J.R.@A&M]

I pass thru CBP check points dozens of times per year, if you aren't transporting drugs for the dog to hit on, all they ask you is your citizenship. I've never had them ask me about my weapons. Do be respectful, I did see them make a smart mouth man's life a living heck.

I have had them also ask me my destination, and whether anyone else was in the car with me. I think their intention was to gauge my reaction to their questions, not to obtain the information itself. This extra line of questioning also came early one morning when there was not a line of cars.

[Abraham]

"I have had them also ask me my destination, and whether anyone else was in the car with me."

These kind of questions annoy the heck out of me.

I'm an American citizen and as long as I'm not breaking any laws, it's none of their business who my passenger may be and where I'm going.

Were I asked and felt motivated, I might just be one of those guys who refuse to answer such "none of their business" questions and face the consequences. Of course, there should be no consequences, but given some of these BP guys have their own insupportable attitudes towards demeaning American citizens, there probably would be...

This kind of thing is a pet peeve.

If I'm not breaking any laws, (and they're not chasing some recent law breaker, just pestering me and others....) LE has no business interrogating me.

[rotor]

"I have had them also ask me my destination, and whether anyone else was in the car with me."

These kind of questions annoy the heck out of me.

I'm an American citizen and as long as I'm not breaking any laws, it's none of their business who my passenger may be and where I'm going.

Were I asked and felt motivated, I might just be one of those guys who refuse to answer such "none of their business" questions and face the consequences. Of course, there should be no consequences, but given some of these BP guys have their own insupportable attitudes towards demeaning American citizens, there probably would be...

This kind of thing is a pet peeve.

If I'm not breaking any laws, (and they're not chasing some recent law breaker, just pestering me and others....) LE has no business interrogating me.

I agree with you completely and I had no idea what a CBP was until I googled it. I obviously have never been through one. There is a good primer on https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail ... der-patrol which discusses the legal authority of the Border Patrol so I guess it has gone through the courts and is legal.

[ScottDLS]

"I have had them also ask me my destination, and whether anyone else was in the car with me."

These kind of questions annoy the heck out of me.

I'm an American citizen and as long as I'm not breaking any laws, it's none of their business who my passenger may be and where I'm going.

Were I asked and felt motivated, I might just be one of those guys who refuse to answer such "none of their business" questions and face the consequences. Of course, there should be no consequences, but given some of these BP guys have their own insupportable attitudes towards demeaning American citizens, there probably would be...

This kind of thing is a pet peeve.

If I'm not breaking any laws, (and they're not chasing some recent law breaker, just pestering me and others....) LE has no business interrogating me.

I agree with you completely and I had no idea what a CBP was until I googled it. I obviously have never been through one. There is a good primer on https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail ... der-patrol which discusses the legal authority of the Border Patrol so I guess it has gone through the courts and is legal.

Based on this you have the option of remaining mute and refusing to communicate until they either develop probable cause from their non-intrusive observations or let you go. Some people will do this. Most will just hand them a ID or Passport and be done with it.

Getting back to the original post...having an AR-15 rifle and ammunition in your passenger compartment is not illegal and therefore requires no further justification to the Feds. I doubt these checks help keep out illegal aliens, they're just another hassle for the rest of us.

[Abraham]

koine2002,

This is the easiest path, no doubt.

I just think it's insulting to be asked such intrusive questions.

As to it's reason being to stop/slow down drug traffic, pfffffft, as if....

BP ought to be working at preventing illegal alien intrusion, not pestering U.S. citizens with lame, bothersome, time consuming unreasonable, non-productive questions.

[OldCurlyWolf]

In 98 I told one at the CP East of Eagle Pass when he asked if I was a US citizen" That's what my Passport says".
I don't think he appreciated my humor, but he didn't give me any guff.

[Ericjd0887]

I've been to matamoros Mexico and back a couple times this year now and every time I have gone through that check point, a dog has walked around the car, and of course... no hit, then I get asked if I'm a us citizen and if everyone in the car with me, is a us citizen. Not once have I've been asked to show id and the gun is sitting in the middle compartment, but they have no idea and don't need to know.

[suthdj]

Ya no problem went through it they asked "you 2 both Americans" I said yes all 3 of us he missed my kid in back seat.

[techenigma]

No need to mention anything. You're a citizen and you are travelling free. I've never been asked anything other than if I am a us citizen and waved along.