On what authority is cell phone use banned at Customs?
Jan 21, 2011, 4:30 pm
#46
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Jan 21, 2011, 5:33 pm
#47
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Using a phone is not always continual, nor does one's desire to use one mean they are unable to go without using it.
Uh, what does that have to do with the discussion at hand?
Jan 21, 2011, 6:03 pm
#48
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: RDU
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when you walk up to my counter talking away on your cell phone then slap you passport down and ignore me =
If someone wants to use a cell phone, ask me, we have a waiting room, not everyone wishes to hear how Delta only served you one glass of champagne and that your contract is only worth a million dollars. =.
If someone wants to use a cell phone, ask me, we have a waiting room, not everyone wishes to hear how Delta only served you one glass of champagne and that your contract is only worth a million dollars. =.
Curious mix of inflated self-importance and jealousy.
But it does confirm that its really not about safety, but about paying the required amount of reverence to government overlords.
fwiw I find cell yakkers annoying to, but your response did a good job of illustrating your mindset.
Jan 21, 2011, 6:03 pm
#49
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Firstly, I have NEVER seen such a notice anywhere but the USA. But, yes, I also would like to know under what authority these signs have been posted. I also doubt they would stand up to challenge -- seems blatantly unconstitutional to attempt to limit someone's speech like that.
There have been cases where entertainers who were denied entry to Canada because of lengthy and violent criminal histories surreptitiously used their mobile phones to take photos of the officers who sent them home. In one recent case, the photo was posted to several fan websites in the form of a lightly veiled death threat.
Also, the US Constitution governs what the USG can do to a US citizen no matter where in the world they are. They can't suddenly search a US citizen in another country simply because they're outside the US.
SCOTUS has carved out some exceptions to the 4th amendment for border situations. However, the constitution still applies to citizens at that point.
SCOTUS has carved out some exceptions to the 4th amendment for border situations. However, the constitution still applies to citizens at that point.
2) The rest is very true. Indeed, the Supreme Court has even limited how far a border search can go.
Your assumption is incorrect. I've seen CBP talking on their cell phones, texting and web surfing.
Jan 21, 2011, 6:48 pm
#50
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I think the answers are pretty clear. Cell phone (and similar device) usage at Federal Inspection Services facilities at ports of entry is not permitted:
2) to prevent passengers from recording sensitive or secure information about inspection procedures on their devices (or details such as the layout of the inspection facility, etc.) - anything that could be deemed a security risk or that could facilitate criminal activity
2) to prevent passengers from recording sensitive or secure information about inspection procedures on their devices (or details such as the layout of the inspection facility, etc.) - anything that could be deemed a security risk or that could facilitate criminal activity
Having worked in immigration, one of the main reasons why people are asked to keep moving into baggage reclaim once they have passed the immigration check is that we dodn't want people turing around and being able to see the next passenger's information on the screen.
Clearly it's not very easy to do that (see the computer screen), but in some cases this might be possible.
So we ask you to move on.
It's nothing about 'power trips' or anything else. Although i suspect the poster continually purporting such is just kidding
Last edited by LHR/MEL/Europe FF; Jan 21, 2011 at 7:39 pm Reason: weally bad gwammar
Jan 21, 2011, 7:00 pm
#51
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,849
Actually it was a baroque violinist if I remember correctly. 
I agree with you on this point. I have no problem with mobile phone use while walking from the aeroplane to the inspection area, while waiting twenty minutes back in the queue at passport control or even while waiting at baggage reclaim. When actually interacting with an officer, however, put the darn phone down. Having said that, I'm really not much of a stickler on this matter unless it interferes with the inspection process or I believe there is a safety issue.
If the powers that be are finding that conspirators are increasingly using mobile phones to get away with their misdeeds, install mobile phone jammers.
That's an important point I wish more people understood. I've been cursed at several times for politely asking a shoulder surfer to move along while I process her friend or cousin or sister or random person she met on the aeroplane who she can't be apart from for more than thirty seconds. Kind of a John and Yoko thing?
I won't argue the rule about phone use in the customs hall, but I've heard examples from people where they were told *while onboard* the arriving aircraft they must not use their cell phone while onboard, while walking to customs, in the inspection hall - basically no phones until clearing inspection.
I would not hesitate to ignore such an order given on board or while walking TO the inspection hall in the US or Canada. While in another country, that's another story - depends on the country.
I would not hesitate to ignore such an order given on board or while walking TO the inspection hall in the US or Canada. While in another country, that's another story - depends on the country.
If the powers that be are finding that conspirators are increasingly using mobile phones to get away with their misdeeds, install mobile phone jammers.
Having working in immigration, one of the main reasons why people are asked to keep moving into baggage reclaim once they have passed the immigration check is that we dodn't want people turing around and being able to see the next passenger's information on the screen.
Last edited by yyzvoyageur; Jan 21, 2011 at 7:12 pm
Jan 21, 2011, 8:09 pm
#52
Join Date: Dec 2010
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Frankly I think most of the reasons given are simply why the posters thinks it might be a good ideal.
I think that people shouldn't drive purple cars because I find them ugly, but there is no legal basis why people should drive them.
Jan 21, 2011, 9:17 pm
#53
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Anyone have a link to the USC or CFR explicitly noting a cell phone ban in the immigration/customs processing areas?
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Jan 28, 2011 at 7:25 pm Reason: merge consecutive posts
Jan 21, 2011, 9:21 pm
#54
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I have. On a regular basis. There was a line of 75+ folks for the customs exit at DFW last week (and a much, much longer line for immigration) - there was no line, however, for those with Global Entry. I've also seen it at ATL, JFK, and at CVG (where they would stop processing to get a bunch of folks lined up, then walk the dog along the line before starting to process again).
There have been other occasions and airports (including JFK, CVG & MIA) where I've experienced absolutely no delay existing customs. YMMV.
There have been other occasions and airports (including JFK, CVG & MIA) where I've experienced absolutely no delay existing customs. YMMV.
Jan 22, 2011, 4:16 am
#55
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It may be a policy, but I don't believe its codified. And again, IANAL, but a paralegal. If a lawyer happens to know where the authority is, please, let us know.
To the OP, the authority may be a CBP policy. Perhaps the poster who claims to have worked at CBP as an Immigration Inspector/Officer could advise whether the ban is/was a policy/internal rule or based on a regulation.
Of course you don't recognize that behaviour. Look under your FlyerTalk handle there on the left. See that 'join date' thing? There was a time when somewhat civil conversations about travel safety and security happened, well before your join date. Sadly, the tone in which the OP asked his/her question is the norm around here now.
If you foresee this continuing to be a problem, you might want to consider....
A) Joining Global Entry
B) Plan your connecting flights to accommodate such situations.
A) Joining Global Entry
B) Plan your connecting flights to accommodate such situations.
If I traveled more than once a year to Europe, Global Entry might be worthwhile, but I don't, and travel is bare bones until TSA court cases are decided anyway. And since I feel as if my ability to properly plan my international travel is questioned, I'd NEVER planned an international trip with less than 3 hours of a connection between the Europe leg and my domestic leg home. I preferred 4 hours since I could attempt to stand by for the final leg if I cleared quickly. How could one ever predict or foresee that one might be standing in the immigration line for 2.5 hours (March 2010) or 3 hours (September 2009)? I really have to plan for 4 to 6 hours to clear Immigration and customs when it's been two events out of 17 trips to Europe in 10 years? The best plan I have is never use CLT or US Airways again for international!
Your question, as you just stated, is a great example of how that question should be asked. Not the "on what authority" approach the OP took.
In any case, back to the OP's question, as I posted earlier, I found no statute or regulation specifically banning the practice. I am left to guess it's an internal policy or rule, unless a lawyer or the poster who says he's worked at CBP, or someone else who was able to find the right combination of search terms for the CFR states otherwise.
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Jan 28, 2011 at 7:26 pm Reason: merge consecutive posts
Jan 22, 2011, 6:44 am
#56
Join Date: May 2005
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My understanding is that it's simply based on a GSA CFR section which requires compliance with all posted signs while in a federally controlled area. Don't have time to look it up right now.
Jan 22, 2011, 7:01 am
#57
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That wouldn't shock me, but that is an invitation for all sorts of government abuse of the people and would seem to excuse all sorts of nonsense and invite inconsistency (beyond that which is already the situation when it comes to DHS). For example, by such a "standard", if DHS clowns put up a sign telling passengers to drop trouser and get raped without complaint in the "federally controlled area", that's a sign that would then "require compliance" by US persons?
Jan 22, 2011, 8:58 am
#58
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Such a regulation can't possibly exist without some limitations on what the signs might be permitted to say. Do you think that it would be legal to post a sign saying "only purple shirts permitted in this area"?
Jan 22, 2011, 1:34 pm
#59
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 111
I think its partly to keep the lines going as I've been behind too many people in other places who are not paying attention because they have to be on their phone (unless is a dire emergency).
The stuff about smuggling and stuff, I can see why the phones need to be off. I have no issue with leaving my phone off until I've cleared customs/immigration. I remember at DTW when I was returning from London, and a customs office was constantly saying to people not to be on their mobile phones. I understand people want to tell their loved ones they've landed etc. but those calls can wait the few minutes til you've cleared customs.
The stuff about smuggling and stuff, I can see why the phones need to be off. I have no issue with leaving my phone off until I've cleared customs/immigration. I remember at DTW when I was returning from London, and a customs office was constantly saying to people not to be on their mobile phones. I understand people want to tell their loved ones they've landed etc. but those calls can wait the few minutes til you've cleared customs.
Jan 22, 2011, 1:47 pm
#60
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I think its partly to keep the lines going as I've been behind too many people in other places who are not paying attention because they have to be on their phone (unless is a dire emergency).
The stuff about smuggling and stuff, I can see why the phones need to be off. I have no issue with leaving my phone off until I've cleared customs/immigration. I remember at DTW when I was returning from London, and a customs office was constantly saying to people not to be on their mobile phones. I understand people want to tell their loved ones they've landed etc. but those calls can wait the few minutes til you've cleared customs.
The stuff about smuggling and stuff, I can see why the phones need to be off. I have no issue with leaving my phone off until I've cleared customs/immigration. I remember at DTW when I was returning from London, and a customs office was constantly saying to people not to be on their mobile phones. I understand people want to tell their loved ones they've landed etc. but those calls can wait the few minutes til you've cleared customs.
To keep the lines moving efficiently, please refrain from using your cell phones in this area.