Anyone have any Border Patrol problems?

[Toolbox X]

San Diego shooters, I need you help.

I've been emailing back and forth with a guy who will soon move to San Diego from Wyoming. He says he's done a lot of shooting and hunting around San Diego in the past that there are lots of lots of border patrol checkpoints he must go through to get to Imperial County or other shooting areas. The agents at these checkpoints have harassed him, his family and his friends. They have pulled everyone out of the car, searched everything with dogs, and confiscated legally owned guns and magazines. According to him, before 9/11 the agents focused mainly on stopping illegal immigrants, but since 9/11 they harass everyone.

San Diego shooters, have you guys experienced this? Do the border patrol checkpoints cause a giant hassle? Are you getting your car searched or harassed? How do the agents respond to bullet buttons and standard capacity mags? Are things different now compared to a couple of years ago?

-Grant

[scubamark13]

I have never been hassled. I drive a truck with a tonneau cover all they do is ask whats in the back I tell them rifles they laugh and let me go. This has happened several times. I don't even get nervous anymore.

[xibunkrlilkidsx]

Never been searched by a Border Patrol agent. most of the ones i have talked to when shoting have been nice and were more worried about everyone being safe and not getting hurt.

Never been stopped at a check point either. Sounds like he is just really unlucky. But i wouldnt mind moving to Wyoming anyways.

[motorhead]

nope.

[c good]

I've been driving to our shooting spot in the desert for the last 25 years. While there is definitely an increased presence of Border Patrol agents since 9/11, I have never had a problem with them. As a matter of fact the BP guys we have seen on patrol have always been nice and professional. No problems whatsover with our range layout or firearms. We go through a couple of check points on they out and back. They have always just waved us through. I can't imagine them taking mags and confiscating firearms without pretty darn good cause. I'm not calling your buddy a liar. It's possible this has happend to him but I think it would be extenuating circumstances and if indeed it did happen they way he says, the Border Patrol would have some explaining to do. Has he filed any complaints?

I keep everything covered and have privacy glass in the rear portion of my SUV so there really is no reason for them to want to inspect me. I have no NRA stickers or any other possible markings on my vehicle that make me stand out as a gunowner, under the radar is my philosophy. c good

[ironcross]

Well this one time when we where going threw the 94/tecate checkpoint. My dad flashed his Gov ID at him and the agent just looks at my dad with a blank look. So my dad started going after sitting there for like 5mins, as he pulls away the agent comes back to the real world and screams HEY HEY, and hits the back of the truck with a stop stick. Let me see that. Shows him the ID. Ok you can move. So my dad calls up BP and get ahold of a Capt for that checkpoint. After like 2hrs on the phone he reviewed the tape, and found the agant to be at fault.

Down here in Imperial Beach they think they own anything close to the border. We got pulled over for driving on a public street. Then before he comes up to the truck he calls in for 12 more BP trucks. They show up lights on and everything. This road takes you to Border Field State Park, witch BP has shut down. He runs our IDs and come back here you are and walks away so I yell out is that it? Hes says yup and keeps walking to his truck. Then we went down the main road to that one and made a right instead of a left to Border Field park, this road has a lot of hard truns and guess what a unmarked BP truck dam near hits us as hes going about 45-50 in a turn and he almost crashed. As we are coming back to go the same way we came about 6 BP trucks pass us and pull over and the last one turns around a follows us and hes not even a foot from the bumper. As we go into the more crowded are he makes a illegal u turn and goes back where he came from.

Then in Jacumba one follows us from subway by the 8 and trys to be sneaky as we pull up to camp as we all geared up we where all armed to the teeth (didnt have my AR then. 9mm and 12ga) hes comes walking over huge rocks where the moutain lion lives. We saw him as we heard him struggling to get to where we are and he was out numbered man and weapons. So he starts asking what are we doing here (and its BLM land out there) as we get out of our trucks ( we where having dinner) he sees that we are armed and takes a step back and changes the subject to Oh I was thinking about getting me one of theses trucks, then takes off. Thats the last we heard from BP out in Jacumba except on out way back witch was the 94 check point.

This time we got some more toys, I got my AR, and my buddy got an Enfield. My dad said he would love for them to try that S**t

My dad got ahold of some big dog in the CHP and was told that they will cite Border Patrol just give them a call.

Also non of the truck have any stickers except The Navy SeaBees type parking permit for the navy bases.

Sounds like it could be the same checkpoint, Witch is it??? I think my dad wrote the numbers down in the phonebook

From what I read on here that San Diego Sheriffs are OLL friendly...

[Fjold]

With as any Calgunners as we have inSan diego, I think that we would have heard about any gun confiscations, etc. The Brokeback Mountain shoot was stopped by La Migre but there was no gun confiscations, etc.

[Pilot]

i have to pass one on the way to the range i shoot at and on the way back. they just smile and say hey and wave me to move on. they seem friendly.

[BONECUTTER]

I've been emailing back and forth with a guy who will soon move to San Diego from Wyoming.

If he has out of state plates he might be getting more attention. My family has property down there so Im always going threw check points. Never had any trouble.

[Gunaria]

The only check point I know of in Imperial County is the one out side of Niland right near Bombay Beach. I never have a problem going thru that check point. Just tell em', "I'ma American Citizen fool."

[Fobjoe]

Not too many problems. They've been an inconvenience at times but nothing serious. Refer to these threads.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=108355&highlight=border+patrol

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=120898&highlight=border+patrol

[CSACANNONEER]

They weren't US border Patrol. They were Mexican Mafia obtaining new weapons.

[Pilot]

They weren't US border Patrol. They were Mexican Mafia obtaining new weapons.

lol

[Linh]

Well this isn't directed at anyone just saying that some people who seem to be anti border patrol agent are also anti immigration..........well sorry folks you can't have it both way.

I first saw a video on border patrol checkpoint a while ago and decided to roll through a few and NEVER had any problems. It's a two way street folks you respect them and they respect you.

As for me I am a minority and never had any problems with any agents, they were alway friendly and helpful. They even pointed to places that I could shoot when I was looking for a place.

Yes if any border patrol ever harrassed me I would report it to his supervisor but I highly doubt that would happen, at least not to me cause I'm a friendly and nice person.

Just so we are all clear on this the checkpoints are to restrict movement of illegal aliens and not to harrass citizens. If you are some paranoid person just ask yourself this question why aren't there any border patrol checkpoints in nevada???

[ohsmily]

I lived in SD for 8 years. Never got hassled at the checkpoints, even the one right by South Bay Rod and Gun Club with gun cases clearly visible in the back of my SUV.

I have been hassled while shooting at Jacumba and other areas.