Originally Posted by
Xeno
I will travel to Moscow this week and would like to carry my Max (a radar detector) in my rollaboard (not checked luggage).
I need the radar detector because when I return to the USA I will be going to NC and driving a rental car for a few days.
Anyone know if I will have trouble with Russian customs? I have no intention of selling the device in Russia.
When I fly into NC, I must immediately drive 3 hours to my destination otherwise I could just ship the Max to my hotel. I will be renting from Hertz, but I worry about trying to ship a Max to a car rental company.
This is basically the definition of 'unnecessary risk'.
Radar detectors appear to be legal in Russia, but taking the risk of getting in an argument with customs is silly for a difference of maybe an hour on your drive in NC. Russian customs will assume you intend to use or sell anything you're bringing there; otherwise, why would you have hauled it all the way from the USA? They will have no interest in your plans back in the US; they may well think you're cooking up a story for them to hide your 'true' intentions in Russia and decide to make your life more miserable.
Ship it to your hotel in NC, save the weight in your baggage load to Russia, keep it to 75 between the NC airport and hotel, and have a great time.