I don't know if anyone can help me with this, but here is the situation. 20 years ago, when I was 18, I was visiting friends in Salt Lake City and being young and stupid, we got in trouble. I was charged with having open liquor in a public place and drinking while under age. I am a Canadian citizen and I did pay the ensuing fine, but I am planning a trip to the U.S. again. (have not been back since this incident). With security heightened to what it is now, how do I find out if crossing the border back into the U.S. is going to be a problem?

I doubt you'd have a problem, but check w/ a US consulate if you need to be reassured.

Might there be a website that anyone knows of to help me?

Scroll to the bottom of this page. It lists US consulates in Canada and contact info.

http://travel.state.gov/canada.html

Thank you very much bonesaz!!

Hi Atilla,
You have nothing to worry about. You were fined which indicates you were not convicted of a crime. Plus it was 20 years ago. You will have no problem crossing the border.

Thanks JohnK, I feel much better about my plans now. Looking forward to seeing New York City (and I promise not to break any laws)!

Uh, with all due respect to JohnK, I hope you're not taking his word for it, Atilla! Paying a fine usually means that you have admitted your guilt and accepted a conviction (as with a a speeding ticket, for example). But shoot, I'm not a lawyer--contact a US consulate, please!

You can indeed be "fined" and still have been convicted of a crime. The courts frequently impose a fine for both misdemeanors and felonies

I will be sure to contact a consulate, thanks for the advice. Wish me luck, hotel, flight and tickets to shows are all booked and this incident never even crossed my mind until recently, it was so long ago.

I really don't think the US authorities are putting out security alerts on every foreigner who ever got caught drinking underage and having open liquor in public over the last twenty years. I would be amazed if that event is even in any computerized database anywhere since it happened so long ago and was such a minor offense. If border guards are worrying about stuff like that, we are really in trouble.