What is wrong with today's youth in uniform?

[fnkngrv]

Originally Posted by MadMax

I have 25 years of service in uniform and will match my military record against yours any day of the week.

No lecturing. Just an observation that I find it interesting that you apparently feel that your 25 years is possibly worth more than the as little as 2 years and however many weeks someone could have served with a minimum enlistment. I served somewhere in between, but still I know how those of us who didn't serve as long must rate.

[fnkngrv]

Originally Posted by MadMax

I am going to remain civil in my comments, but you can rest assured I have much stronger feelings about this than what I am about to share...

First, while the Customs Officer is a Federal agent and therefore can only enforce Federal laws, if Maine requires a front license plate than he was absolutely correct in pointing it out to you.

Secondly, it doesn't matter if you're the retired CJCS, you are not above any laws because you are a vet.

Lastly, you were in no position to chastise him for doing his job.

The bottom line is that you were wrong and condescending towards a Federal officer doing his job. I hope you show him more respect next time instead of demanding it yourself.

And before you try to lecture me, I have 25 years of service in uniform and will match my military record against yours any day of the week.

And oh yes...another point of fact. It is a fact that when my ex-wife mistakenly led us across the border at Niagara Falls a couple years ago due to a crappy GPS we were treated like the scum of the earth by our Customs Agents. We explained to the booth agent on the way out of the country that she made an error. We were told , "no problem. Just let them know on the Canadian side and they will turn you around." We also explained that neither she nor my children had their birth certs nor did they own passports therefore we were concerned. Once again we were ensured all would be alright as this happens often due to the signage and engineering of the roadway. We crossed over, went through and explained to the Canadian agents what occurred. They verified in their systems that we were good to go and turned us around.

Low and behold when we attempt to come back we were removed from the vehicle in a rude and militant manner. The agents confiscated our mobile phones. We were all heavily searched to include patdowns of my children. The car was emptied of our belongings. This is even with me showing the agent leading up the team our GPS showing that it had made a mistake and our destination. One of the agents even dropped my 600 dollar mobile phone causing damage. No apologies. I was informed that I could put in a complaint if I wished. The Customs Agents on our side were able to verify the DTG stamps on the paperwork we were given showing we had made a "U-turn". The paperwork from Canada did not state that we were denied entry. Our bottles of soda and juice were taken and disposed of.

This is the type of abusive and disrespectful behavior that was quickly being shown by the gentleman last weekend. I chose what you consider the low road however I will not have my rights that I and so many others have fought to defend be trampled by a power tripping individual with a gun and a badge.

You have your right to your opinion and yes I could have handled it differently and better, but there if always a point where you have to draw a line in the sand otherwise you will end up in a situation where you are rolled over like yesterdays garbage.

[TURBO YARIS]

Originally Posted by fnkngrv

So I went as I have done several times over the last 7 months since being back in Maine across the border to visit with a friend in New Brunswick. Normally when I come back into the States I show my passport and registration and all is peachy, but tonight I happened to have a young agent that just floored me in regards to apparent lack of respectful upbringing. This is how it went down pretty much verbatim:

US Customs Agent: You don't have a front plate.
Me: Yes sir I definitely do.
US Customs Agent: It is not a legal plate.
Me: It isn't going anywhere and will not be replaced with anything else.
US Customs Agent: It needs to be a legal plate.
Me: How old are you if I may ask?
US Customs Agent: I am 23 why?
Me: That explains it.
US Customs Agent: Excuse me?
Me: While you were learning fractions, the states, and counting your milk money I was taking fire while performing classified missions in an undisclosed location 10,000 miles away. Instead of giving me shit for my "non-legal" plate I would think you could instead say, "thank you for your service sir, have a nice evening". I could then reply with, "thank you for yours and helping to keep our borders safe."
US Customs Agent: Hear is your passport and registration. Have a safe drive home.




/end rant

Well done sir......

[fnkngrv]

You have a right to all of your opinions as do I. I know for a fact that he did not serve prior. As for the Veteran plates. Yes, I have them. It is posted on the rear of the vehicle. As for respecting a federal officer, well if you act in a professional manner then you will have my respect. When it comes to rank...I can tell you that I was enlisted not an officer therefore I had no immunity. People can disagree with me all they want, but from my point of view a Customs Officer is there for federal matters not critiquing on which state they are keeping watch of. He obviously is not even versed in the laws in the state in which he sits on the border of otherwise he would not have started off the entire conversation with the fact that my state inspection sticker just expired at the end of January. I legally have 30 days to get a new one. He also began by plainly stating that I was entering the country illegally because it was expired and informed me that if I attempted to cross back into the country again without a new one "I would have real problems". Bottom line is that he was acting a fool from the get go and did not extend me any courtesy whatsoever out the gate. And oh yeah, he stated as well that he found it suspicious that I work for a company in a different state and have stamps on my passport from the Middle East. in between his comments about my inspection and my front plate. Lastly, I generally don't flaunt the fact that I served, but when someone that should be showing a professional accord with having also served this great nation in one capacity or another I tend to get a bit chapped.

[fnkngrv]

Originally Posted by PK198105

ok next time guys just show up in a Stryker and tell him plate this

lol.

but seriously the kid had nothing better to do was probably bored so he started being fussy which btw is not his job to check for the legality of the plate placement. he's not a cop he's a custom's agent

EXACTLY. He is there for a specific function, not to be a traffic cop. We have state enforcement agencies that are perfectly capable of the task. I have had this on the front of my cars since I ETS'ed several years ago and NEVER had someone give me ANY trouble for it.

[fnkngrv]

In real hindsight I should not have even posted up. It opened up a serious can of worms and I apologize for any anger or irritation as a product of my rant.

Admins: Please close the thread for the better or worse.

[tk-421]

Originally Posted by fnkngrv

In real hindsight I should not have even posted up. It opened up a serious can of worms and I apologize for any anger or irritation as a product of my rant.

Admins: Please close the thread for the better or worse.

Done.

[Kioshi]

I'm leaning with your opinion, especially reading about how you were treated by the people, dropping your phone, and emptying out everything from your car. If its done professionally...fine. But if they think they can abuse their power, like in your example...then I will no tolerate that.