Phone call from Canadian Customs

[Derek06]

Well today at about noon, Canadian customs decided to phone my house asking for information on a package. the only package I have coming in is a Peterson pick set (kens pick set to be exact). The problem here is i live in B.C and i believe i need a pick licence, and i don't have one, but am not a criminal. So I was wondering if anyone could offer me any guidance on dealing with this matter, to hopefully get my picks or some of my money back.

Thanks

Derek

[Squelchtone]

i think you ned a pick license to carry them in public. for home or office use you shouldnt need one. Tell them you're studying locksmithing and you need this for work. Or that you're a security consultant and its normal operating procedure to own such equipment during the4 course of your work.

[WOT]

Well today at about noon, Canadian customs decided to phone my house asking for information on a package. the only package I have coming in is a Peterson pick set (kens pick set to be exact). The problem here is i live in B.C and i believe i need a pick licence, and i don't have one, but am not a criminal. So I was wondering if anyone could offer me any guidance on dealing with this matter, to hopefully get my picks or some of my money back.

Thanks

Derek

What information did they ask?

[SFGOON]

Be cautious with regards to the law in your area.

Never, ever lie to the government, especially when it comes to customs. Advising you to do so is irresponsible.

Wow, it's been a long time since I locked a thread, but I'm putting the kibosh on this for right now. Digital Blue lives in Canada and will be able to provide you with expert-level help. Fortunately, he can also unlock threads.

He'll square you away.

[digital_blue]

Firstly... standard disclaimer: I AM NOT A LAWYER.


Ok.. the Criminal Code of Canada, as I interpret it, would indicate that possession of pick tools in BC is illegal without a license granted by the province. There is nothing I can find that distinguishes possession from carrying in public. In other words, my interpretation of the law would indicated that it is unlawful for you to own picks, whether you keep them at home, or whether you carry them on your person.

Now, whether you choose to do so is entirely your prerogative. Seems to me that there are a lot of people in BC who are possessing a lot of illegal things... usually hanging around Gastown, as I recall.

I agree that it is unwise to lie to a government official. You may, however, explain to them that you are studying the locksmith trade (which is, by all rights, perfectly true) and see where it goes from there.

This is, in all the time I've been involved in this stuff, the first time that I have heard of picks being stopped by Canadian customs.

I'd love to hear how it turned out.

db

[Derek06]

Sorry for the late reply, and thanks for all the information. I do agree that lying will probably get me into serious trouble, and will go with the "I am interest in locksmithing" response. Also I would like to ask if this thread can stay unlocked for a little bit so that I can post their response tomorrow, as it might benefit some people who might have a smilar problem, and might clear up the legal questions that people may have.

Thanks for the help

Derek

[WOT]

Sorry for the late reply, and thanks for all the information. I do agree that lying will probably get me into serious trouble, and will go with the "I am interest in locksmithing" response. Also I would like to ask if this thread can stay unlocked for a little bit so that I can post their response tomorrow, as it might benefit some people who might have a smilar problem, and might clear up the legal questions that people may have.

Thanks for the help

Derek

So WHAT INFORMATION did they ask you?
Isn't the customs only looking for things that conflict with import regulations rather than looking for things that might conflict with provincial regs, which vary from prov to prov?

[raimundo]

very likely customs has their own laws, and do not enforce the laws of the provence, You are dealing with the feds and they don't share much with the locals if its at all like the US.

You got some tightass rookie at customs making an issue about some postal or customs matter, likely this is not going to involve the provence and you may just have to pay some charge to recieve them, Remember government is just a protection racket interested in your money.

[Safety0ff]

If they get taken away, you could try contacting the company you placed the order with. It's worth a shot. Unless you bought them off a person.

[JackNco]

If they get taken away, you could try contacting the company you placed the order with. It's worth a shot. Unless you bought them off a person.

Peterson say that anyone buying tool direct (and most of the people reselling them) must be a locksmith, in that case he would have a licence to have the picks, I think in this case you may have lost your tool. hope it wasnt a big order?

John

[Derek06]

Hello, again.
No luck as of yet on contacting them, and I am sorry for the missed questions, but undestand that yesterday I fell off a 30 foot rock face and somehow came out only bruised, and really shaken, and must have missed it. The only thing they said to me on my answering machine was that they had a "interesting" package that they would like to inquire about, and that I should give them a call. So I guess its possible that they only want money, which would be great because that would mean I can get my order. Also I should add that I ordered it from the site sponsor, and I think they say I am respoinsible for customs seisures, so I dont think I am going to get anything back, unless I can get customs to send it back to lockpickshop.com which seems unlikely.

Now that I think I have answered most of the questions, I have one more. Do any of you think I have been or will be blacklisted in anyway by customs? As in they will pay special attention to my orders just incase I try to order picks again.

Thanks again for all the information.

Derek

[Derek06]

Okay. So I just phoned customs, and I was asked what did I order, and they inquired on if I was a lock smith, and on why I was ordering them. I answered politely to their buisnessy atitude thruthfuly with "No I am no a licened locksmith, but would like to be" and was then cut off with "when" I told them "when ever I could" She then said that "people who order these thing are people who want to break in to places, and those who are already lock smiths". I then asked if I was allowed to have them, and she told me that yes I am, but she does not recomend that the police catch you with these, and I was the made aware that the rcmp will come to talk to me if I sent them through and recomended that I send them back to lockpickshop.com. So I told her I have no problems with the RCMP coming to talk to me and told her that I will never and have never broken into a place.

They are being put onto a plane and I expect them and the RCMP within a day or two.

So I guess that the customs officials either dont know the laws or are only concerned about the federal import laws with ultimately means that shipping lockpicks through the border is not illegal.

I hope this whole experience has helped clear things up, and I will post again after I get my visit.

Thanks for all the help. With out you guys this might not have been possible, and sorry if the post is odd, I still feel strange from the fall (see above)

Derek

[vrocco]

Interesting.....I would like to hear if the RCMP actually show up and what they say if they do show up.

[Buggs41]

In the 'laws' thread, I believe that posession with intent to......yada,yada.... Is the normal verbage of the laws written.

If the rcmp show up at your door, show them all your practice locks. This will prove that you do in fact plan on using the picks in your own home.

[JackNco]

In the 'laws' thread, I believe that posession with intent to......yada,yada.... Is the normal verbage of the laws written.

If the rcmp show up at your door, show them all your practice locks. This will prove that you do in fact plan on using the picks in your own home.

Or that you are a repeat offender of the law.... I would probably ask someone that knows the legal issues you might be facing from a professional standpoint. just to cover my own ass if i was you.

John