Hi,

I would be travelling with 3 adults and 3 kids (8, 7, 6 - including myself) across the canadian/US boarder next week - we would all be coming into the US from Canada. 2 of us adults will be at the front; and the other guy with the 3 kids will be in the rear.

I understand our car can/must legally occupy 5 people..is this true? Would i run into problems with immigration officials for over-loading the car? - i know this might seem trivial - but the last thing you want in a POE is to run into non-relevant issues with immigration.

any thoughts?

cheers - Noela

 

Isn't the rule that everyone needs to have a seat belt each? So that would mean 5 maximum regardless of age. Not sure.... it would seem that that's the legal limit since most states would encourage the use of seat belts.. at least that's what I'd think... of course, this is pure speculation...

 

I've seen pickups crossing from Mexico where 4 or 5 people get out and cross on foot while the rest stay in the truck...

Seriously, make sure those kids are restrained properly. Get a minivan.

 

Good point... child restraints are required up to a certain age... might be good to find out what age that is... since ya have kids of 6,7,8 ya said?

 

besides the seat belt issue that was already mentioned roving immigration authorities can use the critera of an unusually over-crowded car along with proximity to the border as enough reasonble suspicion to pull you over and search your car. I don't think 3 adults and 3 kids would fit that critera however.

 

good points, i was going to secure all the 3 kids with the 3 seat belts in the rear - so only the adult in the rear will be unsecured... but i'm seriously thinking of renting a minivan...at least, that will also save me approx 1000 miles in two days..

best - Noela

 

Good. Do reserve the van asap. The closer it gets to the holidays, the tougher will be to get one w/out a reservation.

 

i cant believe you can fit all of them in the max! i got two carseats, and i am lucky if i can fit a kid between them! let alone an adult and another kid! i am amazed if you can...maybe we're all just big boned! (cartman voice)

 

hi ..well, since none of the kids will be in a car seat, i thought they will fit - best - Noela

 

Depending on state laws, a carseat COULD be required. At very least, you would need 6 seatbelts, which the maxima doesn't have.

You could always make the 3rd adult ride in the trunk j/k

 

Five people... Whether it's kids, adults, or some combination of the two, that's it.

I'm not sure if you're going to have a problem crossing the border but you may have a problem driving on the street in the US. If a cop saw you with 4 in the back he'd probably pull you over, then what are you going to do?

How are you going to get everyone back? If the cop doesn't let you drive away with the car overloaded, are you going to have to make two trips to get everyone back to canada? Is the extra person going to have to rent a car?

 

Also, legally a 6 yo needs to be in a car seat.

 

Michigan law - would assume other states are the same
Front seat: everyone must wear a seatbelt
Back seat: anyone under 18 must wear a seatbelt - adults dont have to
Children: yours should be old enough and large enough so they dont need a kiddy seat

 

Ontario also requires all occupants to be restrained. Rent the van.

 

They may be similar, but not all the same. Illinois passed a law effective last January where all kids weighing less than 40 lbs must be in a child seat, or if over 40 lbs but less than 8 years old, a booster seat (this eliminates that subjective area of "old enough or large enough"). Anyone under 16 must wear seatbelts, regardless whether they are riding in the front or the back seat. If the driver is less than 18, everyone must wear their seatbelts.

 

All depends: do you like burrito's and chimi chonga's? rent the van, or, better yet, a SUV (I HATE MINIVANS!!!)

 

i go to canada alot (ottowa) i have relitives there, we take the max 2 adults infront and 4 kids in the rear sometimes granma wants to come so 4kids and 1 grandma i never had a problem, YES were stuffed in there hahahahah


We all got tired of getting stuffed in the back so we bought a new truck, i think you should do the same

 

I am a firm believer in Natural Selection except when it comes to minors, that is a different story. Glad to see you finally got tired of "getting stuffed."

 

Why risk your kids' lives for the sake of convenience? Rent the van already.

BTW to above poster -- 4 kids in the back of a Maxima is plain wrong, and you'll realize this if ever you're in a car accident. First your insurance refuses to cover your kids' medical bills due to improper restraint. Not to mention the tickets you'd get for unsecured passengers and the criminal charges from the DA for child negligence (4 counts) and reckless endangerment of a minor (4 counts.) Then after your kids get taken away by the courts...yeah.

So please, for the love of your kids, secure them properly.