Wine Doggy Bag Law in US (anything similar in Ontario?)

Nope.

Again, nope.

Very liberal; you'll have no problem.

You might want to rethink that one. The border crossing that you will most likely use was closed briefly today because a grenade was found in a car attempting to cross into Canada. (See link below.) It turned out to be a harmless situation but I suspect they are pretty edgy there now.

Generally, you shouldn't be worried unless you do something really stupid.

Vino To reply, add "x" between letters and numbers of e-mail address.

The only way I have ever found someone getting into trouble would be by violating traffic laws. Not sure closed containers in a car boot would raise much suspicion.

up to see Dave in Enfield CT (any idea what

Ian

While you are in the US, there is virtually no risk of being hassled. Police cannot search a vehicle in the US, unless there is probable cause (ie, they see something suspicious). Do not leave the bottles in plain sight, and don't have any open containers. In the remote chance that any police officer within the US asks to search your vehicle, you refuse. They cannot search unless you let them.

Flying within the US poses no problem. Security does not care about alcohol.

I leave you to evaluate the international boarder crossings, the only place of concern.

Tom Schellberg

That has certainly been my experience. I've brought wine into the country through Boston's Logan airport -- never more than the US duty-free allowance -- and the customs agents have never even blinked.

The MA laws on importation are for the purpose of supporting the three-tier distribution system, and collecting state taxes. They are aimed at people who would try to get around the system by purchasing out of state for resale -- or purchasing large amounts. I suspect that they are not enforced for "reasonable amounts" of wine that people may be carrying for their own consumption. There are separate sections of the law relating to "shipment" into the state (MGL 138 Sec. 18) and "personal transportation" of alcohol (MGL 138 Sec. 22), which could, I suppose, be read to indicate the state may show some leniency toward transporation of small amounts for personal use (though I think Sec. 22 may just apply to transportation within the state, but it doesn't explicitly say so).

MA doesn't screen cars at the NH border to see if they've stopped at a liquor store. Even when one of our former governors proposed the NH surveillance, it was supposedly to be aimed at people stocking up on large amounts of alcohol, if I recall correctly. MA also doesn't screen flights from other states -- California flights are full of people bringing back cases of wine. I doubt they're going to make a big deal out of a small amount of wine from another country -- the excise tax (about $0.55 a gallon for table wine, I believe) isn't worth the paperwork.

How much is reasonable? I'd guess, based on my experience, that staying under the US duty-free limit is reasonable. But who knows. Some new gung-ho agent could decide to confiscate everything on the day you just happen to be coming through...

Marcel

Border crossing will be an issue...just declare.