A word to the wise when dealing with any enforcement authority...

[Zef]

It was not meant to be humourous. Many countries have strange rules. In the navy we had briefings prior to going ashore. some said no more than 2 packs of smokes or no more than 20$ american, no carbonated drinks, no weapons or items that would be construed as a weapon no more than 2 days medicatons on you. . then of course that was followed up with the off limits establishments. Many countries are concerned about black market items. In the PI you could not have house hold appliances in your posession off base such as a toaster, unless you lived there. those items are on the contraband lists and their prohibited quantities.

BTW...what countries forbid travelers from bringing carbonated beverages through their customs/border checkpoints?

-Z

 

[ibj40]

Back in the 90's when we were furnishing our house on the island, there wasn't the same access to products that they have now.

We needed to install four ceiling fans, and you could either drive to Merida or bring them down on the plane.

I went to local department store here in the USA and bought them.

On the next trip down, with another couple, we wrapped them up, attached a handle to each one, and we all booked one as "luggage".

Fortunately, no one red-lighted, and we simply had a porter at the Cozumel airport roll them out to the rental car lot with us.

Not sure you could get away with that now.

 

[NAM001]

BTW...what countries forbid travelers from bringing carbonated beverages through their customs/border checkpoints?

-Z

where in the quoted post did I say no carbonated drinks at customs check points? You are really stooping. To try to answer your baiting question I have been told not to be in possession of carbonated drinks on shore because it violates that countries food laws. Years ago yes ,,, but it is moot. countries have their regs and tourists are normally not aware of many of them. It was a South American country about 40 years ago. Again current or not The aspect of nations laws and regs on unsuspecting travelers are the same. Have you ever seen someone get stopped for having a 30 or 45 cal bullet used as a key bob and processed for weapons charges by locals. You can not depend on using US standards in other countries. Fortunately In the example above the guy was turned over to shore patrol to avoid any chance of it turning into an international incident. No matter what just because the specific issue was smokes the inference of HE IS A SMOKER AND DESERVED WHAT THEY GOT was unwarrented. I repeat the inference. I hava alaso seen sailors taken in for having american money in their wallet. A situation very much like the cigatette event. The guy trades his american for local currency on the ship and forgets about the 10 in another part of his wallet he always has kept for an emergency. In that country US dollars was contraband. All to often something innocent is done by one person that is illegal in another country.

Try to go on some cruise ships and take plastic bottles. NO MORE.

 

[Zef]

where in the quoted post did I say no carbonated drinks at customs check points? You are really stooping. To try to answer your baiting question I have been told not to be in possession of carbonated drinks on shore because it violates that countries food laws. Years ago yes ,,, but it is moot. countries have their regs and tourists are normally not aware of many of them. It was a South American country about 40 years ago. Again current or not The aspect of nations laws and regs on unsuspecting travelers are the same. Have you ever seen someone get stopped for having a 30 or 45 cal bullet used as a key bob and processed for weapons charges by locals. You can not depend on using US standards in other countries. Fortunately In the example above the guy was turned over to shore patrol to avoid any chance of it turning into an international incident. No matter what just because the specific issue was smokes the inference of HE IS A SMOKER AND DESERVED WHAT THEY GOT was unwarrented. I repeat the inference.

Try to go on some cruise ships and take plastic bottles. NO MORE.

No one is baiting you. I re-read your post and see that you referred to having carbonated beverages in your possession while on liberty/shore leave.

I know that Australia has strict rules/laws about entering their country with weapons and/or weapon replicas and having a bullet key fob may be cause for scrutiny and confiscation at the border/customs check.

If one is travelling abroad and assumes or thinks US laws still apply once one leaves the US then one is a fool. Countries are not imposing their laws on unsuspecting travelers. Countries expect travelers to educate themselves before arriving. I have yet to meet the gestapo tourist police in any country I have visited for work or leisure waiting to impose some inane law on me as an unsuspecting tourist. For the most part traveling to a foreign country is benign but show up with a pet without doing research and don't be surprised that your dog, cat, monkey, gold fish is put in temporary quarantine; show up in a country where tobacco and alcohol is heavily taxed and don't be surprised that there are imposed limits on what you can bring into the country duty free. The US has these very same rules for alcohol and tobacco. If one is ignorant of the local laws or even as a US citizen, US laws, then one will learn the hard way.

And I maintain that the reference in my original post that stated this would not have happened to the OP if he and his wife did not smoke was a stab at humor, and despite your misgivings about it, is ironically true.

Again, I am truly sorry that you do not see the humor or the irony in it.

Peace out.

-Z

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Whatever you do, don't scream "YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! I'M AN AMERICAN!!!!"

Exception is if I'm there and have my smartphone out for recording. Then by all means, please do.

 

[Lorenzoid]

KWS mentions 40 years ago. Yeah, and much more recently than that it was still hard to get information beyond what was in the tourist guidebooks, and many of us didn't even bother reading those. The great thing is that nowadays all the information a prospective visitor to another country could need to know is at their fingertips. If you're bringing what you consider a "supply" of some item, take 30 seconds before you pack your bag to look up the Customs rules. If it's a new country to you, it isn't a bad idea to read the Immigration rules either, as some countries require a visa, a certain number of months left before your passport expires, etc.

 

[michael-fisch]

If you run afoul of the law in a foreign country, DON'T GET THE US CONSULATE INVOLVED. At best it won't really hurt you that much, but it will never help you. If you need help, let your local lawyer do the helping.

Michael

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

If you run afoul of the law in a foreign country, DON'T GET THE US CONSULATE INVOLVED. At best it won't really hurt you that much, but it will never help you. If you need help, let your local lawyer do the helping.

Michael

Speaking from experience?

 

[gr8jab]

Ignorance of the rules/laws is not a defense. Just because traveling to a country is as easy as clicking a link to purchase a flight and packing a bag, it is incumbent on the traveler to research and be aware of any laws, customs, etc. that might impact them during their travel...that rings true for the place they are traveling to and their return to their place of origin.
-Z

Hi Zef! Generally I agree with what you've sad. My biggest frustration is the inconsistency I've experienced. I take the time to check on security and customs rules when I travel, but I can't tell you the number of times they simply don't jive with what happens. Additionally, from one trip to the next the rules seem to randomly change, even at the exact same location.

Example: A German TSA agent got angry at me when I didn't remove my CPAP from my carry-on. But, in that exact same airport checkpoint I was told exactly the opposite not 30 days before.

I've had to find, print, and carry the TSA and airline policies with me when traveling, just to avoid agents who seem to just makeup rules or policies randomly.

Sometimes I fly with firearms, and I really fear some ignorant ticketing agent flipping out and screaming because I have a gun in my suitcase (with the proper paperwork and locks).

 

[martincohn]

Whatever you do, don't scream "YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! I'M AN AMERICAN!!!!"

Its never about what you say, its the consequences everyone keeps forgetting.