> and even then it's only on some highways entering California
When I entered California several times from the northern border with Oregon, it was like every other state-crossing to me -- oh, a state line, simply keep driving.
When I heard about being stopped at the California border about a month ago on another social website, I was confused until informed that these border checks were more so along the edges with Nevada.
Interstate 80 has one because the big interstate tractor-trailers run along Interstate 80. The other, smaller highways around South Lake Tahoe and the like don't.
Which route did you take from Oregon to California? My wife and I drove from Seattle to California after our wedding and when we entered CA on I-5, we were stopped. I initially thought it was a toll booth, so the guy at our car had a good laugh when he saw me opening up my wallet.
The one time I drove into California, it was at like 6:00am or so and the station was closed, so I just drove through. And even then, it was pretty far in from the actual state line. Definitely not the most impenetrable border protection.