Border crossing problem

[NoPony]

Some years ago when I used to drive across the border, (Canada->USA), I would randomly be pulled out of the traffic line and subjected to an in-depth questioning.
It was not until during one of these inquiries that the border guard let slip it was the tattoos on my hand that was their concern, he referred to them as "jail house" tattoos. the letters (LOVE) across the fingers.
Since then I keep my hand out of sight and nary a problem.

[Hingatao]

Can you say...."profiling"? I hope you contacted a manager and registered a complaint.

[tomgallagher]

"Profiling", unfortunately, will always be with us.

[buddha]

Speaking as a retired policeman I have to clear up a misconception that most people (who are not in the business) run into when they get all emotional about profiling. Profiling on the basis of race is generally frowned upon and rightfully so. Profiling on the basis of things that we do voluntarily is not.
Allow an example.
If I am speaking to an Hispanic person and make the determination that he is a gang member because he is Hispanic that would classify as wrongful profiling. However, if the same person has visible gang tats and I assume that he is a gang member based on the tats that is a determination that would be legally defensible, particularly during the prosecution of a gang crimes case or subsequent civil proceedings.
Having worked cases with U. S. Immigration and Naturalization I can attest to the fact that the people who work the borders are trained to pick up on things that even most street cops wouldn't think to look for. Perhaps jail tats are one of those things.
 

[NoPony]

In my case, the one I posted earlier, it never crossed my mind that the border guard had done anything but his job, and very well also.
I should also add here, that my tats were not "jail" related, but a leftover legacy of my early days in the Canadian Navy.

[Disbikerdude]

Buddha, thanks for clearing up the whole concept of profiling, because the U.S. govt goes out of it's way to say that nobody profiles.  "Horse Hockey"!  Like you said, there is a type of visual and verbal questioning that goes on. 
I was the recipient of profiling several years ago, when I was returning from S. Korea and going through customs at LAX.  The guard waved me through as soon as he saw me.  I asked him why he was so quick to pass me through.  He mentioned my very short hair cut (near sly), and my dog tags kind of gave me away.  Interesting 

[Hingatao]

Unfortunately, I think profiling is something that most people do, consciously or not, in one form or another.

[buddha]

Unfortunately, I think profiling is something that most people do, consciously or not, in one form or another.

I definitely do this. For example, if I see a guy who is maybe 19 or 20 with bad skin and no teeth the first thing I think is "hey, there's a guy who knows where to get some crystal meth".
And perhaps after I talk to him I learn that he's addicted to heroin but has never touched meth.
Shows just how wrong I can be sometimes.