Why crossing this road in America could land you in trouble with the police and it's not because of jaywalking
For the residents of this street, it's not so easy to pop around to your neighbours
Madison Burgess
While neighbourly disputes over land can be common, there is one road in America that takes it to the next level.
You could land yourself in serious trouble with the law and even get arrested if you cross this particular street in the USA - and it’s not because of jaywalking.
Jaywalking means to cross the street at a place other than a designated crosswalk or choosing not to follow traffic regulations.
In most instances the penalty for violating jaywalking laws includes fines of up to $250, with prison sentences off the table.
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But if you cross Canusa Street without the right permissions, you could be looking at a whopping $5,000 or two years behind bars.
This is because it’s located on the world’s longest international border between the US and Canada.
One side of the street is in Vermont, USA, while the other is in Quebec, Canada, so you would be living in an entirely different country to your neighbour.
The road is almost 9,000km long and is home to 100 border crossings, including 15 that are between Vermont and Quebec.
The border runs directly down the middle of Canusa Street, with the name also being a clever nod to the countries it divides, with ‘Can’ representing Canada and ‘Usa’ of course referencing America.
However, life on this unique road can be difficult and it’s not easy to pop over to your neighbour’s house for a drink.
According to Times Of India, residents must pass through border crossing offices on either side of the street, even if it’s just to run an errand.
If you’re in a rush, it can be a pain to present your passport and vehicle registration every time you want to cross the street.
The fine for crossing illegally is up to $5,000 and two years in prison and the area is reportedly under heavy surveillance.
According to the publication, one local on Canusa Street even claimed that he was arrested for ‘smuggling’ a pizza across the street.
However, reports state that a lot of the street’s residents are actually dual citizens so it’s not too much of a bother for them.
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House also sits on the street and between the border and has separate entrances, despite being built as a symbol of friendship between Canada and the US.
The main entrance is on the Vermont side and Canadian visitors were previously able to enter on the American side but were encouraged to bring documentation, according to The Guardian.
Under new rules issued in March, Canadians will now need to go through a formal border crossing before entering the library.