As a Canadian, I carry the additional licence for VHF marine broadcasting in U.S. waters because the law requires it.
I am privileged to be the holder of a trusted traveler Nexus card. Authorised by both the U.S. and Canadian governments. Having a Nexus card makes my USA and International transits on the Water, Land, and Air, so much easier that it far out ways losing it by not having a licence that is required by law - even if it the law is rarely enforced by either side of the border.
The fuel and time cost for one trip to transit into US waters and have to make landfall at a port rather than clearing customs on the water would cost me the annual fee of the licence, let alone risk losing my Nexus status if a border coasty wanted to enforce an obscure confusing law.
Any large group of people needs rules to organize behavior. In a country they are laws, in a company they are policies and procedures. Certain rules may seem unimportant to me, but I do not believe I can pick and choose which laws to follow - only pick and choose the people who make the laws. This is a individual and personal decison with no judgement.
Most things these days come down to economics - it is cheaper to leave an antiquated law on the books (and collect fees) and not enforce it, than it is to change and rewrite or delete the law. Example: I live a city of 2 million people and apparently there is still a law that says you cannot tie your horse up on main street (even though horses are no allowed inside city limits).
Laws are written with the intent to have no misinterpretation, but the application of each law may be subjective. In this case, there is little room for interpretation. We as Canadians must have a US Station licence when in US waters. There is a process to apply, a fee collected, and a physical paper licence issued. How and when this law is enforced is subjective to each individual border agent. Example: My wife and I crossed the board and were asked if we had any food to declare. We said no. The agent said what about that half eaten back of potato chips in the back seat. I said they were potato chips. The agent said; by law, if you eat it, is it food, and that we had just made a false declaration and could have our Nexus cards revoked, as well as a note put on our permanent file that may inhibit us the right to cross the border in the future.
I do not understand this US Station licence law. But it is a law and I will abide by it to protect and retain my other privileges. If someone wants to petition our leaders to change it, I will certain sign my name to have it changed, or at least to get a reasonable explanation as to why it is in place.
side note:
Why require an additonal Marine VHF permit and not an additonal Land VHF permit?
For those of us who are Amateur Radio Operators (HAM);
1) We DO NOT not need an additional licence: to transmit (non marine frequencies) when traveling in either the USA or Canada.
2) We DO need an additional permit/licence: to transmit when traveling outside the USA or Canada. (CEPT)
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.ns ... ipprocal5/
), you do not meet the exemption qualifications if you have your ham radio on board. You have the capability to access frequencies other than the assigned marine frequencies and therefore need the station license even in Canadian Waters.
