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Travel Tips


Border Crossings/ Canada Customs Entry into Canada: International visitors to Canada who are not US citizens must be in possession of a valid national passport and may require a visa. Contact the nearest Canadian Consulate or Embassy for more information.


Te Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requires all persons who enter or re-enter the United States via air, land or sea from a foreign destination to have a passport or other approved secure travel document as required for all travel between the US and Canada. For updates, visit the US Department of State’s website at www.travel.state.gov.


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, tape recorders and even personal computers, this also includes travelling in vehicles, vessels and aircraſts. 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 and a four-day supply of food. Visitors aged 19 years or over may import up to 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes, 200g (8 oz) of tobacco, 1.14 L (40 oz) of spirits or 1.5 L (51 oz) of wine or 8.5 L (288 oz) of beer or ale for personal consumption.


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 boat 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. However, you have to export these items by the date you end your visit, unless you are issued a Form E99, Canada Customs Report.


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.


4 ~ British Columbia Traveller’s Companion


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 nine years old, they must be seated in the rear seats unless they are over 18 kg (40 lbs) or have reached 145 centimeters (57 inches) tall. 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 a handheld mobile phone or other 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 www.DriveCellSafe.com.


Alcohol and Driving 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 0.5 and 0.8 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.


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 web site at www.drivebc.com. Te web site 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, 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/getting- licensed/towingrv.


For RV trailers weighing more than 4,600 kg and neither the recreational trailer nor your truck has air brakes, you need: • a Class 1, 2 or 3 driver’s license, or • a Class 4 or 5 driver’s license with a heavy trailer endorsement (code 20), or • a Class 4 or 5 driver’s license with a house trailer endorsement (code 07). For more information check the Insurance Corporation of BC (ICBC) website at http:// www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting- licensed/towingrv


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 (GVRW) marked on their trailer is its actual weight. It isn’t. Te GVWR is the maximum weight a vehicle with its load is designed to safely carry. 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


Ferries BC Ferries serves almost 50 ports along the BC coastline. For information on ferry schedules, rates and vehicle reservations call BC Ferries toll-free at 1-888-223-3779 from within British Columbia or 250-386-3431 from out of province or visit www.bcferries.com.


Inland ferries, operated by the Ministry of Transportation, cross lakes and rivers around the province. Tese ferries are free of charge, with the exception of the Shuswap Lake Ferry. For inland ferry schedules visit http://www. th.gov.bc.ca/marine/ferry_schedules.htm.


Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) A harmonized sales tax (HST) of 12% is applicable to most goods and services purchased in British Columbia including campsite and room rentals.


As well in British Columbia the Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) of up to 2% is charged in provincially approved


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