Cancun Airport Eliminates Fee For Multiple Devices

[ggunn]

Yes, if it is connected to those loads.

Which is virtually always the case when there is a widespread outage. Most homeowners do not shut off their main breaker when the power goes out, so all their loads are still connected to the unenergized grid. Anyone who connects a generator to their home without some sort of isolating device like a main breaker lockout or transfer switch would be trying to light up their city with it, which will shut it down. The only time that doing that could endanger electrical workers is when and if the power is out for just their house. Of course it is possible, hence the rules against it. It's UL1741 for PV systems.

 

[ReefHound]

I find it hard to believe that linemen entrust their lives to the good behaviour of the general population. In a large power outage where you might have 100k generators running, you're going to have lots and lots of people, especially in poorer areas, who can't afford to drop a grand on an electrician to install an interlock and inlet. They are going to use the "poor man's inlet" of plugging into the 30A dryer outlet to backfeed the house, and thus the grid. And yet, I've never heard one news story of a lineman being injured because of this.

 

[ggunn]

I find it hard to believe that linemen entrust their lives to the good behaviour of the general population. In a large power outage where you might have 100k generators running, you're going to have lots and lots of people, especially in poorer areas, who can't afford to drop a grand on an electrician to install an interlock and inlet. They are going to use the "poor man's inlet" of plugging into the 30A dryer outlet to backfeed the house, and thus the grid. And yet, I've never heard one news story of a lineman being injured because of this.

It is indeed highly unlikely; for one thing, if you plug a generator into your service without isolating it, unless maybe the outage is at the transformer nearest your house, your generator is going to see a virtual dead short and shut down immediately. For another, if 100k people try to connect generators to the grid at the same time, the generators will not be synchronized, so they will either shut down or blow up.

But it isn't totally impossible that a lineman could be working only on the secondary of the transformer that powers your house and get hurt; I am pretty sure there has been a case or two where that happened. Grid tied solar inverters are designed to shut off when the power goes out, and it is illegal to connect a generator to your house panel without a transfer switch or lockout kit that isolates your service from the grid. Of course, someone could simply shut off their main breaker and get away with it; that's all a lockout kit does.

This stuff is what I do.

 

[mstevens]

In a Facebook video posted on Friday, Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama announced Cancun International Airport – the busiest airport in Mexico – is eliminating the country's longstanding tax on foreign arrivals bringing more than one "a portable computer equipment known as laptop, notebook, Omnibook or similar" through airport customs effective immediately.

Since SAT (customs) is a federal department, I wouldn't think a governor would would have the authority to rescind customs regulations.

I sure hope this applies or will be extended to CZM. Doesn't the airport operate under the jurisdiction of Cancun customs?

Cozumel's airport INM (immigration) and SAT are sub-stations of Cancún's. This being México, there's no reason they might not have entirely different policies.

I have never been asked about it in the Cozumel airport and our bags have been inspected a couple of times when we had a laptop and two iPads.

I never encountered any issues, and I've brought a lot of weird stuff over the years. Then recently I was bringing my son't brand-new expensive laptop and got dinged for duty. Then when I was bringing a "solar generator" (big-assed lithium battery and solar panel) I had to pay duty. When my wife later brought a second one, they just asked her questions about it and did not assess any duty. It was very likely the same officers.

I will note that the other computer I had when bringing my son's was my 5 year-old MacBook Pro, the original price of which (loaded) was about the same as the new one. The current value of my computer was less than 20% that of the new one. You only et one guess on which one I had to pay duty.

... fining travelers ...

It's not a fine. It's import duty.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

It's not a fine. It's import duty.

Import duties are only applicable on things that are IMPORTED. That means things that STAY. If you take it with you when you leave, it is in reality a fine, regardless of what they call it.

 

[gopbroek]

Since SAT (customs) is a federal department, I wouldn't think a governor would would have the authority to rescind customs regulations.



Cozumel's airport INM (immigration) and SAT are sub-stations of Cancún's. This being México, there's no reason they might not have entirely different policies.



I never encountered any issues, and I've brought a lot of weird stuff over the years. Then recently I was bringing my son't brand-new expensive laptop and got dinged for duty. Then when I was bringing a "solar generator" (big-assed lithium battery and solar panel) I had to pay duty. When my wife later brought a second one, they just asked her questions about it and did not assess any duty. It was very likely the same officers.

I will note that the other computer I had when bringing my son's was my 5 year-old MacBook Pro, the original price of which (loaded) was about the same as the new one. The current value of my computer was less than 20% that of the new one. You only et one guess on which one I had to pay duty.



It's not a fine. It's import duty.

I was in Torreón working on an aircraft last week and was speaking with the local airline and contract maintenance folks. Since AMLO turned customs over to the military they have no clue week to week, what to expect. The troops overseeing customs are regularly rotated out so it’s a constant OJT exercise. No one knows what to expect

 

[gopbroek]

Import duties are only applicable on things that are IMPORTED. That means things that STAY. If you take it with you when you leave, it is in reality a fine, regardless of what they call it.

Mexico is not a ‘rule of law’ country, duties are what the folks with guns say they are.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

Mexico is not a ‘rule of law’ country, duties are what the folks with guns say they are.

Which is called "armed robbery" in most of the civilized world.