Roland “Buzz” Roy was charged with illegally crossing the U.S.–Canadian border and faces a $500 fine. He’s contesting the charge.
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Derby Line is hard on the Canadian border. The community of Stanstead, Quebec is a few steps away from Derby Line and residents have always routinely walked back and forth across the border to shop or visit friends.
Some buildings in Derby Line straddle the border and are partially in Quebec. Several streets also cross the border. In the past, people strolled across the border unimpeded, then checked in at border patrol stations to make the crossing legal.
That’s no longer allowed.
On Feb. 6, Roy said he crossed the border near his store and walked up Church Street into Stanstead to get some pizza. The life-long Derby Line resident said he has taken that route without incident as far back as he can remember. He said after he got his pizza, he was going to comply with long-standing rules to then check in with a nearby customs office on the border before continuing on his way.
However, this time, Roy said he was told by border law enforcement he could no longer use that route to cross the border, and would have to use an approved street. Annoyed, he crossed the border again, heading up and down Church Street. “I was frisked, handcuffed and transported to the border patrol office in Newport, held for three hours and assessed a fine,” Roy said.
We broke the law a while back. Oops.
ntodd









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