Me too! We learn A LOT on this forum.

I am totally surprised by these posts. We have brought our two cats back and forth many times and pulled a trailer or drove UHaul several times in furnishing both homes here. Never saw the signs or knew anything about the requirement. Is this new? Is this just Florida?

If they don't check inside is this just another one of those costly but useless requirments?

i never notice the sign either

If the cat's illegal you can get a free Obamaphone, free in-state college tuition to any cat college, KEB credit card (Kitty Eats Better), and if she/he's over 9, free health benefits and a social security check every month. :highfive:
Oh, and she/he's automatically enrolled to vote.

BB

Has anyone actually had a problem with household pets? Coming down I never stopped. The person I know that got stopped with the horse trailer they did open the trailer, had her mother get out of the truck. I never understood it because they could see as soon as they opened the door it was couches.

It never crossed my mind to stop for dogs.

The US Border guards don't care at all when we bring two dogs into the US from Canada! In five years, they've never even asked for a Rabies Certificate. So I doubt they'd care interState. Although I dimly remember having to throw out an orange when I crossed the California/Nevada border.

I thought the stations were just for commercial/agricultural inspections.

Are these stations on all the major roads entering FL? We have never noticed them. We are heading down soon with a rental truck so I guess we need to be on the lookout for these signs/stations/cops!

The inspection stations are clearly marked and have been for years.

It is not useless. If you look at the record of the problems Florida has had in the past with importation of exotic and diseased plants and animals and the damage they have done you may see the need for these inspections. They can't possibly catch them all but they are trying.

There may be a tendency for some of us to not to take the signs seriously as we think they only apply to "real" trucks.

I agree. Also, Florida is very vigilant on horses being brought into the state as there are many infectious diseases of horses. Florida is very dependent on horses, cattle and our agricultural crops. We should be happy to pull over to protect these businesses. Arizona and California will not even let you bring one orange into the state.
We used to travel interstate often showing our horses. We always stopped and showed health papers and proof of required vaccinations. I really doubt if they care about your cat or dog.

answering your question
 

Njbchbum, to answer your question.I was pulled over because I did not stop at the agricultural inspection station. I did not see the sign to begin with. Even if I would have seen the sign, I would not have thought it was for us. After the officer stopped us, he asked us to open the door to the trailer. He asked if we had plants or animals other than our chihuahua in the back seat. We answered no. He saw we had furniture in the trailer and was satisfied. This happened on I-95 right after I drove over the Florida border. The officer noticed our NH plate and said all northerners make the same mistake. We now know we have to stop if we are hauling a trailer. Hope this information helps someone else. Nancy

We were aware of the ag. inspection on I-95 through our mover. I had to sign an affidavit for the mover stating that our outdoor furniture did not contain any gypsy moth or stink bug larva etc. Our mover said he was obligated to produce the form when they inspect the moving truck. We drove down stuff that would not go to storage in a 17 foot Uhaul with tow trailer with car. Hubby stopped at ag. station but was waived out of line with no stop. It was clear that the car contained house plants. Oh well I think they were way busy with tractor trailers that day. I didn't stop and kept going with the cats and pulling a 5x8 trailer with no problems.

Great. Molly, the 10 year old kitty, and I will be heading for TV tomorrow. How soon does Molly get her first SS check? :)

Okay, I'm confused I will be on the way in two weeks with a cat and two houseplants are they allowed or not?

Also I will be pulling a 5 x 8 trailer.

Wow I am totally confused about the above posts. I am traveling to the Villages in October from Alaska. I know I must have the dog health certificate to cross thru Canada from Alaska. So some of you are saying that when I cross Florida borders some of you had stopped (or not) at the agricultural station???
We will not be towing anything. However the back of the pickup will be full.
I will post our journey on line and inform you of our experiences crossing the border.