Why in the world does Calif still have checkpoint at state borders?

[BoomerD]

I've never been stopped at a checkpoint when driving into CA. What the hell is the OP talking about? The Mexican border?

Not sure what roads you've entered the state on, but here's the map of inspection stations:
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pe/ExteriorExclusion/borders_map.html

I've had to stop at the inspection stations hundreds of times over the years. Generally, once you get to the inspector, it takes a matter of seconds to answer the questions and you're on your way...presuming you're not bringing in anything on their quarantine list...it's rare for them to hold a vehicle or deny entrance to the state...but it happens. (inspection is voluntary, but they can deny you and your vehicle entrance until it's inspected if they feel they have enough reason)

 

[Jaskalas]

I've never been stopped at a checkpoint when driving into CA. What the hell is the OP talking about? The Mexican border?

There's one on the road to Nevada, one to Arizona, and another north of San Diego. Those are just the three that I've been through.

Granted, I think those spend most of their time closed.

 

[Deeko]

What are you fucking talking about? I drive into Lake Tahoe 10-12 times a year. What freaking checkpoint do you get stopped? Oh that one where you stop voluntarily and 99.999 percent of all vehicles drive right by? Gotcha.

Shrug. That's like not even the border. It's the entry into Lake Tahoe, CA. The actual border is just like in the middle of some road. You just drive right across. Nothing's there. I don't understand the fuss.

The last time I drove back into CA from Vegas there was a checkpoint, and the backup it caused on the highway was massive. All for basically nothing. I understand the purpose of the checkpoint, but they aren't really checking anything! Which means they are A) wasting a lot of money in a state that has none and B) they are wasting everyone's time for nothing.

 

[Moonbeam]

This state does not have enough money to pay its police firefighters and teachers and yet on every freaking highway, when you enter the state, you are stopped and asked about if you are carrying any "seeds" or fruits??? OMG, common already, get over with our stupid agricultural policies, if someone wants to carry some seeds that you don't like, believe me, they will get it in. Also its not even a real check point. All they do is ask, they don't actually check anything. What a waste of resources IM(<>H)O...

Because you think in a criminal manner you probably are and so the point of those stations would be lost on you. They are there to inform the public that fruit and other agricultural products they may have in their cars could pose a threat to California agriculture and that they as the good citizens most of us are, will abandon them there at the station. Real citizens do what is right for their fellow citizens when they know what the right thing to do is. What they may lack is the right information.

 

[bfdd]

Because agriculture is a huge part of their economy and they don't need people bringing in some mutant fungus that kills all avocados or something.

Not like they just do it for the lulz.

If something came in and killed all of our avocados all hell would break loose.

 

[DesiPower]

Because you think in a criminal manner you probably are and so the point of those stations would be lost on you. They are there to inform the public that fruit and other agricultural products they may have in their cars could pose a threat to California agriculture and that they as the good citizens most of us are, will abandon them there at the station. Real citizens do what is right for their fellow citizens when they know what the right thing to do is. What they may lack is the right information.

Once again you are WRONG, I know you think you are the brightest and smartest here but once again you have proven that you are dumbest self loathing idiot around. READ what it says on its site, nowhere does it says "inform"

BORDER PROTECTION STATIONS

California’s Border Protection Stations (BPS) are the first line of defense in our pest exclusion efforts. At these stations, vehicles are inspected for commodities infested with invasive species. California established its first agricultural inspection stations in the early 1920s. Today there are 16 of these facilities located on the major highways entering the State (see interactive map). At these stations, vehicles and commodities are checked to ensure they are pest free and meet all regulatory requirements.

In 2008, more than 23.8 million private vehicles and 7 million commercial vehicles were inspected at the BPS. From these vehicles, inspectors rejected over 73,000 lots of plant material (fruits, vegetables, plants, etc.) because they were in violation of California or federal plant quarantine laws.

From these interceptions, inspectors found and submitted 11,617 specimens (i.e., insects, diseases, weeds, mollusks and vertebrate animals) to CDFA’s Plant Pest Diagnostics Lab for identification — over 3,200 of these specimens were exotic invasive species capable of causing serious damage. Among these were: Gypsy moth, Asian citrus psyllid, quagga mussel, imported fire ant, cherry fruit fly, Japanese beetle, spotted knapweed, cedar–apple rust, and glassy–winged sharpshooter (just to name a few).

 

[LunarRay]

I guess the plant police at these border check points must have probable cause to inspect the contents of vehicles for the object of their inquiry.

The OP did link in the post above a 'blurb' that identified what they found during inspections... I presume those inspections occurred because folks answered 'Yes' to the questions... or it was obvious to the inspectors (probable cause)... Either way, By these 'stations' hopefully folks will be better informed regarding what not to bring into California and not bring stuff in and lie about it and result in our agriculture being infested with what evers...

 

[Moonbeam]

Once again you are WRONG, I know you think you are the brightest and smartest here but once again you have proven that you are dumbest self loathing idiot around. READ what it says on its site, nowhere does it says "inform"

Nah, I'm not the brightest or smartest. I just know what happens at those places because I have actually driven through them. They ask you if you have plant or fruit materials that could have pests. You read some shit and think you know something and I lived some shit and do know something.

 

[holden j caufield]

it is very lol. All they do is ask if you are bringing in anything you aren't supposed to. It's like the stupidest honor system ever. You just say no and go on your way.

 

[LunarRay]

it is very lol. All they do is ask if you are bringing in anything you aren't supposed to. It's like the stupidest honor system ever. You just say no and go on your way.

I guess that is the way we are ... trusting that citizens have some moral character... we presume that to be true even with folks who'd lie and unwittingly jeopardize his fellow man's livelihood being amonst us. Then there are the rights we all hold dear... To be secure in our person without any unreasonable intervention...

So, yes, some may advocate a system with more stringent inspection and not rely on honor... while others say eliminate it... I suppose cuz they doubt folks will honor a less enforced method. But, at the end of the day we all have rights and responsibilities and that may at times rely stictly on one's honor... Giving testimony under oath comes to mind... Would it help if you had to swear on a bible or a rock or some other document or symbol at these stations?

 

[piasabird]

Just tattoo ILLEGAL on their forehead.

 

[DesiPower]

Just tattoo ILLEGAL on their forehead.

lolrofllamo, where the hell did that some from!?

 

[Moonbeam]

lolrofllamo, where the hell did that some from!?

One of our more gifted members

 

[sactoking]

CA Agricultural Checkpoints are stupid. I've driven through them from all three bordering states. You could easily just go through the "Returning Locals" lane if you wanted, there typically aren't any patrol cars there that could pull you over. If you do choose to stop then the only thing they ask is usually "Where you comin' from?". If your answer is somewhat close by they wave you through. Sometimes they'll ask "Do you have any fruits or vegetables to declare?", but that's rare. You could easily *lie* and say you were coming from Ashland, OR instead of Corvallis, OR. You could easily *lie* and say "No officer, no fruits here" with a crate of illegal Ecuadorian plantains in the trunk. It's not like they have fruit-sniffing dogs there. I guess maybe they could actually inspect interstate trucks for bills of lading but it really is just a pointless, stupid expense and slight hassle.

 

[AreaCode707]

CA Agricultural Checkpoints are stupid. I've driven through them from all three bordering states. You could easily just go through the "Returning Locals" lane if you wanted, there typically aren't any patrol cars there that could pull you over. If you do choose to stop then the only thing they ask is usually "Where you comin' from?". If your answer is somewhat close by they wave you through. Sometimes they'll ask "Do you have any fruits or vegetables to declare?", but that's rare. You could easily *lie* and say you were coming from Ashland, OR instead of Corvallis, OR. You could easily *lie* and say "No officer, no fruits here" with a crate of illegal Ecuadorian plantains in the trunk. It's not like they have fruit-sniffing dogs there. I guess maybe they could actually inspect interstate trucks for bills of lading but it really is just a pointless, stupid expense and slight hassle.

Some people who have no idea they may be carrying contaminated fruit do go through and get educated and discard harmful produce. It isn't meant to be a cure, but it's intended to cut down on foreign pests that can damage crops, and it does what it is intended to do.

 

[BoomerD]

CA Agricultural Checkpoints are stupid. I've driven through them from all three bordering states. You could easily just go through the "Returning Locals" lane if you wanted, there typically aren't any patrol cars there that could pull you over. If you do choose to stop then the only thing they ask is usually "Where you comin' from?". If your answer is somewhat close by they wave you through. Sometimes they'll ask "Do you have any fruits or vegetables to declare?", but that's rare. You could easily *lie* and say you were coming from Ashland, OR instead of Corvallis, OR. You could easily *lie* and say "No officer, no fruits here" with a crate of illegal Ecuadorian plantains in the trunk. It's not like they have fruit-sniffing dogs there. I guess maybe they could actually inspect interstate trucks for bills of lading but it really is just a pointless, stupid expense and slight hassle.

So...it'd be better to do nothing?

Can people lie and evade the checkpoints? Absolutely. I'm sure people do it every day...but fortunately, MOST do not.

 

[MooseNSquirrel]

MooseNSquirrel is having a hard time grasping that

Not really.

The obvious answer is obvious.

What is not so obvious is considering the impact of the scale of such an operation.

We don't even have the manpower to handle something like that.

Factor in the cost associated to the various industries that rely on transient workers, and voila.

Because of the manpower issue we are probably talking about a multi-year effort which means we will have to setup a bureaucracy to handle it etc

 

[Perknose]

Some people who have no idea they may be carrying contaminated fruit do go through and get educated and discard harmful produce. It isn't meant to be a cure, but it's intended to cut down on foreign pests that can damage crops, and it does what it is intended to do.

This. Just this. Only this. You'd be surprised how many unkowledgeable visitors whose ignorance would cause harm are prevented from doing so and educated for the future.

Of course, for all of you who still cling to your fearful, comic book fantasies of the world, Evil International Fruit Terrorists can circumvent all this.

Fortunately, real life is not the comic book world of your fervid basement imaginings.

 

[lothar]

Some people who have no idea they may be carrying contaminated fruit do go through and get educated and discard harmful produce. It isn't meant to be a cure, but it's intended to cut down on foreign pests that can damage crops, and it does what it is intended to do.

How much fruits are collected at the checkpoints? That's the only way to determine if its successful or not.

People who want to lie will lie, and those agents won't bother to check.
Some nnocent people will tell the truth that they don't have any and go about their merry ways.

The question is how many innocent people carry fruits, how much fruits are collected at the checkpoints and what do the agents do with these fruits?
It's safe to assume they don't dispose of it in their state, otherwise there would be no point of the checkpoints?

How many criminals, sex offenders, etc... are caught using "probable cause" in this scenario of "checking for fruits" if they actually decided to search the vehicle?

 

[BoomerD]

How much fruits are collected at the checkpoints? That's the only way to determine if its successful or not.

People who want to lie will lie, and those agents won't bother to check.
Some nnocent people will tell the truth that they don't have any and go about their merry ways.

The question is how many innocent people carry fruits, how much fruits are collected at the checkpoints and what do the agents do with these fruits?
It's safe to assume they don't dispose of it in their state, otherwise there would be no point of the checkpoints?

How many criminals, sex offenders, etc... are caught using "probable cause" in this scenario of "checking for fruits" if they actually decided to search the vehicle?

From the link I posted above...

In 2008, more than 23.8 million private vehicles and 7 million commercial vehicles were inspected at the BPS. From these vehicles, inspectors rejected over 73,000 lots of plant material (fruits, vegetables, plants, etc.) because they were in violation of California or federal plant quarantine laws.

From these interceptions, inspectors found and submitted 11,617 specimens (i.e., insects, diseases, weeds, mollusks and vertebrate animals) to CDFA’s Plant Pest Diagnostics Lab for identification — over 3,200 of these specimens were exotic invasive species capable of causing serious damage. Among these were: Gypsy moth, Asian citrus psyllid, quagga mussel, imported fire ant, cherry fruit fly, Japanese beetle, spotted knapweed, cedar–apple rust, and glassy–winged sharpshooter (just to name a few).

 

[ericlp]

Hmmmmm, when did this start up? I've been back and forth from Oregon and reno. Never been checked or asked. Wonder if they'd pick the tomato seeds out of my teeth for me? Hawaii, on the other hand, asks every time. It gets read old filling out the AG forms ... I know it's a way to get invasive species from entering in the state, still for Hawaiian residents that fly 50 times a year it's a friggen pain. I stopped filling mine out.

 

[BoomerD]

Hmmmmm, when did this start up? I've been back and forth from Oregon and reno. Never been checked or asked. Wonder if they'd pick the tomato seeds out of my teeth for me? Hawaii, on the other hand, asks every time. It gets read old filling out the AG forms ... I know it's a way to get invasive species from entering in the state, still for Hawaiian residents that fly 50 times a year it's a friggen pain. I stopped filling mine out.

Several decades ago. I remember having to stop at the inspection station in Dorris back in the 70's.

California established its first agricultural inspection stations in the early 1920s. Today there are 16 of these facilities located on the major highways entering the State (see interactive map). At these stations, vehicles and commodities are checked to ensure they are pest free and meet all regulatory requirements.

 

[Craig234]

I guess that is the way we are ... trusting that citizens have some moral character... we presume that to be true even with folks who'd lie and unwittingly jeopardize his fellow man's livelihood being amonst us. Then there are the rights we all hold dear... To be secure in our person without any unreasonable intervention...

So, yes, some may advocate a system with more stringent inspection and not rely on honor... while others say eliminate it... I suppose cuz they doubt folks will honor a less enforced method. But, at the end of the day we all have rights and responsibilities and that may at times rely stictly on one's honor... Giving testimony under oath comes to mind... Would it help if you had to swear on a bible or a rock or some other document or symbol at these stations?

It'd be nice to invent a scanner or have a trained animal who could sniff such things out, and put them a mile down the road, and anyone who lied, goes to jail.

 

[Fear No Evil]

So we can pull over citizens who cross state borders, search their vehicles and question them. But we can't ask people who may be illegal to show proof?

I wonder if CA is concerned about all the pot that comes across the border from Mexico and the bugs that might be in it.

 

[LunarRay]

It'd be nice to invent a scanner or have a trained animal who could sniff such things out, and put them a mile down the road, and anyone who lied, goes to jail.

OMG, the Bug Police!

That would require the criminalization of interstate transport of bugs with the intent to Batter the fruits and produce of our labor (assuming such has not been codified). I'm not sure the local DA or the District US Attorney could prove that Grandma and the conspirators; Grandpa, Little Johnny and Elfie the Toy Poodle colluded in this regard. Absent malice, they should be released from the penitentiary and the Mark of the Beast removed!

Trying to be a bit funny above, I just realized that giving a false statement to a Duly Sworn Officer who has identified himself by uniform or other method is a crime, as I recall. I wonder if having ate a fruit recently and transporting it across the border in that manner might not also be an issue... it is possible to be a 'mule' and not expect to have that apple revisit the environment... but since Grandpa drives rather haphazardly... anything is possible.