Gigem
Deep in the Heart of Texas
Full Member
Joined: 08/20/2002
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
OK, so the curiosity is getting to me. We are returning from our trip of a lifetime from Alaska. We re-entered the U.S. Today in Montana. We came down hwy. 93 from Radium Hot Springs, BC. Now the question. When we got to the U.S. Border, they directed us off to the right (cargo lane) and then we had to drive the RV through some type of scanner. I assume this is some type of infrared scanner that could be looking for people being smuggled into the U.S. In our 5th wheel? It only took a second and we took the trailer through about 3 MPH. I don't want a call from the boarder patrol but can anyone tell me what the scanner was? Thanks.
Marie and Paul,
2005 Ford F350 PSD DRW LB CC
16K Draw-Tite Slider
2003 HitchHiker II LS 32.5 RLBG
|
skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
Senior Member
Joined: 12/17/2003
View Profile
|
Could have been an IR scanner or a sniffer for explosives. Why didn't you ask them?
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
|
joe b.
Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 08/24/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
These tend to be multi use devices. One thing they check for is radiation, some times heats sources, where there shouldn't be any, the odor of explosives, some are listening devices, yes they can hear conversations through closed windows. Most of the ones I have seen are fiberglass poles types and some have an overhead one.
On a few they have a couple of cameras mounted on/in the part on the road that you drive over so they can check the underside of your rig.
* This post was
edited 07/24/10 03:58pm by joe b. *
joe b.
Stuart Florida
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Chevy 3500 DRW Dmax CC - Rockwood 8281 SS 5th Whl & 2008 Lance 845 TC
www.pajbcooper.com web site
Alaska Trip 2011 posted
Alaska-Colorado - photos
"Without challenge, adventure is impossible".
|
SCVJeff
Santa Clarita, CA.
Senior Member
Joined: 07/28/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
If it was a full vehicle scanner it most likely was looking for anything radioactive out of the ordinary. I saw these being manufactured in a portable platform a few years ago and it took some sweet-talking to get a tour and discussion of the system.
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350
|
jlawless
Coldfoot, AK
Senior Member
Joined: 07/23/2007
View Profile
|
You were hyperspaced into the future. Welcome!
No, you were probably scanned by a "Z Backscatter X-ray imaging to assist in the identification of organics for improved detection of drugs, explosives, and other organic contraband."
"other organic contraband" would surely include people, marijuana, and many other things besides explosives.
I think we are all being scanned by similar things at the border but if you drive a large or "odd-shaped" vehicle you may be sent to a special area.
HERE IS A LINK
Talk to the animals. They will talk back to you. If you don't talk to the animals, they won't talk back to you, and you will fear and when you fear animals you will destroy, and if you destroy the animals, you will destroy yourself.
Chief Dan George
|
|
|
lonnie4801
Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 01/22/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
We went through one at Portal, ND the end of September last year.
Lonnie and Sue
2007 HR Ambassador 40'
2008 Chevy Colorado Z71 4x4 Crew Cab
West Texas, Retired
Fulltimers. No more grass to cut, no more leaves to rake, and can move if we don't like our neighbors.
States we spent time in, drive throughs not marked.
|
zigzagrv
Nazareth, PA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/12/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
We were scanned 4 times this past March in Texas whenever we had traveled close to the border. They used those portable devices setup just before you enter the inspection area. There were a bunch of sensors or scanners on the units.
Ron
2003 Gulf Stream Ultra Supreme 33'
F53 Class A
'95 Tracker toad
|
Tom N
Sarver, PA/Crystal River, FL/Hawthorn, PA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/25/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
These are scanning for radioactive material.
Sarver, PA/Crystal River, FL/Hawthorn, PA · W3TLN · FMCA 335149 · Mystic Knights of the Sea
2005 Suncruiser 38R · W24 chassis, no chassis mods needed · 2012 Honda Accord SE · 2008 Honda Odyssey EX-L
|
hhoward31
Florida
New Member
Joined: 01/10/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
We crossed from Saskatchewan to North Dakota at Portal last year. We were directed thru a scanner and then into a barn. Inside the barn the doors were closed and we were taken to a room with no windows and only some folding chairs. The coach was then searched inside and all the bins were opened and searched. I asked if all motor coaches are searched and the reply was "only if the barn is empty" Once completed we were sent on our way.
|
sirdrakejr
Las Vegas, Nevada
Moderator
Joined: 11/18/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
How long did that take? Did they offer any refreshments while you waited? Seems strange to me that they would isolate you like that.
Frank
2011 Palomino Maverick 1000SLLB on a 2004 Dodge Quadcab CTD Ram3500 SRW long bed equipped with Timbren springs, Stable Load bump stops, Rickson 19.5" wheels/"G" range tires and a Helwig "Big Wig" rear anti sway bar.
|
|
|
