"Tell me again, when did you arrive here in Bedwell?, the officer asked for a third time after numerous other probes about timing and origin of the preceding day's voyage. The taller officer then asked for me to review our course yesterday on a chart that he produced. I traced the course and he was evidently satisfied.The two officers then split up and continued the interrogation. Betty up on the dock and me down below. Later, upon lengthy recounting of the ordeal, we would determine that they were corroborating our stories.
I was then asked to step off the boat and we were told that a thorough inspection would be performed by both of them aboard Ohana. The taller officer then looked at me and asked, "Do you have syringes and needles on board?"
I then recalled the small pack of suturing materials in the head, which contained capped needles and an assortment of tools from Betty's veterinary supplies. "Oh, yes we have those", I quickly produced the small bag for examination. Betty had explained earlier that these were on board and that the needles could be used to pass dental floss as sutures, if needed. She had also added that in the past I had to remove sutures myself from an accident that occurred while sailing in Alaska.
"This is your last time to disclose any illegal items aboard", the stocky officer said sternly. "Take a minute and think". If we find anything, this whole situation will not go well for you". "You are already in violation". "Any firearms? Are either of you users of medicinal marijuana? Your account of alcohol accurate?'
"Yes, all accurate", I replied with thoughtfully wrinkled brow.
The two officers disappeared below and we could hear them rummaging about the vessel. We sat quietly on the dock by Ohana. "Looks like we may get a lesson", I coughed up. We tried to hold back any words of criticism of the regulations. "Let them do what they have to do", I added.
After 10 to 15 minutes the officers asked for me to come aboard. I briefly wondered if I would be cuffed and marched out on display at the Customs dock. This could get ugly.
"Your vessel passed inspection." Now about your violation… actually two violations, the taller officer quipped. Technically, you failed to report when arriving into Canada. THis morning you again failed to report by not coming to the Customs dock as soon as you could. Instead you arrived at the dock at 11 am."
I looked up at the officers with a most apologetic gaze. "I understand".
"Do you have any explanation? the officer appeared to be giving me one last chance to stand up again only to be knocked down. I repeated that we got in late and my incorrect understanding of the dock and phone hours (normal business hours, instead of the actual 24 hours for the phone) led us to anchor , have dinner and hit the hay.
Here came the knock down again. "You are responsible to know that you should arrive directly at the dock and make a call or call prior to arrival. The number is on our website".
Later, Betty and I would discuss the modern day assumption that everyone is responsible to find information on the web. Although, in this case, the wording leaves some room for interpretation regarding the allowed time to report.
Again, I apologetically offered that I had not appreciated the urgency for reporting.
"That's not an acceptable answer", the stocky officer curtly replied. "Do you have any final questions"?
I looked at him with genuine respect, "I guess, What would have been an acceptable answer"?
Given the reasonable nature of the question and my sincere query, with a slight shake of his head he said that if I had proceeded directly to the dock in morning, it would have been a better course of action.
The officers rose from the salon settee. "We need to call our main office and discuss this matter. You are facing the minimum penalty for this violation", stated the officer. I will need your boat registration, drivers license and credit card. "We will be about 20 minutes", the stocky officer stated. We exited the boat and on the dock, Betty reiterated that we were just trying to forget about schedules and deadlines for a change, hoping that this would turn the tide of the officer's minds.
After what seemed like an hour but may have been half that time, and much gnashing of mental teeth, the taller officer came on the dock and asked permission to board. Seated in the cockpit, he explained that we be receiving a warning and no fine. We exhaled two huge sighs of relief. He added that he was able to explain the situation that we had run into the foul weather that unexpectedly hit Haro Strait the evening before and caused our delay and regrouping in the morning. I then recalled how my mention of this weather during the interrogation seemed to have resonated with this officer. They had evidently been caught in the same soup.
He added that it was not their intent to be hard on visiting boaters. Obviously they wanted to encourage boaters to enjoy Canada…but be mindful of and follow the rules.
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