British Columbia / Washington State Border Cams And Radio Reports: Look And Listen Before You Line Up

If you're driving south from B.C. into Washington, you can find cameras and estimated lineup times here.

If you're driving north from Washington into B.C., you can find cameras and estimated lineup times here.

You can listen to the latest border wait estimates every 10 minutes at two Vancouver-based stations, AM 730 "All Traffic" and News 1130.

After all that checking, you drive to your border crossing of choice and try not to feel betrayed if the information provided by these sources proves to be inaccurate. We'll also include a few notes about what residents and visitors can take into both countries...

If you're a U.S. resident returning to the U.S., you can find details about Customs exemptions here. If you're a foreign visitor to the U.S., you can find information here.

If you're a Canadian resident returning to Canada, you can find information about Customs exemptions here. If you're a foreign resident visiting Canada, you can find information here.

Probably just about everybody knows by know that acceptable documentation - passport, enhanced driver's license, NEXUS card - is a strict requirement to enter either country. Everybody should also know that there are strict restrictions on certain items. Two examples: Americans entering Canada on or around July 4 may well be asked if they have fireworks, which are very strictly regulated in Canada. Likewise, don't plan to take those Japanese Mandarin oranges (or any other citrus fruit) into the U.S.

Try to look it up before you leave. At the worst, ask the border guard immediately about any item that you think might be a problem. We were brought some lovely Canadian flowers recently, once they'd been checked over at the border inside the US Customs Office.

Brian in particular carries a list if we have more than one or two items and babbles on with every little detail until their eyes glaze over and they wave us on. Honesty is not only best policy, it's the easiest policy to follow.