Wild Horse resumes summer hours Monday

The Port of Wild Horse crossing over the U.S. Canadian border north of Havre is switching to summer hours Monday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced in a press release.

The port, which allows commercial traffic only with permits, is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the winter and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the summer.

A group of people on both sides of the border formed a committee early last decade to try to convert the port to a commercial port with 24-hour or at least longer standard hours of operation, but has had no success to date — although the committee continues to lobby officials in both the United States and Canada in an attempt to upgrade the port.

The summer hours will continue through the end of September, with the port switching back to the winter hours Oct. 1.

The port is located about 1½ hours south of Medicine Hat, Alberta, via Alberta 41, and 45 minutes north of Havre via Montana Secondary Highway 232.

In the release, Customs and Border Protection offered several tips to people on ways to expedites processing at the port.

• Have required proof of citizenship documents ready upon arrival at the primary inspection booth. You may present a valid passport, a passport card, an enhanced driver’s license, a trusted traveler card (NEXUS, SENTRI, Global Entry or FAST/EXPRES), a lawful permanent resident card, or Native American U.S. and Canadian citizen current tribal documents as your Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document.

• Traveling with minor children without both parents? A notarized travel permission letter should accompany minors when both parents are not present.

• Declare all purchases to the CBP officer, including fruits, vegetables, live animals and meat products. Keep your receipts as proof of where items were purchased. Failure to declare may result in penalties (fines) of $300 or more.

• Most U.S. or Canadian grown fruits and vegetables may enter the United States from Canada, except citrus, tomatoes, peppers and home-grown potatoes, which are prohibited. Each vehicle may enter with up to 50 pounds of Canadian-origin beef, pork, or chicken for personal consumption only. Meats, fruits, or vegetables purchased in the United States prior to entering Canada are not restricted (keep your receipts and leave the labels affixed).

• Do not bring firewood. All firewood is prohibited unless accompanied by a heat treatment certificate. Travelers with prohibited firewood will be returned to Canada to dispose of firewood. Don’t move firewood! Buy it where you burn it!

• Traveling with pets? Dogs at least three months old need signed and dated certificates from a veterinarian verifying they have been vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days before entering the United States.

• Any weapons or ammunition must be declared when leaving or entering the United States.

• You must also declare any currency in excess of $10,000 when leaving or entering the United States.

• Never attempt to cross the border outside of the established hours of operation.

• For additional questions or clarification on the information above, please visit the Know Before You Go page in the Travel section at http://www.cbp.gov.

• For information on entering Canada, please visit the Travel Tips Section on http://www.cbsa.gc.ca or call 1-800-461-9999.

Wild Horse is a CBP permit port, which means that a cargo permit is required to import commercial merchandise into the United States through this port. Permits must be approved in advance of cargo arrival. The CBP Area Port of Great Falls, which processes permit applications, has implemented a streamlined process to facilitate permit approvals. Contact the Supervisory Entry Officer at 406-453-7631 for more information.