Inspection Stations on Interstate Highways??

Yesterday I entered California for the first time by car. On I-40 somewhere near Needles, I encountered an inspection station, "All vehicles MUST stop". As I drove up, the inspector in the next lane was examining the rear end of the car in that lane. When I got up to the inspector in my lane, he asked, "Where are you coming from?", "Do you have any fruits and vegetables?", "Do you have any plants or animals?". I was waiting for him to ask for my passport. What the heck? I know many years ago, Arizona used to stop cars searching for fruits and whatever, but they cut that out years ago. So what is California's problem? I could give those people something better to do, like maybe shipping them down to the border with Mexico and have them check for illegal entrants.

Fortunately, he accepted that I was from Louisiana, and had none of the items in question. But what if I had one or more pets with me, a dog or cat? Would there have been a problem? Will they frisk me again as I leave the state?

Talk about a foolish waste of money. No wonder California is crying because it's broke - again.

Do any other states have these ridiculous inspection stations? I've never encountered another in my travels. I could understand at an international border crossing, but at a state line?!! Sheeesh!

You need to understand that the California economy is built on agriculture. It and support services account for $100 billion dollars annually.

These inspections stations are used to ensure that potential pests that might decimate an entire crop are found and removed at the border. California's geography is such (mountains and deserts) that the agricultural heart of the state is protected from the NATURAL ingress of pests. Then came the humans, and transportation.

Between the medfly, the glassy-winged sharpshooter, and phyloxera California has lost BILLIONS of dollars in crops and remedial activity to address infestations.

No, we don't care about your pets, and we won't be stopping you on your way out.

Here's a description of the program if you want more information.

Here's the key snippet from this link:

About Our Stations

California’s Border Protection Stations (BPS) are the first line of defense in our pest exclusion efforts. At these stations, vehicles are inspected for commodities infested with invasive species. California established its first agricultural inspection stations in the early 1920s. Today there are 16 of these facilities located on the major highways entering the State (see interactive map below).

In 2008, more than 22.1 million private vehicles and 7.3 million commercial vehicles were inspected at the BPS. From these vehicles, inspectors rejected over 43,000 lots of plant material (fruits, vegetables, plants, etc.) because they were in violation of California or federal plant quarantine laws.

From these interceptions, inspectors found and submitted 9,314 specimens (i.e., insects, diseases, weeds, mollusks and vertebrate animals) to CDFA’s Plant Pest Diagnostics Lab for identification — over 2,500 of these specimens were exotic invasive species capable of causing serious damage. Among these were: Gypsy moth, Asian citrus psyllid, quagga mussel, imported fire ant, cherry fruit fly, Japanese beetle, spotted knapweed, cedar–apple rust, and glassy–winged sharpshooter (just to name a few).

One last thought: if you ever travel to Hawaii, you will find a similar program in reverse; you have to go through ag control on the way OUT, to ensure that no tropical bugs make it back to the states (all of them, not just California).

If you think California is bad, try traveling beyond the border of the US. Traveling between Mexico and most countries in Central America, the first thing you'll have to do (before you even get to the border checkpoint, is stop and to have your car sprayed with a pesticide - at your own expense!

At least the California stops take at most a few minutes and they don't cost you anything.

So why ask where I was coming from? Why ask about animals? What kind of animals are they afraid will destroy their crops?

Would one or two clean store-bought bananas really throw off Cal's agricultural abundance? Really? I was thanking myself for not buying the bananas I was considering the night before.

Yes, I do understand Hawaii has inspections to check what leaves their state, but in Hawaii's case, I can understand it. After all, we just can't drive in and out of there, so they, by locality, have a more reasonable case, and can do all the inspecting they want. Of course, Arizona's bugs just can't fly into California, can they, without their permits? Now I understand why I-15 is always so backed up from Las Vegas to L.A.

Nevertheless, it's a baffling thought, especially when bugs can just fly over state borders with ease.

One would think they would check at the state line instead of miles into CA. What happens to the bugs which have already entered within the first few miles?

I probably sound sarcastic, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, considering that there are no domes over the state to keep things from entering.

I understand the border crossings, different countries, etc. Not that keeping bugs from Mexico out of the US is any easier than keeping them from crossing into California from other US states. But nations have their own strange rules, and if we want to visit, we have to abide by them.

I just think it odd that California, being a US state, has the stations, when the state is so strapped for cash.

Now I'd understand if people were trucking fruits, etc., in by the bushels to sell in California, but since they are stopping everyone, it's just odd.

I won't even mention the pesticide spraying of airplane interiors (and people) which goes on in other countries!

As was already stated, a large part of why the policy is effective in California is because of its Geography. Most of the State's agriculture is in the Central Valley and Coastal areas, which are protected by both deserts and mountains. Those geographic features are the "dome" that protects most of the agriculture from natural invaders. The potential problems come from bugs and other things that can only make their way into the ecosystem by being brought in via cars and trucks - and it doesn't take a truckload of fruit to bring in one invading pest.

Driving a couple miles into the state, where you're still in the deserts still keeps you a very long way from where these pest can do so much damage.

And as far as the cost goes, again, Agriculture is a huge portion of the California economy. Paying inspectors to keep those pests out is a very small price and insurance policy against the billions if not trillions of dollars that agricultural pest could cost to the state economy.

Back to the glassy-winged sharpshooter. Comes from your neck of the woods, the Southeast. Carries a disease that kills grapevines.

Seems we have a lot of grapevines in this state, and a lot of money and a lot of jobs depend on them. Somehow, in spite of all the state's efforts, this nasty bit of work was introduced to the state in 1990. Millions of dollars are now being spent to prevent the spread beyond where it currently exists, to eridicate if possible, AND TO KEEP NEW INFECTIONS FROM BEING INTRODUCED INTO AREAS OF THE STATE THAT DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE ANY OF THESE GUYS!

Sorry for shouting, but this is serious business. And if you think it can't impact you, wait until you see what your groceries prices become if California agriculture ceases. As it is, serious money is currently being spent/lost because of this particular pest... all because it somehow managed to slip through our cordon. Perhaps somebody lied about that bush in the trunk they were bringing to Aunt Mabel in Azusa from Mobile.

Here's something from the University of California at Davis (our Ag school, and the school my daughter and son-in-law graduated from, and my stepson attends) on this particular pest (just one of thousands we have to worry about): http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7492.html

Lastly, a stuffaboutstates.com article shows that California accounts for 13% of the nation's agricultural production, slightly more than the next two states combined. We're not just movie stars and politicians out here (but I'm being redundant).

The reason they want to know where you came from is to see if you're possibly from an area with a troublesome infection or an area known to be "safe". The results of that question will drive further conversation/investigation.

Animals carry diseases too; but I'm not aware of any particular pet issues, and I don't believe dogs and cats are quarantined at the border. Chickens, pigs, iguanas, may be a diffferent story, and ferrets are for sure illegal in this state.

...and it didn't take a bushel of fruit to introduce the aforementioned sharpshooter... they think it was one egg mass in a shipment of nursery stock that was overlooked during inspection, but it could just as easily have been in a plant smuggled in to Aunt Mabel hidden in a trunk.

This is not the first imported pest that threatened CA ag, and it won't be the last.

And it's not just grapes.

California produces 70% of the nation's lettuce, 50% of the tomatoes, over 80% of the stawberries, most of the almonds, more rice than any state but Arkansas, more cotton than any state but Texas, and (sorry Wisconsin) more dairy products (milk, cheese) than any other state.

Ah yes, grapes. Over 90% of the nation's grapes (wine, raisin, table) are grown in California.

Did I mention we're #3 in potatoes too?

You bet we worry about foreign pests leaking across the borders.

A little scolding goes a long way with me, I accept it graciously.

Never heard of the "glassy-winged sharpshooter", perhaps it goes by another name? I don't recognize it by the picture. Perhaps it isn't in cities but in rural areas of the southeast? I've only been a city gal for the most part.

Anyway, California has their regulations, and I abided them, unknowingly, by not smuggling or innocently carrying groceries or anything else into the state except 3 Coca Colas, 4 bottles of water, a few Hersey candy bars, and three bags of microwave popcorn. I never thought to question the popcorn, being that it's, gasp!, from a vegetable plant - albeit, a dried one. <wink> Just joking, please, no one take offense.

I do appreciate the agricultural lesson. I'm also glad I don't keep pigs as pets who travel with me. I've learned my lesson for the evening. Thanks so much.

Just be glad you weren't crossing the border in about a month. For the 4th of July weekend, the Ag inspectors will be looking for illegal fireworks as well and the wait will be 2-3 hours longer than normal....

Mark

I wasn't trying to scold so much as "educate loudly".

I hope you enjoy your visit, and I hope I haven't scared you off a return trip.

Any non-agricultural info I/we can help you with?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist

Just be glad you weren't crossing the border in about a month. For the 4th of July weekend, the Ag inspectors will be looking for illegal fireworks as well and the wait will be 2-3 hours longer than normal....

Mark

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I don't think I've ever passed through on that weekend, but I can see where that would happen. For the non-Californios; my wife is an east-coast transplant, and her standard response to folk back in Rochester (or whatever) to "aren't you afraid of earthquakes?" is "no, we're afraid of fires".

And fireworks during the dry season in California is a recipe for disaster.

Side note: the SF Chronicle in the Sunday edition prints stories from 25, 50 and 100 years ago. Back in April they printed a story from the 3rd anniversary of the 1906 quake. Interesting thing; "earthquake" never came up in the story, "fire" did. The vast bulk of the damage to SF in the 1906 quake was due to the fire that followed. Three years after the event, it was known more as the 1906 Fire than the 1906 Quake.

State border inspections are common across Australia for all the reasons Cal mentioned above.

Fruitfly, common in the north of the country, desimates the soft and stone fruit industry in the south. Bananas need extra treatment to be brought from North to South, as they also have a natural pest/disease which would seriously damage the southern states' agriculture.

Then there is the canetoad, which is slowly travelling across the country... courtesy long haul transportation. Despite all inspections, fumigation and what have you, somehow this pest seems to make its way through. Common in Queensland, it has on ocassions been found as far south as Melbourne.

As others have said, natural barriers used to keep these pests where they did not do much damage. Mass travel and transportation has changed all that, and without border inspections, be it at the State border, or a regional border, a country's economy could be devastated.

It always irritates me when I hear someone boast that they got such-and-such through an inspection point.

I went through one of these after crossing into CA from AZ on AZ 95/CA 62 (Parker/Earp). I had never been to California before so I was puzzled, and I didn't have time to ask any questions because the guy just waved me through, didn't even have to stop the car.

They do the inspections on a random rolling basis -- mostly it's related to available manhours -- but they will certainly stop the column if there's something about a car/truck/SUV that looks odd.

One tip, avoid being in the same lane as recreational boat trailer -- California is trying it's best to stop any more invasion of Zebra mussels and they often cruise in a boat's bilge. Inspectors nearly always stop cars/trucks hauling ski and fishing boats!

Mark

While we don't have the inspection stations in Massachusetts, we are facing one of the pests that have been invading forests all over the country - the Asian long horned beetle. The city of Worcester has been particularly hard hit by this scourge. The city has enough problems without having to cut down more and more of its trees, but that is exactly what is happening. Federal authorities have been there for quite some time trying to determine a solution. Along with the Feds, smokejumpers from the West were also called in to help with the problem.

One of the ways in which the beetles travel is in firewood from other infected trees. At most campgrounds I've been to, there is a notice about not bringing in firewood from outside the area. Unfortunately, this has done little to stem the tide.

Worcester has such beautiful neighborhoods full of trees -- I didn't know about this latest problem. It's interesting that they are bringing in smokejumpers from Montana to climb trees though!

Mark

You'd think with all the bugs one gets on a car from driving on the highways, we wouldn't have these insect invasions. I had to wash my car in northern Arizona and wash my windshield in San Antonio, TX, and wash it again when I got home. With all those dead bugs smeared on thousands of cars, you'd think there wouldn't be any left to nibble the orange groves.

Normally when going further west than San Antonio, TX, I go by airplane and rent a car. This was my first trip across the west by automobile. I was floored when being stopped at an inspection station in California, but I totally shocked when I encountered U.S. Border Patrol 105 miles into Texas! I hadn't gone into Mexico, although I did exit the interstate to get a few snapshots of the Rio Grande and the Mexican mountains at Esperanza Rd, then got back on I-10, when just before Sierra Blanca, TX, I encountered Border Patrol. So this Español-accented guy comes to my window and points toward my front license plate asking, are you a sheriff? I was so tempted to ask, "Wanna see my gun?", but I declined the impulse thinking it best not to be sassy. He was a bit amazed that a woman would be a member of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association. Then with his thick accent, he asked me if I were a U.S. citizen. I thought I'd have to go digging in my trunk to find my passport, and thanked my lucky stars that I brought it even though I was sure I wouldn't need it since my travels weren't taking me across the Mexican border. Fortunately, he just waved me through. My attache case with the passport was buried under my camping equipment and plastic bags of dirty laundry.

I suppose they think they'll capture more "illegal aliens" on I-10 than they would at the border. I suppose vehicles could be waiting for them to transport them further into the country. hmmmm

Fireworks and fires, makes sense. I can see how they'd be timid about that in California.

My weekend local paper had a front page article on wildland fires in California (as opposed to your garden variety urban/suburban structure fires).

Now that we're entering the teeth of the fire season, and coming up on Independence Day with all the possibility for mischief that entails, I thought I'd share some of the statistics from the article.

Acres burned: 2008 1.6 million (estimate), 2007 = 1.5 million.

That's approximately the entire states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined; each burned two years in a row.

On average California burns about a Rhode Island sized chunk of territory annually (600,000-800,000 acres).

Structures lost in major fires: Oakland Hills (1991, Alameda) 2,900; Cedar (2003, San Diego) - 2820; Witch fire (2007, San Diego) - 1650.

On average, California loses a few hundred structures to wildland fires each year.

Major loss of life: Oakland hills - 25, Cedar - 15, Iron Alps (2008, Trinity) - 10

I wouldn't say timid, I would say concerned/cautious/worried/prepared (millions of dollars spent annually trimming back brush and grass just to provide protection around structures)... and perhaps a little bit resigned.

I have driven in all 50 states and crossed a state line to get to all of them with the obvious exception of Hawaii (and Alaska where I got the usual US/Canada customs formalities), and California is the only state I found that has agricultural inspection stations. I am always reminded of the Joad family in The Grapes of Wrath...

For the record, the checkpoints aren't just in the desert. Less than a month ago I had to stop while coming down US 101 from Oregon north of Crescent City. The guy just waved me through, however. I drive a small car with Washington plates, so he probably figured I was harmless.