chicot60
08-31-2011, 01:05 AM
BY KRISTIE PEARCE, POSTMEDIA NEWS
http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/5330192.bin
Giuseppe Villella holds up tomatoes from his garden in Lakeshore, Ont., on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011. Villella was fined $300 for bringing six tomatoes into the United States.
WINDSOR, Ont. — Joe Villella is seeing red after a treat of homegrown tomatoes for his grandchildren turned into a border bust that cost him a $300 fine.
Not only did U.S. border agents seize his bag of six tomatoes, but the 70-year-old Villella had to fork over the hefty penalty before being allowed to continue on his way.
Villella, 70, and his wife, Roserae, 65, — both born in the Calabria region of Italy — were crossing the border Sunday on one of their bi-weekly trips to visit their daughter and grandchildren in Warren, Michigan.
Before they left, Roserae bagged six tomatoes from their backyard garden and put them in the back seat, unbeknownst to her husband.
As they were crossing into the U.S., the customs officer asked if they were bringing in any fruits or vegetables.
Villella said no.
The customs officer asked again.
"No," Villella repeated.
Roserae speaks and understands very little English. She didn't know why her husband was told to pull over.
"They treat me like a criminal," Villella said.
Once the officers confronted Villella with the tomatoes he told them he had no idea his wife had put them there.
"They no care," he said. "They say I lie. They say you drive this car you must know what's in car."
Villella is a retired chef and relies on his Canada Pension Plan. Roserae works as a pizza maker at a restaurant.
He said he would understand a $50 fine but the $300 levy was ridiculous.
He said the officers seized the tomatoes and after the fine was paid they were allowed to enter the U.S.
"Unfortunately, even if someone else put it in and he didn't know it was there, the traveller is still responsible for declaring any food products that are coming across," said Ron Smith, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "The penalty doesn't happen all the time, but it happens more often than not."
The U.S. CPB website says fruits and vegetables are prohibited because they can introduce plant pests or diseases into the U.S.
It also says that failing to declare agricultural items at U.S. ports of entry will cost first-time offenders $300. The penalty for the second violation goes up to $500.
Villella said he was angry and was treated poorly.
"They have no respect," he said about the officers who handled the situation.
Villella said he never shops in the U.S. and only crosses the border to visit his family. He said he would be making fewer trips after the way he was treated.
Villella said his wife later told him she brought the tomatoes for their grandchildren, Isabelle, 4, and Joe, 2.
Read more:
http://www.windsorstar.com/life/senior+stews+tomatoes+cost/5330291/story.html#ixzz1WZ2ufpS8
http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/5330192.bin
Giuseppe Villella holds up tomatoes from his garden in Lakeshore, Ont., on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011. Villella was fined $300 for bringing six tomatoes into the United States.
WINDSOR, Ont. — Joe Villella is seeing red after a treat of homegrown tomatoes for his grandchildren turned into a border bust that cost him a $300 fine.
Not only did U.S. border agents seize his bag of six tomatoes, but the 70-year-old Villella had to fork over the hefty penalty before being allowed to continue on his way.
Villella, 70, and his wife, Roserae, 65, — both born in the Calabria region of Italy — were crossing the border Sunday on one of their bi-weekly trips to visit their daughter and grandchildren in Warren, Michigan.
Before they left, Roserae bagged six tomatoes from their backyard garden and put them in the back seat, unbeknownst to her husband.
As they were crossing into the U.S., the customs officer asked if they were bringing in any fruits or vegetables.
Villella said no.
The customs officer asked again.
"No," Villella repeated.
Roserae speaks and understands very little English. She didn't know why her husband was told to pull over.
"They treat me like a criminal," Villella said.
Once the officers confronted Villella with the tomatoes he told them he had no idea his wife had put them there.
"They no care," he said. "They say I lie. They say you drive this car you must know what's in car."
Villella is a retired chef and relies on his Canada Pension Plan. Roserae works as a pizza maker at a restaurant.
He said he would understand a $50 fine but the $300 levy was ridiculous.
He said the officers seized the tomatoes and after the fine was paid they were allowed to enter the U.S.
"Unfortunately, even if someone else put it in and he didn't know it was there, the traveller is still responsible for declaring any food products that are coming across," said Ron Smith, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "The penalty doesn't happen all the time, but it happens more often than not."
The U.S. CPB website says fruits and vegetables are prohibited because they can introduce plant pests or diseases into the U.S.
It also says that failing to declare agricultural items at U.S. ports of entry will cost first-time offenders $300. The penalty for the second violation goes up to $500.
Villella said he was angry and was treated poorly.
"They have no respect," he said about the officers who handled the situation.
Villella said he never shops in the U.S. and only crosses the border to visit his family. He said he would be making fewer trips after the way he was treated.
Villella said his wife later told him she brought the tomatoes for their grandchildren, Isabelle, 4, and Joe, 2.
Read more:
http://www.windsorstar.com/life/senior+stews+tomatoes+cost/5330291/story.html#ixzz1WZ2ufpS8