Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > Delta Air Lines | SkyMiles
Reload this Page >

Woman is fined $500 by customs officials for carrying an APPLE

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Woman is fined $500 by customs officials for carrying an APPLE

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 22, 2018, 2:29 pm
  #16  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,543
Originally Posted by bitterproffit
She didn't get fined for an apple. She got fined for lying on her customs form/kiosk.

You have to declare even snacks that you brought with you on the trip. Its simply, just say you have food and your luggage gets scanned. I did it once with Stroopwaffels. Its not that hard to not lie.
Is it perfectly legal to bring an apple in? If so, then I doubt there would be a fine.
Jaimito Cartero is online now  
Old Apr 22, 2018, 2:31 pm
  #17  
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: BNA (Nashville)
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 6,229
Originally Posted by jdrtravel
Seriously? We're talking about an apple people!!!! Lying? If she had a suitcase full of apples or other produce that would be one thing. What I am so irritated about is the obvious overreaction by the overzealous agent.
We aren't talking about an apple. We are talking about lying on your customs declaration. How odd that you think there are degrees to lying.
Grog likes this.
bitterproffit is online now  
Old Apr 22, 2018, 2:32 pm
  #18  
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,434
I'd bet a lot of people reading this thread will be more careful about their customs forms in the future.
DiverDave, Insulator-King and muji like this.
richarddd is online now  
Old Apr 22, 2018, 2:32 pm
  #19  
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: BNA (Nashville)
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 6,229
Originally Posted by Jaimito Cartero
Is it perfectly legal to bring an apple in? If so, then I doubt there would be a fine.
I am not sure produce is legal to bring in, so I deleted that in my edit.

But, I can bring cookies in and declare them. If I don't declare wrapped cookies, its a $500 fine and a loss of GE.
bitterproffit is online now  
Old Apr 22, 2018, 2:34 pm
  #20  
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: BNA (Nashville)
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 6,229
Originally Posted by jdrtravel
Seriously? We're talking about an apple people!!!! Lying? If she had a suitcase full of apples or other produce that would be one thing. What I am so irritated about is the obvious overreaction by the overzealous agent.
Yeah, I would be with you this except for the times I have thrown out a snack in my backpack because I didn't want to declare it at GE and I didn't want to get caught with it.

I don't see any overreaction. Especially with her being GE. She should know better.
Grog and wrp96 like this.
bitterproffit is online now  
Old Apr 22, 2018, 2:34 pm
  #21  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: DL DM PM
Posts: 2,034
In 2010 I got caught with an apple I'd forgotten about and in 2015 I was reminded of the shame when I had my GE interview. At that time I was warned that any more apples and I'd be thrown out of the program and not allowed to re-apply because now I knew the rules. I really like apples but I've managed so far to stay clean.
NotHamSarnie is offline  
Old Apr 22, 2018, 2:43 pm
  #22  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Land of Enchantment!
Programs: Southwest RR, Alaska Mileage Plan™
Posts: 341
Originally Posted by bitterproffit
She wasn't fined for carrying an apple. She was fined for not declaring an apple.

She didn't forget it. She says she was saving it for later. She lied, and then got caught on a random search.

Sucks to face consequences when you break laws. She now also blames Delta because they gave her the apple and didn't warn her not to lie about it.
I knew about the other thread on Global Entry, but since this has a definite Delta connection, thought I'd place it here.

SHe is facing an expensive lesson, sad to say.
Insulator-King is offline  
Old Apr 22, 2018, 3:27 pm
  #23  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
Originally Posted by bitterproffit
We aren't talking about an apple. We are talking about lying on your customs declaration. How odd that you think there are degrees to lying.
Agreed 1000%.

I would also note that “discretion” doesn’t mean “non-enforcement”.
wrp96 likes this.
pbarnette is offline  
Old Apr 22, 2018, 3:34 pm
  #24  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Hilton Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,046
Originally Posted by jdrtravel
And the very definition of insanity is being fined $500 for an apple, especially when it is very clear that agents have some discretion on the matter. A ban on importing agricultural goods is important to protect our crops, etc. That does not mean that an agent can't also be a reasonable and thinking person. Even if bringing the apple was fully intentional, and not a mistake, I still think $500 is crazy and frankly just wrong.
Discretion. Which tells me it's likely this woman (especially based on how she blames everyone else) acted like a nitwit to put it nicely with the agent.
Grog, wrp96 and gooselee like this.
flyerCO is offline  
Old Apr 22, 2018, 3:34 pm
  #25  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Minneapolis, formerly the shores of Lake Minnetonka
Programs: DL PM (and KM)
Posts: 394
Some of you are real hard liners. I'm pretty sure she wasn't intending to deceive CBP and sneak the apple in. She likely just forgot that she had it. I get it, that's her fault and she's responsible, nobody should be debating that. But it's a pretty simple mistake without much harm done, a $500 fine is quite excessive.

I do think she's making this worse on herself than she has to...blaming Delta is a joke. She should have just owned up to making a mistake and forgetting about it. I wouldn't be surprised if there were some liberties taken in that article too, especially how the CBP agent is described as acting. Someone who blames Delta for this would likely try and play the pity/sympathy card and do whatever they could to make CBP look like the bad guy too.
Ebes1099 is offline  
Old Apr 22, 2018, 3:37 pm
  #26  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Hilton Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,046
Originally Posted by NotHamSarnie
In 2010 I got caught with an apple I'd forgotten about and in 2015 I was reminded of the shame when I had my GE interview. At that time I was warned that any more apples and I'd be thrown out of the program and not allowed to re-apply because now I knew the rules. I really like apples but I've managed so far to stay clean.
Sucks when they pass around the apples and you can't call your AA sponsor since in the air. (Apples Annonomus)
flyerCO is offline  
Old Apr 22, 2018, 3:47 pm
  #27  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: SK Gold, ITA Executive, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Avis PC, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,163
Originally Posted by NotHamSarnie
In 2010 I got caught with an apple I'd forgotten about and in 2015 I was reminded of the shame when I had my GE interview. At that time I was warned that any more apples and I'd be thrown out of the program and not allowed to re-apply because now I knew the rules. I really like apples but I've managed so far to stay clean.
Same here, only with an orange I forgot about [agricultural violation] in 2010 and a reminder at my GE interview in Jan 2016. Same stern warning - I now definitely make sure not to have anything undeclared with me.
wrp96 and NotHamSarnie like this.
jms_uk is offline  
Old Apr 22, 2018, 3:50 pm
  #28  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NY Metro
Programs: SPG Titanium, United Premier 1K
Posts: 1,601
Regardless of which side of this debate you are on, "lying" is the first thing they get you on if they want to get you on something. Look at how many famous people got convicted of "lying" and not the original crime they were investigated on. Moral of the story: when in doubt, just declare it.
PrivatePilot is offline  
Old Apr 22, 2018, 3:58 pm
  #29  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,106
Lying requires intention to deceive. If she legitimately forgot she had the apple, she wasn't lying.
justforfun is online now  
Old Apr 22, 2018, 4:02 pm
  #30  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Somewhere
Programs: Delta Plat
Posts: 3,363
I guess none of you have flown into New Zealand.
wrp96 likes this.
HWGeeks is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.