@Sky Six Hello, We lived in So Cal, specifically, Long Beach California from 1946 to 1998, when we sold the last house. Prior, my brother and I had both married and moved on to Santa Barbara + the big OC for our futures. But, the one thing we learned driving down to Baja, Mexico was to have all papers handy, and get ready to answer questions that seem meaningless at the time, but if one falters, it is a long wait. Several times, when our dad drove us down 100 and 150 mile South to several “secret” fishing areas, we met some of his friends and their families for a week of camping + fishing. But, the long drive to the border checkpoint was tiring. Then having to spend a long time in line to answer some questions. If one falters, as our mom usually did, then we all got pulled over to the big building parking lot and our folks marched in with a guard to the office inside. It did not matter if we drove straight through TJ on the way and back, it was the aspect of trying to cover up crossing the border under suspicious circumstances. (slow answers to fast questions gives a cause for concern about hiding the truth or "stuff." ) Our dad had the papers, but our mom always got confused with the questions asked of her in broken Spanish/English and answered to the best of her ability to understand. Even if we heard the question and told her what was asked, she still got confused and got marched off to the office. A foreign citizen trying to sneak into the USA… through the checkpoint? What a concept. Despite being Santa Monica city in Metropolitan Los Angeles born, with a birth certificate, the slight hesitation was a cause for the border guard's concern. Hence, a march to the main building for a supervisor's further scrutiny. Jnaki But, as the photo shows, entry into the country is usually a little faster due to open lanes and a wave or two. Rarely do they stop anyone entering into the country. As a van or station wagon approaches with surfboards on top, then they get stopped for questions. We were asked who, what and where we were going. If we looked under age, then parental approval letters were asked for and the consequences were given if none was available per entry. Once we got stopped. Then, all other trips we started arriving at 2 a.m. and the guard or guards were so sleepy that one usually waved us through, no questions asked. It would still take us several hours to get to where we wanted to camp out, just in time for the dawn breaking surf sessions. It was obvious that the surfboards were dead giveaways as to “questionable characters” coming into the country, so they usually got stopped. But, not between 2 am and 4 am. Note: From those experiences, all three of the local Bixby Knolls hot rod/customs that we took down there to get tuck and roll were going through the crossing at 4 or 5 am when the guards were still sleepy and usually waved us through. No surfboards, so we were the same kids, but not questionable in attire or actions. We did not have border crossing approval letters for each crossing and upholstery job. Coming back, it was obvious that the new white tuck and roll was a stand out, but with our jackets and stuff thrown all over the back seat, it looked as if we just visited and are going home. Tourists that just spent the day shopping or visiting, did not have to pay a duty tax. Yes… The photo above is probably earlier than our history during the late 40s and 50s for the fishing trips. But the early 1960 to 62 were our teenage upholstery days, if and when we needed them. A 53 Chevy Bel Air two door hardtop, a 56 two door post sedan and a 46 Ford Coupe all got white tuck and roll from the same installation shop. And, no duty tax... a smile and a wave, we were crossed the border checkpoint and on our way to San Diego for a snack, prior to the long drive home. Note 2: As surfers with surfboards on top of various cars, that was a sure sign of "going to be stopped at the border" looks. Most normal cars moved to another lane so they would not get stuck, while the search at the long line was going on. What made the difference between normal teenagers in t-shirts or button down shirts + Levis or the same t-shirts and Levis in a van or station wagons? The surfboards automatically told the guards that something fishy is being hidden or transported across the border. Sometimes, it was handy to give the questioning guard a sack of fresh fruits as that was the main "sneaking in products" for most tourists or travelers. Accidental or not... At other times, it did not matter for the bag, we still got pulled over and had to empty out our living quarters for the last week of surf and camping. Sheesh! Talk about profiling way back then... Young teens are ok, but scruffy surfers with surfboards stacked on top are guilty of some form of sneaky transactions. It was, as if we had a stash of "weed" in a secret locker or two... ha! The photo of the fairly empty checkpoint looks as if it were in the 1930s or early 1940s. YRMV
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