p.2 #1 · Beware if you fly with a laptop, PDA, iPhone, etc.
Paul, nobody I know will ever fly through Heathrow again. The restricted carryon baggage limits and the general nature of inspection and 'dangerous items' is so insulting, it makes America look easy. I would never be able to travel with a camera kit.
p.2 #2 · Beware if you fly with a laptop, PDA, iPhone, etc.
"As to the topic at hand, just because they don't confiscate laptops as a matter of practice it doesn't mean they wont in the future. Their policy allows it and that is the fundamental problem, they have written in a clause that gives them virtual free reign. Who's to say that in 10 years after another terrorist scare they won't start doing it all the time?"
"This policy provides guidance to U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers, Border
Patrol Agents, Air and Marine Agents, Internal Affairs Agents, and any other official of CBP
authorized to conduct border searches (for purposes of this policy, all such officers and agents
are hereinafter referred to as "officers") regarding the border search of information contained in
documents and electronic devices. More specifically, this policy sets forth the legal and policy
guidelines within which officers may search, review, retain, and share certain information
possessed by individuals who are encountered by CBP at the border, functional equivalent of the
border, or extended border. This policy governs border search authority only; nothing in this
policy limits the authority of CBP to act pursuant to other authorities such as a warrant or a
search incident to arrest."
Of course, if one is going to decide that someone or some agency may do something because they might do something....
p.2 #3 · Beware if you fly with a laptop, PDA, iPhone, etc.
Jeffrey wrote:
Paul, nobody I know will ever fly through Heathrow again. The restricted carryon baggage limits and the general nature of inspection and 'dangerous items' is so insulting, it makes America look easy. I would never be able to travel with a camera kit.
I flew through Heathrow 3-4 times in the past year, didn't have a huge problem with it. The carry-on limitations are problematic however. I did not have my gear with me, so that would obviously be a different story.
p.2 #4 · Beware if you fly with a laptop, PDA, iPhone, etc.
I know I am late to the game here, but the US Customs Service has had the ability to detail and investigate anything coming into the United States since July 31st 1789. This was upheld by the 9th Circuit Court in 2006.
This has been coming up over the last two months like it is 'news.' It is not news, there has been no policy change in the scope of the US Customs Service. The policy and authority in place are that same throughout many nations around the world. When you are in the 'immigrations & customs' area of an airport you are not yet admitted to the country until after you clear Customs.....not at arrival, or even after your passport is stamped. You are admitted to the country of your arrival after you pass Customs and step outside the doors into the main terminal area.
p.2 #5 · Beware if you fly with a laptop, PDA, iPhone, etc.
ontime wrote:
This is funny. So how does the random seizure of laptops make anyone any safer? Anyone care to elaborate?
In general what Customs is looking for is information related to illegal activity.
This can be detailed notes on off-shore money, it can be 'terrorist related' (terrorists don't store data on Blackberrys though), quite a few people have been caught with significant amounts of child pornography on their laptops.
They ain't looking for pirated software or an illegally downloaded song. They have caught people entering the US with the clear intention of illegally staying in the US; they have caught child porn collectors and those who are involved in the drug trade because of data obtained on an intercepted laptop.
