FIRST's Bag and Tag policies...

[Tristan Lall]

Let me quickly address the issue with Canadian customs: basically, you've got a legal obligation to submit your possessions to search. So if they instruct you to open it, I would suggest you do so. (Nothing FIRST says can override what you're required to do under penalty of law.) Then, when the customs agent is satisfied, seal it again, with a new numbered zip tie.

Log both the opening and closing of the bag on your lockup form, and specify "Canada customs" as the reason. That's the critical step—but if you want to be meticulous about it, consider asking the customs agent for a receipt, and providing that to the robot inspector. (Another good practice is to carry a letter from your school explaining the purpose of the robot, and noting that the robot and all your tools will be used in Canada during the competition and promptly returned to the U.S.. This tells the customs agent that there are no importation duties due.)

Provided that the team properly attests that it followed all the rules (via appropriate signatures on the lockup form), having to open the bag for customs won't cause a problem at the events. (Yes, the manual should probably have explained this, but doesn't; if you're still concerned and need a statement from FIRST, feel free to ask the Q&A when it opens.)