WATERTOWN — U.S. Customs and Border Protection is still not processing boats coming from Canada as recreational boating continues to be deemed not essential.
Boats are in the water and people are taking advantage of the warm holiday weather, but there are some reminders that are noteworthy.
Aaron Bowker, a spokesperson for CBP in the Buffalo Field Office, said Friday that small boats are not considered essential, unlike commercials boats that are essential and bring in trade. Therefore, Canadian boaters coming across will not be processed. He said boaters wouldn’t even be able to contact CBP as their remote reporting system isn’t even running. And that ruling is reciprocated in Canada.
For more narrow waterways, like in St. Lawrence county, boaters often cross that somewhat imaginary border line frequently. That is usually OK to do, he said. It’s when a boat anchors or comes into contact with another across the border when they have to report.
“But whet you want to stay away from is venturing all the way into Canada,” Mr. Bowker said. “I wouldn’t recommend anybody do that, but if you’re going down the middle of the river and cross that line because that’s the path you have to take and then you come back over, that’s OK.”
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