Border Security , Food and the Indonesian Captain

[markis10]

Hmmmm, sounds like both parties were having a bad day!

Your letters: Treatment at Perth

I was the captain of Garuda Indonesia flight 728 (Denpasar-Perth, Australia). Upon arriving at the quarantine checkpoint on Aug. 26, at approximately 1 a.m., the female officer asked if I had anything to declare.

At that point, I realized that I had two bananas and a pear in my flight bag and I immediately apologized for not declaring them.

As she opened the bag she discovered the fruit that I’ve mentioned and also one additional piece of fruit; a salak (snake fruit).

The officer said that I should know better being a captain and she fined me A$220, which was the maximum penalty.

Where is Lara Bingle when you need her to help pick up Australia's tourist reputation overseas, selling NZ!

 

[anat0l]

Maybe the border control officer was having a power trip, but the captain is an idiot.

The fact he is a captain is actually not important: you come to Australia, we have strict quarantine laws and there are signs all around the customs area saying use of mobile phones is prohibited. Not too damn hard to understand.

End. Of. Story. Next idiot, please!

 

[markis10]

I think he felt threatened by the savage beagles and fessed up to the food!

 

[simongr]

Actually the fact that he is a Captain is important. For a start he should know better having flown many times. Second he is responsible as a leader to the rest of his crew - if he disregards the rules then so can they. Thirdly this guy has enshrined right to kick people off the aircraft for whatever misdemeanour he perceives so maybe he should follow the rules as well.

Reading the article though it seems like it was a poorly handled situation...

 

[VHOEJ]

Agree with simongr........probably should have been handled better but being a captain doesn't mean the rules don't apply to you and you should know better.

 

[medhead]

Disregards the rules, or just forgets? I got pinged by transfer security at SYD when I came back from my overnight to AKL. I forgot about the shaving cream I put in my carry on luggage on my way out after passing security. Security guy got a bit narky but accepted my apology for forgetting. I certainly wasn't disregarding the rules.


Sent from the Throne

 

[anat0l]

Disregards the rules, or just forgets? I got pinged by transfer security at SYD when I came back from my overnight to AKL. I forgot about the shaving cream I put in my carry on luggage on my way out after passing security. Security guy got a bit narky but accepted my apology for forgetting. I certainly wasn't disregarding the rules.

In other words, you got lucky. He could've thrown the book at you (and in some countries, that phrase would be literal).


Our friend, the "Captain", was not so fortunate; then again, he was dealing with AQIS.

 

[medhead]

In other words, you got lucky. He could've thrown the book at you (and in some countries, that phrase would be literal).

and what penalty did I face?


Sent from the Throne

 

[anat0l]

and what penalty did I face?

You could've been implicated in attempting to conceal a prohibited item through the sterile area*, I suppose. I'm guessing at a minimum you might miss your flight; perhaps you'd be served a summons. *shrug* Help me out here....

* Yes I'm well aware you can buy shaving creams airside...

 

[medhead]

You could've been implicated in attempting to conceal a prohibited item through the sterile area*, I suppose. I'm guessing at a minimum you might miss your flight; perhaps you'd be served a summons. *shrug* Help me out here....

* Yes I'm well aware you can buy shaving creams airside...

At less than 100ml I'm not sure it's prohibited. I forgot to remove it and send it on its own ride through the x-ray machine. Whatever book they could throw at me, I suspect it would be a featherweight.


Sent from the Throne

 

[oz_mark]

and what penalty did I face?

At worst, losing the can I guess!

 

[anat0l]

At less than 100ml I'm not sure it's prohibited. I forgot to remove it and send it on its own ride through the x-ray machine. Whatever book they could throw at me, I suspect it would be a featherweight.

*shrug* I almost got jumped on in the USA by the TSA when I walked through a WTMD too quickly, or something like that. Luckily, the stern lady let me go back, wait for her signal and then walk through much, much slower.

The disadvantage I would've had in that situation is not only a literal book to the face, but of course would have no rights to recourse.

 

[moa999]

I also dont think $220 is the maximum penalty - it is the default penalty notice fine...

If you have brought in a coughload of stuff I suspect you get charged and go to court and the penalty may be much larger.

 

[medhead]

*shrug* I almost got jumped on in the USA by the TSA when I walked through a WTMD too quickly, or something like that. Luckily, the stern lady let me go back, wait for her signal and then walk through much, much slower.

The disadvantage I would've had in that situation is not only a literal book to the face, but of course would have no rights to recourse.

You might have also got a bath or 2 and a Caribbean holiday.

Seriously, the TSA sound incredibly pathetic.


Sent from the Throne

 

[harvyk]

I keep getting the feeling there is more to this story than what is been reported. Yes they will get narky over even 1 undeclared thing, however from what I've seen, there is usually an amnesty period from when your first asked the question, to when the bag search commences where you can speak up and avoid getting fined.

They also seem to be pretty good at telling if you have genuinely forgotten about said item, or if you where wanting to sneak something through (in some cases, they can tell if you sneaking something whilst your still standing in line).

Seriously, the TSA sound incredibly pathetic.

Understatement of the century...
I have yet come across a decent TSA officer who is not on a power trip. Those guys love barking orders at people, and thus do so as frequently as they can.

 

[juddles]

Reading the article though it seems like it was a poorly handled situation...

simongr, I suspect that as usual the ¨article¨ is just that captain´s very one-sided spit. I agree with you though that he definitely should have known better. Reminds me of that judge caught for speeding who lied.......

 

[lovestotravel]

Should have been fined more

 

[juddles]

...
I have yet come across a decent TSA officer who is not on a power trip. Those guys love barking orders at people, and thus do so as frequently as they can....

harvyk, I have come across some a..holes among them, but only a few. Many have been truly fantastic and made the whole procedure a fun thing for my kids. Please give each one a chance, as they are not all flapwits. Many IMHO are just doing the best they can to do a job that requires them to enforce debatable rules.

 

[lovestotravel]

Every TSA visit I have had, has been fine!

Some friendly, some not so much but all were nice enough considering the cough they have to do with every person!

 

[ozmille]

AQIS had a good laugh at us when we got back from BKK once, SWMBO had bought a "wooden" statue which she declared on her form. Guy asks can I please see it, and here the circus began, SWMBO forgot in which bag she put it so open go all the bags and carry ons (3 Samsonites, 2 carry on wheelies and 2 backpacks) eventually she finds it wrapped inside a towel in a handbag at the bottom of the third suitcase. Now about 5 officers are looking and laughing at the scene, and the guy goes, "that isn't wood on you go"