Replies

In a motorcycle trip I took last year, I had to go through one of these stations when I entered California. I had a big laugh to myself thinking about smuggling “bootleg asparagus”.

However, it’s a state inspection, not the Federal government. If you don’t want to submit to it, you’re entirely within your rights to not enter the state.

These people were just being mean. Yes, the supervisor didn’t appear very bright. That doesn’t make it acceptable for you to belittle and torment the guy, He’s just trying to do his job.

However, it’s a state inspection, not the Federal government. If you don’t want to submit to it, you’re entirely within your rights to not enter the state.

Dirty little secret, get off the interstate and drive in on a state or county road. Their check points are all on the "freeways" (I use the term loosely)

Regards,
GtG

PS My last trip to CA I drove from Nevada on a back road to Scottie's Castle in Death Valley. Did a little sight seeing and ended up in Mohave CA. I like the scenic route when ever possible.

I agree with these people. I don't think a state has the right to violate the freedom to travel or the 4th Amendment simply because it has an interest in protecting its agriculture. I have the same issue with a state stopping people at its border that these people do. HOWEVER, these agricultural inspections at the border have been conducted by the State of California for at least 60 years, probably longer. I would be very surprised if someone at some point in time has not tested the Constitutionality of these checkpoints and lost. If they have not, then it is definitely something that these people should do. If it has been litigated, then they would have to overcome the existing judicial reasoning in order to win their case.

As to their mention of federal border stops, the federal government's role in protecting the border is constitutionally-based. A long line of decisions spells out the FEDERAL government's rights in connection with a border stop and inspection. Those cases relate in large part to the interest in policing smuggling. The courts have definitely been expansive on border stops in recent decades, allowing the Feds to conduct them far from the actual border. I personally think that is wrong, that you can't stop every car at a customs checkpoint 70 miles from the border and call it a border stop. But current law allows it, and if you want to fight it, the Supreme Court would have to overturn its own precedent. Good luck with that.

After the tape shut down, I wonder what happened? I will bet you the state conducted its inspection.