A routine drive turned into a legal headache for a 52-year-old Rochester woman this week after she accidentally entered a border checkpoint while carrying a firearm.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the incident occurred Tuesday when the woman unintentionally steered her vehicle onto the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, a designated port of entry connecting Western New York to Canada.
Upon being stopped by CBP officers, the woman voluntarily disclosed that she had a Taurus 9mm handgun inside the vehicle. Following standard procedure, officers took custody of the weapon and escorted her, along with the passengers traveling with her, to a secondary inspection area for further screening.
During that follow-up check, authorities discovered she lacked a valid New York State pistol permit — a legal requirement for carrying a handgun within the state. As a result, CBP placed her under arrest for unlawful firearm possession.
The case highlights how even an unplanned detour into a border zone can trigger serious legal consequences if travelers aren’t in compliance with state firearm laws. Officials have not released further details about potential charges or the woman’s identity.