[Bibbi]

I think if the general public gets polite behaviour from most other public sector employees, then it is reasonable to expect the same behaviour at the border. To put it another way, why should anyone tolerate abusive/rude behaviour from government employees?

The challenge is to figure out the most effective manner of responding.

[Robair]

Bibbi Bibbi:

To put it another way, why should anyone tolerate abusive/rude behaviour from government employees?

Yes but this is the employee of another coutries government. You are just a visitor in his country. Doesn't make his actions right, but what can you do? Take it.

If it was a Canadian guard being a prick to a Canadian citizen, I'd agree with your statement. Your taxes are paying their wage afterall.

[Axeman]

There must be something about the job that those people anti-social. They're no better at the Sarnia crossing.

[snuggles61]

Since this man was clearly not a physical threat of any kind pepper spray was kind of excessive. Ideally the inspector should've warned him that by refusing to shut his engine off he's breaking the law(disobeying a lawful order is a crime in the states and the closest we may have is obstructing a police officer).Then if he's still playing his politeness game I'd have opened the car door,grab his arm yanked him out of the car and say 'would please get out of the car sir' make him assume the getting frisked position and then say 'thank you sir'.But in reality what this yo-yo needs to know is you can't make cops stipulate since if they start doing that they compromise their authority.

[RUEZ]

This man refused to turn off his car until he was asked nicely. That's grounds for increased enforcement. This also wasn't his first run in at the border. He pushed his luck one to many times.

[mtbr]

RUEZ RUEZ:

This man refused to turn off his car until he was asked nicely. That's grounds for increased enforcement. This also wasn't his first run in at the border. He pushed his luck one to many times.

where did it say that?

this guy does sound like a dick though with this comment..

""Their shields dropped slightly down. It was like you know: OK he's a Westerner, OK he's not a Muslim, OK he's a Christian, he's one of us. That's what I read (from them)."

[kenmore]

Our border people are not the politest either, at least not to Canadians. the ones at the Ivy Lea Bridge are complete assholes

[RUEZ]

mtbr mtbr:

RUEZ RUEZ:

This man refused to turn off his car until he was asked nicely. That's grounds for increased enforcement. This also wasn't his first run in at the border. He pushed his luck one to many times.

where did it say that?

this guy does sound like a dick though with this comment..

""Their shields dropped slightly down. It was like you know: OK he's a Westerner, OK he's not a Muslim, OK he's a Christian, he's one of us. That's what I read (from them)."

I read it in the Vancouver Province. He had a similar run in last year.

[RUEZ]

kenmore kenmore:

Our border people are not the politest either, at least not to Canadians. the ones at the Ivy Lea Bridge are complete assholes

Perhaps it's just you.

[mtbr]

RUEZ RUEZ:

kenmore kenmore:

Our border people are not the politest either, at least not to Canadians. the ones at the Ivy Lea Bridge are complete assholes

Perhaps it's just you.

They can spot an an asshole from the other end of the bridge

[commanderkai]

bootlegga bootlegga:

My friends in Detroit swear that DHS hires only anti-social people to work the borders. They hate crossing back in Detroit from Windsor.

I love it actually. They wave us through without a single question 90% of the time.

(Though Nexus helps with that)

[Gba]

Most of the Customs guards don't waste time being polite because the job is largely thankless, with long hours spent exposed to car exhaust and disgruntled travelers. If you are seeking entrance to a country, they do not have to be polite. When you enter a Customs zone, you are required to follow their orders.

From the article: ..."I just said please," Fortunato explained Thursday. "He said 'get out of the car or I spray you' and ... I thought he was just trying to scare me off or something and I was pepper sprayed from a foot or two away."...

The officer didn't just skip right to "get out or get sprayed", the man was being uncooperative prior to this by getting demanding and acting suspicious. If a cop has you pulled over at the side of the road, and orders you to get out of the car or he'll tazer you, would it sound like a joke? The law enforcement community knows when people act weird, suspicious, or are resisting perfectly reasonable questions...these people (all too frequently) are doing this for a reason. That's one of those 'little red flags' that go up, saying that this guy might be the one that pulls a gun on the officer. Or that it's a car packed with explosives, and the guy's got a beef with customs. So this guy was innocent - if stupid - but you still have to comply with law enforcement when they give you a lawful order to exit your vehicle.

You're left thinking "But what if this happened to me? I wouldn't want to get sprayed for 'no reason'." Just don't act like you're in a position to know to start ordering around people who do this single day at work for up to 12 hours in one shift. He's lucky that after this incident, he doesn't have any charges laid on top of the pepper spray.