2019 Super Camping

Super Camping / Select Lodging - Travel Tips
TRAVEL TIPS
BORDER CROSSINGS/CANADA
CUSTOMS
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
is responsible for border access, services and
security. The Canada Border Services Agency
web site http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menueng.html
details many answers to questions
frequently asked by travellers. The Canadian
Food Inspection Agency handles the rules
concerning the temporary importing of pets
such as dogs. For expected wait times crossing
Canada/United States land borders visit http://
www.cbsa.gc.ca/bwt-taf/menu-eng.html.
When you enter Canada, a customs officer will
ask to see your national passport and a valid visa,
if one is necessary. Everyone from every country
arriving in Canada by Air, Land or Sea needs a
valid passport, or equivalent travel documents.
Customs officer’s at all Canadian entry points are
authorized to interview persons seeking entry to
Canada to determine admissibility. Their goal is
to facilitate the entry of legitimate travellers as
quickly as possible.
As a visitor, you can bring certain goods into
Canada for your own use as “personal baggage.”
Personal baggage includes clothing, camping
and sports equipment, cameras, mobile phones
and personal computers. This also includes
travelling in vehicles, vessels and aircrafts. First
and foremost, as required by law, all goods
must be declared at the time of your initial
contact with Customs. Customs does conduct
import/export examinations. For the most part,
these are routine in nature, and serve to verify
declarations.
Visitors to British Columbia are entitled to bring
in a reasonable number of personal effects.
Visitors aged 19 years or over may import free
of duty and taxes up to 1.14 L (40 oz.) of spirits
or 1.5 L (53 imperial oz.) of wine or 8.5 L (288
oz.) of beer or ale for personal consumption. If
18 or over 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes, 200g (7 oz.)
of tobacco, Currency and monetary instruments
equal to or greater than CAN $10,000 must be
reported to Canadian Customs.
All revolvers, pistols, fully automatic firearms
and other weapons (hunting rifles), and selfdefence
sprays such as pepper spray and mace are
prohibited entry into Canada. These items must
be declared to avoid the possibility of penalties,
including seizure or prosecution.
Food, plants, animals and related products: All
food, plants, animals, and related products must
be declared. Food can carry disease, such as E.
coli. Plants and plant products can carry invasive
alien species, such as the Asian Long-Horned
Beetle. Animals and animal products can carry
diseases, such as avian influenza and foot-andmouth
disease.
Despite the fact that cannabis (marijuana) has
become legal and regulated in Canada for adults
19 and over, it remains illegal to take cannabis
across Canada’s national borders, whether
you are entering or leaving. This rule applies
to everyone – even if you possess a medical
document authorizing you to have cannabis –
it is still illegal and will lead to the arrest and
prosecution of anyone doing so.
For more information on customs regulations
call the Canada Border Services Agency at
1-800-461-9999 within Canada and 204-983-
3500 outside Canada or visit www.cbsa-asfc.
gc.ca.
TEMPORARY IMPORTATION OF
VEHICLES AND PRIVATE BOATS
During your stay in Canada, as a visitor or a
temporary resident (not seasonal resident),
you can temporarily import passenger and
recreational vehicles, such as snowmobiles, boats
and trailers, as well as outboard motors, for your
personal use.
DRIVER LICENSES
A valid out-of-province driver’s license, including
an international driver’s license, can be used in
British Columbia for up to six months.
SEAT BELTS
British Columbia law requires that all drivers and
passengers use seat belts while driving or riding
in a motor vehicle. Strict car/booster regulations
are in place for children up to the age of twelve
years old, and they must be seated in the rear
seats in an age/weight appropriate restraint
system. For more details, visit www.icbc.com/
road-safety.
HELMETS
Helmets are required by all bicyclists and
motorcyclists.
MOBILE CELL PHONES
It is against the law to drive while using any
handheld electronic device. Drivers may use
hands-free cell phones that are voice activated,
or activated by one touch, provided they are
securely attached to the vehicle or driver’s
body i.e. an ear piece. For more information,
visit http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/
transportation/driving-and-cycling.
DRIVING WHILE INFLUENCED BY
CANNABIS (AND OTHER DRUGS) OR
ALCOHOL
It is a criminal offence to operate, or be in the
care or control of a vehicle, whether in motion or
not, with a blood alcohol content of more than
.08 percent. Police in B.C. can issue an immediate
roadside prohibition to an impaired driver with
a blood-alcohol content of .05 or higher. Drivers
with blood alcohol content between .05 and
.08 may also face fines and license suspensions,
and have their vehicles impounded. Breath
samples may be requested by a peace officer and
refusing a breathalyzer test could also result in
criminal charges. For drug sobriety testing and
implications please visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/
gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/
road-safety-rules-and-consequences/drugalcohol.
VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
If you are involved in an accident, immediately
contact the local police or Royal Canadian
Mounted Police (RCMP), then your insurance
company.
ROAD CONDITIONS
For information on road conditions 24-hours a day
check the Drive BC website at
www.drivebc.com. The website includes links to
various other information sources such as Inland
Ferry Schedules, BC Ferries Waits, Border Crossing
Times and Major Incidents and Road Closures.
TOWING AN RV OF LESS
THAN 4,600 KG
Most recreational trailers weigh less than 4,600 kg
(10,100 pounds) when fully loaded, and thus may
be driven by a driver with a passenger car driver’s
license (Class 5 or 7 in British Columbia). An air
brake endorsement is required if either the truck
or trailer has air brakes. For more details, visit
http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/typeslicences/Pages/Towing-a-recreational-trailer.aspx
TOWING AN RV MORE THAN
4,600 KG
For RV trailers weighing more than 4,600 kg
(10,100 pounds) and neither the recreational
trailer nor your truck has air brakes, you need:
• Class 1, 2 or 3 driver’s license, or
• Class 4 or 5 driver’s license with a heavy trailer
endorsement (code 20), or
• Class 4 or 5 driver’s license with a house trailer
endorsement (code 07).
If you want to tow an RV that weighs more than
4,600 kg and either the recreational trailer or your
truck has air brakes, you need a Class 1 driver’s
license with an air brake endorsement.
For more information check the Insurance
Corporation of BC (ICBC) website at
http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/typeslicences/Pages/Towing-a-recreational-trailer.aspx
TRAILER WEIGHT CALCULATION
Please note that the weight of the trailer is
measured when fully loaded and the best way to
determine this is to visit a truck weigh scale. Some
RV owners assume the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR) marked on their trailer is its
actual weight. It isn’t. The actual GVWR weight
is the weight of the vehicle, including its load.
Operating an overloaded vehicle is dangerous -
and illegal.
SEWAGE DISPOSAL
Sani-stations are found at various locations
throughout the province, including campgrounds,
some gas stations and RV dealerships. For a list
of places to dump go to www.sanidumps.com.
Visitors are asked to respect the environment by
disposing of grey water and sewage in the proper
fashion.
Campgrounds, RV Dealers & Rentals offering
sani-station facilities to their customers can be
identified in Super Camping by looking for the
sani-station symbol in their listings b
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