Woman is fined $500 by customs officials for carrying an APPLE
Apr 23, 2018, 5:36 am
#76
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 64
over 25 years
Woman is fined $500 by customs officials for carrying an APPLE that was given to her for free by a Delta flight crew member.
Arvada woman trying to stomach $500 fine for free airline snack FOX31 Denver
Arvada woman trying to stomach $500 fine for free airline snack FOX31 Denver
in some countries its jail.....beware
Apr 23, 2018, 5:59 am
#77
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Tokyo
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If customs officials wanted to teach her a lesson, then it will probably backfire from a PR standpoint. Can't imagine the average person, pro traveler or not, sympathizing much with customs considering all the other issues out there in need of addressing.
Apr 23, 2018, 6:16 am
#78
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Apr 23, 2018, 6:44 am
#79
Join Date: Jun 2008
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What could possibly happen with just a single apple? Well, Often1 gave the reason. Here's the example that Customs and Border Patrol give on their website.
One good example of problems imported fruits and vegetables can cause is the Mediterranean fruit fly outbreak during the 1980s. The outbreak cost the state of California and the federal government approximately $100 million to get rid of this pest. The cause of the outbreak was one traveler who brought home one contaminated piece of fruit. It is best not to bring fresh fruits or vegetables into the United States.
Apr 23, 2018, 7:10 am
#80
Join Date: Oct 2007
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No one said anything about respect. However when you want someone to use their discretion in your favor you don't act pissy to them. This lady has blamed everyone but herself and has taken zero responsibility. Full fine is in order. I worked CS for few years . The customer who acted like a human generally got what they wanted. The one that acted like a jerk got nothing but by the book action.
And I hope, if you think it through, that you actually wouldn't want to live in a country where your perceived level of politeness to a government agent actually materially influences the outcome of your interaction with the government. In practice, of course it happens. But don't cheer it on.
*No idea if CBP counts here.
Apr 23, 2018, 7:15 am
#81
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One of the last times I went through CBP I declared some food (all dried, biscuits, etc.). Got a big ole X on my my GE ticket. Customs agent asked what I had. I told them. He said not to worry about such food items. I said better safe than a fine.
As for the woman, in the story. I do not feel sorry for her. But the fines are a bit much. A $100 fine for a first time occurrence would have been a good reminder.
As for the woman, in the story. I do not feel sorry for her. But the fines are a bit much. A $100 fine for a first time occurrence would have been a good reminder.
Apr 23, 2018, 7:17 am
#82
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Considering most people are just told to throw it out and go on their merry way, I think one of two things happened.
1. She was nasty/fought with the agent over this.
2. It was an overzealous power-hungry agent.
1. She was nasty/fought with the agent over this.
2. It was an overzealous power-hungry agent.
Apr 23, 2018, 7:29 am
#83
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It is my understanding that processed foods, like Stroopwaffels, do not have to be declared as they represent no agricultural risks. I know that I have brought in quite a bit of Israel chocolates when entering the States and never declared them and never had a problem. On the one instance that my hand luggage was x-rayed by Customs in Boston, the agent spotted it and asked, "Is that chocolate?" and when I confirmed that it was, he let it through with no other comment.
Apr 23, 2018, 7:31 am
#84
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I love threads like these
Apr 23, 2018, 7:33 am
#85
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That's fine at Starbucks, but government has to have much stricter guidelines than that on how to use discretion. It's not intended to be a cudgel to punish people who are insufficiently solicitous of a CBP agent (or, in practice, insufficiently white, insufficiently professional-looking, or insufficiently hot). Discretion in this context is actually intended as a way to maintain reasonable continuity between agents and cases—note that prosecutors discuss discretion by using phrases like "no reasonable prosecutor would do x,y, or z." Halfway decent agencies* would have flowcharts, lists of criteria, or precedent-based manuals for agents to use when deciding how to use their discretion. "She was rude to me so full fine is in order" should be a fireable offense.
And I hope, if you think it through, that you actually wouldn't want to live in a country where your perceived level of politeness to a government agent actually materially influences the outcome of your interaction with the government. In practice, of course it happens. But don't cheer it on.
*No idea if CBP counts here.
And I hope, if you think it through, that you actually wouldn't want to live in a country where your perceived level of politeness to a government agent actually materially influences the outcome of your interaction with the government. In practice, of course it happens. But don't cheer it on.
*No idea if CBP counts here.
Apr 23, 2018, 7:40 am
#86
Join Date: Apr 2016
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It is my understanding that processed foods, like Stroopwaffels, do not have to be declared as they represent no agricultural risks. I know that I have brought in quite a bit of Israel chocolates when entering the States and never declared them and never had a problem. On the one instance that my hand luggage was x-rayed by Customs in Boston, the agent spotted it and asked, "Is that chocolate?" and when I confirmed that it was, he let it through with no other comment.
Apr 23, 2018, 7:41 am
#87
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: VA
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It is my understanding that processed foods, like Stroopwaffels, do not have to be declared as they represent no agricultural risks. I know that I have brought in quite a bit of Israel chocolates when entering the States and never declared them and never had a problem. On the one instance that my hand luggage was x-rayed by Customs in Boston, the agent spotted it and asked, "Is that chocolate?" and when I confirmed that it was, he let it through with no other comment.
Keith
Apr 23, 2018, 7:43 am
#88
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Apr 23, 2018, 7:53 am
#89
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3. Also in practical terms, it's foolish of a government to enforce customs at passenger points of entry.
--- Customs is meant to protect trade and agriculture. Shiploads of parasitic apples from a commercial importer has a low but meaningful chance of harming US agriculture. An apple in your bag is as likely to harm US agriculture as I am to marry Taylor Swift.
https://www.apostille.us/news/cbp-ag...erranean.shtml
Apr 23, 2018, 7:56 am
#90
Join Date: Oct 2007
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My point was not that it never happens that way (it happens that way all the time, and it’s a major problem). My point was that it’s not something to cheer about.