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22-09-2012, 17:03
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#16
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Caribbean live aboard
Boat: Camper & Nicholson58 Ketch - ROXY Traverse City, Michigan No.668283
Posts: 6,367
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Re: Ripped Off by CBP!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by witzgall
When we check back in the US in Beaufort, NC this past May, we were told that the decal is No longer needed/required. When we asked him why it is still on the website as needed, he stated that they want your money.
Chris
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Love it! Love it! Love it!
Just another tax.
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22-09-2012, 18:42
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#17
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: St. Marys Georgia
Boat: 2002 Wildcat 350
Posts: 49
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Re: Ripped Off by CBP!!!
My understanding is that the decal enables you to come back into the country by just calling in verses actually stopping and checking in. Since we haven't be out of the country yet ( plan to leave this year) I will have to let you know if it works as I have been led to believe. I had a good experience when I ordered our decal. When I went on line to place our order I noticed the year said 2012. I called the help number and spoke with a very courteous and helpful person. I explained that we were planning to go cruising to the Bahamas this winter and we would be leaving in 2012 but returning in 2013 and asked what I should do. I was told I would not need the decal until 2013 when I was returning and that they would be available to purchase beginning Sept. 1st ( 3 days from then) Sept 1st went online put in my information, clicked on the box for the year and chose 2013, paid my money and my decal arrived a week later. Now to see if our cruise and check in process goes as smoothly.
Deby
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23-09-2012, 09:21
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Chesapeake Bay
Boat: HR 40
Posts: 3,651
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Re: Ripped Off by CBP!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Want to sail
My understanding is that the decal enables you to come back into the country by just calling in verses actually stopping and checking in.
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That's a different program, called Local Boater Option (LBO) and requires you go to a CBP office with your passports and boat document to get registered.
__________________
sail fast and eat well, dave
AuspiciousWorks
Beware cut and paste sailors
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23-09-2012, 09:43
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#19
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Toronto
Boat: CS36Merlin, "La Belle Aurore"
Posts: 7,557
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Re: Ripped Off by CBP!!!
The decal is a requirement for boats 30 feet and over. US and foreign. It is also required for aircraft. The decal exempts you from paying clearing fees. That's all it's good for. You still have to report etc. when you clear in. In Florida US citizens can apply for the Local Boaters Option, this exempts you from physically reporting to Customs etc., etc. This must be done before departure and they give you a PIN. Most places in FL do not ask for the decal. If you do not have one they charge $17 to clear a vessel in. Exact change only!
__________________
Rick I
Toronto in summer, Bahamas in winter.
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23-09-2012, 17:29
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#20
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Washington State
Boat: Catalina 42
Posts: 23
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Re: Ripped Off by CBP!!!
The customs officer carefully checked our sticker when entering back in to the US at Friday Harbor, WA. We were told if we did not have the sticker, we would not have been allowed back in.
__________________
Joe Bink
S/V Wind Breaker
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24-09-2012, 08:24
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#21
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Toronto
Boat: CS36Merlin, "La Belle Aurore"
Posts: 7,557
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Re: Ripped Off by CBP!!!
The guys on the US/Canada border seem more interested in the decal than those in Florida. I once got a letter threatening me with a $25,000 fine because I had cleared into the States without a decal.
__________________
Rick I
Toronto in summer, Bahamas in winter.
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24-09-2012, 09:50
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#22
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Philippines in the winters
Boat: It’s in French Polynesia now
Posts: 11,368
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Re: Ripped Off by CBP!!!
What the CBP really wants is for you to get a transponder so they can track you just like the fishing boats, float planes along the border and the truckers on the freeways. And that's what the fee is for, to cover the costs of the program.
__________________
Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend, but the Kisses of the Enemy are Deceitful! ........
The measure of a man is how he navigates to a proper shore in the midst of a storm!
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24-09-2012, 09:59
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#23
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,514
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Re: Ripped Off by CBP!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey
Does every boater need a sticker?
or only 47%?
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Ha ha... just the "47%" they dont care about!
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard
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24-09-2012, 10:01
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#24
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Back in Northern California working on the Ranch
Boat: Pearson 365 Sloop and 9' Fatty Knees.
Posts: 10,469
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Re: Ripped Off by CBP!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by delmarrey
What the CBP really wants is for you to get a transponder so they can track you just like the fishing boats, float planes along the border and the truckers on the freeways. And that's what the fee is for, to cover the costs of the program.
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Good grief!!! I hope it never comes to that!
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: Wow - what a ride!"
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24-09-2012, 10:06
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#25
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Cayuga Lake NY - or on the boat somewhere south of there
Boat: Caliber 40
Posts: 1,355
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Re: Ripped Off by CBP!!!
CPB was very good to me. I called and asked when I should get the decal and they told me to wait until the end of Sept. and to make sure I specified which year I wanted it for so as to avoid getting the wrong one. I did and they sent it with no problem. On the way back in they asked for the number. They boarded my boat but I have been on boats where they simply said thanks for calling and welcome home. It is not necessarily an LBO thing - They have the option of requiring you to come in person or not - with the decal they may not require it. Without it they certainly will.
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24-09-2012, 10:17
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#26
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Santa Cruz
Boat: SAnta Cruz 27
Posts: 6,734
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Re: Ripped Off by CBP!!!
Checked back into the US in the St Lawrence river twice this year, and both times I had to provide the decal number.
Can't buy the decal from the customs officers. I tried several times to buy the decal on line, but they demand a new password every year, and ended up with my account blocked. Had to call and it took them over three weeks to process and mail the damn thing--they said they would email the number to me, but didn't.
Nowadays its rare to check into a country without paying something. I don't mind the CPB tax as much as the frustrations in trying to pay it!
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24-09-2012, 10:42
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#27
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,514
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Re: Ripped Off by CBP!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by delmarrey
What the CBP really wants is for you to get a transponder so they can track you just like the fishing boats, float planes along the border and the truckers on the freeways. And that's what the fee is for, to cover the costs of the program.
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Not to worry! One experience with the stupidity of Gov't websites makes you realize they are so inefficient and screwed up (it's the gov't ya know!) that they wouldnt know what to do with the info! The gov't loves to collect data (just try filling out an EPA Form R sometime!), but then, they have no idea what to do with it..... Oh... if I could just be Benevolent Dictator for one year! Heads would roll.....
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard
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24-09-2012, 17:12
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#28
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Seattle
Boat: Cal 40 (sold). Still have a Hobie 20
Posts: 2,945
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Re: Ripped Off by CBP!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by donradcliffe
Checked back into the US in the St Lawrence river twice this year, and both times I had to provide the decal number.
Can't buy the decal from the customs officers. I tried several times to buy the decal on line, but they demand a new password every year, and ended up with my account blocked. Had to call and it took them over three weeks to process and mail the damn thing--they said they would email the number to me, but didn't.
Nowadays its rare to check into a country without paying something. I don't mind the CPB tax as much as the frustrations in trying to pay it!
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I don't do anything ahead of time here in then PNW. When I return from Canada and go into customs they ask me if I have the number/decal. I say no. They give me a form to fill out, take my money and have me write down the number that will be on the decal when it is mailed to me. I usually go into Canada only once in a year so the decal is usually never applied and eventually disposed of.
John
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24-09-2012, 17:47
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#29
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Back in Northern California working on the Ranch
Boat: Pearson 365 Sloop and 9' Fatty Knees.
Posts: 10,469
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Re: Ripped Off by CBP!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cal40john
I don't do anything ahead of time here in then PNW. When I return from Canada and go into customs they ask me if I have the number/decal. I say no. They give me a form to fill out, take my money and have me write down the number that will be on the decal when it is mailed to me. I usually go into Canada only once in a year so the decal is usually never applied and eventually disposed of.
John
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They would never think on their own to have the option of a 5 year permit.
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: Wow - what a ride!"
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24-09-2012, 18:21
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#30
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Hollywood, Fl
Boat: Corbin39
Posts: 138
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sck5
CPB was very good to me. I called and asked when I should get the decal and they told me to wait until the end of Sept. and to make sure I specified which year I wanted it for so as to avoid getting the wrong one. I did and they sent it with no problem. On the way back in they asked for the number. They boarded my boat but I have been on boats where they simply said thanks for calling and welcome home. It is not necessarily an LBO thing - They have the option of requiring you to come in person or not - with the decal they may not require it. Without it they certainly will.
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Not totally true! Because Florida is so close to Bahamas they could not keep up with the inspections on US boats, the LBO was substituted here for expedience and yes they can ask you to report in person, but rarely do. Never had to myself. They informed me that the stricter is no longer used in Florida, but if I really wanted one I could purchase it! LBO is free......a no brainer
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