Bloody customs!

[Gareth]

Wonder what France laws are on sharpies? Get a PO box over there and hop on the Eurostar back home. Since California has some wacky laws people get stuff sent to Arizona and go there to pick up their goodies.

Certainly the length of EDC blade is longer.  My understanding is that it's based around the fact a judge found it ridiculous that he might be banning the carry of laguioles. "But zen, 'ow could anyone go for a picnic"?  Something like that anyway.

Nice accent, was he called René by any chance

Officer Crabtree apparently.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Officer_Crabtree

"Good moaning" 

[DaveK]

Ze gateau in ze chateau

[Benner]

Ze gateau in ze chateau

 

[Gareth]

Ze gateau in ze chateau

 

[John]

So Ben I see the numbskull's are sticking to their guns  this could have disastrous consequences for businesses and us alike 

I just hope my gerber firestorm is not as loose as the vantages pivot 

maybe I should pay the sender to send in two packages handle in one blade in the other as knife parts 

[Benner]

Or just get them to really tighten the pivot.  I'm pretty sure they aren't allowed to tamper with anything, thus creating something they claim to be "illegal".

[John]

Or just get them to really tighten the pivot.  I'm pretty sure they aren't allowed to tamper with anything, thus creating something they claim to be "illegal".

Yep I think that's the best plan  thinking about it if they were allowed to tamper then they could even make some slipits illegal 

[Chako]

In the end, I think it may all depend on how badly the duty officer may want your prized possession for him/herself.

Come to think of it, there are so many sticky finger discount artists that work for the Postal Offices the world over, it is amazing any packages make it through he gauntlet in the first place.

[Neil]

In the end, I think it may all depend on how badly the duty officer may want your prized possession for him/herself.

Come to think of it, there are so many sticky finger discount artists that work for the Postal Offices the world over, it is amazing any packages make it through he gauntlet in the first place.

I'd be pretty certain that with the level of bureaucracy involved the chances of anybody swiping any contraband is next to nill.

[Gareth]

In the end, I think it may all depend on how badly the duty officer may want your prized possession for him/herself.

Come to think of it, there are so many sticky finger discount artists that work for the Postal Offices the world over, it is amazing any packages make it through he gauntlet in the first place.

I'd be pretty certain that with the level of bureaucracy involved the chances of anybody swiping any contraband is next to nill.

I totally agree.  I believe these guys are enforcing that law as they see it, I just happen to utterly disagree with their interpretation.  If these guys flag something as illegal then there is no way it's simply going to disappear from the system, it'll be tagged and followed right up to the point it's destroyed.

One thing Britain can do is make mountains of inescapable red tape.

[Neil]

Here was I trying not to make us look like a nation of Vogons

[John]

Has anyone been arrested for importing such knives it seems it's an arrestable offence  be careful  guys 

 Offence: It is an offence to import any knife as described in s.1(1) and sometimes known as a ‘flick knife’ or ‘flick gun’ and ‘gravity knife’

Powers: Arrestable offence.

[Gareth]

Has anyone been arrested for importing such knives it seems it's an arrestable offence  be careful  guys 

 Offence: It is an offence to import any knife as described in s.1(1) and sometimes known as a ‘flick knife’ or ‘flick gun’ and ‘gravity knife’

Powers: Arrestable offence.

If that happened then there at least would be a court ruling on the legality of these knives, rather than a Customs official's opinion.

[John]

Has anyone been arrested for importing such knives it seems it's an arrestable offence   be careful  guys  

 Offence: It is an offence to import any knife as described in s.1(1) and sometimes known as a ‘flick knife’ or ‘flick gun’ and ‘gravity knife’

Powers: Arrestable offence.

If that happened then there at least would be a court ruling on the legality of these knives, rather than a Customs official's opinion.

Maybe that's why they don't arrest anyone then 

[Benner]

Or just get them to really tighten the pivot.  I'm pretty sure they aren't allowed to tamper with anything, thus creating something they claim to be "illegal".

Yep I think that's the best plan  thinking about it if they were allowed to tamper then they could even make some slipits illegal 

Not being picky here, but a slipit would not be illegal as the blade has to lock open.

[Benner]

In the end, I think it may all depend on how badly the duty officer may want your prized possession for him/herself.

Come to think of it, there are so many sticky finger discount artists that work for the Postal Offices the world over, it is amazing any packages make it through he gauntlet in the first place.

I'd be pretty certain that with the level of bureaucracy involved the chances of anybody swiping any contraband is next to nill.

I totally agree.  I believe these guys are enforcing that law as they see it, I just happen to utterly disagree with their interpretation.  If these guys flag something as illegal then there is no way it's simply going to disappear from the system, it'll be tagged and followed right up to the point it's destroyed.

One thing Britain can do is make mountains of inescapable red tape.

+1, especially on apparently such a dangerous weapon. 

 

[sardauker]

In the end, I think it may all depend on how badly the duty officer may want your prized possession for him/herself.

Come to think of it, there are so many sticky finger discount artists that work for the Postal Offices the world over, it is amazing any packages make it through he gauntlet in the first place.

I'd be pretty certain that with the level of bureaucracy involved the chances of anybody swiping any contraband is next to nill.

  If these guys flag something as illegal then there is no way it's simply going to disappear from the system.

you lucky.

[AHB]

  If these guys flag something as illegal then there is no way it's simply going to disappear from the system.

you lucky.

Sounds like "La Cosa Nostra" is handling your mail, Sarduker..   

[appletree_man]

UK customs are a law onto themselves    But, other countries can be harsh as well, i've had trouble with Australian customs.

I always list knives on customs forms as "tools".

[MultiMat]

Probably 90% of my parcels are opened by Australian customs if they are listed as knives  . If listed as tools or cutlery they tend to arouse less suspicion & get too me unmolested. That said I have never had anything confiscated. Playstation games bought from overseas always get opened 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Let's stop beating around the bush and point out that the real reason isn't the legality of the knife in question, or the interpretation of the Customs officials.  The reality is, and I hate to say it, but Ben is simply in a high risk criminal group, and is being profiled.  After all, he has all the traits of your typical gang banger- steady job as a social worker, two kids with a third on the way, all with the same woman that he is legally married to.... I mean these kinds of things send up all kinds of red flags, and if you think profiling doesn't happen... well, think again.  I mean how would you feel if you found out that someone like that was living in your neighborhood?

No offense meant Ben, but someone had to say it.

Def

[665ae]

Let's stop beating around the bush and point out that the real reason isn't the legality of the knife in question, or the interpretation of the Customs officials.  The reality is, and I hate to say it, but Ben is simply in a high risk criminal group, and is being profiled.  After all, he has all the traits of your typical gang banger- steady job as a social worker, two kids with a third on the way, all with the same woman that he is legally married to.... I mean these kinds of things send up all kinds of red flags, and if you think profiling doesn't happen... well, think again.  I mean how would you feel if you found out that someone like that was living in your neighborhood?

No offense meant Ben, but someone had to say it.

Def

Gotta watch those working, slightly less than middle aged, family types... 

[appletree_man]

I'm amazed he's free to walk the streets 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

There's certainly room for concern there

[AHB]

Let's stop beating around the bush and point out that the real reason isn't the legality of the knife in question, or the interpretation of the Customs officials.  The reality is, and I hate to say it, but Ben is simply in a high risk criminal group, and is being profiled.  After all, he has all the traits of your typical gang banger- steady job as a social worker, two kids with a third on the way, all with the same woman that he is legally married to.... I mean these kinds of things send up all kinds of red flags, and if you think profiling doesn't happen... well, think again.  I mean how would you feel if you found out that someone like that was living in your neighborhood?

No offense meant Ben, but someone had to say it.

Def

Right on the spot, Def... 

[sardauker]

  If these guys flag something as illegal then there is no way it's simply going to disappear from the system.

you lucky.

Sounds like "La Cosa Nostra" is handling your mail, Sarduker..   

sadly, kind of.

[Benner]

Let's stop beating around the bush and point out that the real reason isn't the legality of the knife in question, or the interpretation of the Customs officials.  The reality is, and I hate to say it, but Ben is simply in a high risk criminal group, and is being profiled.  After all, he has all the traits of your typical gang banger- steady job as a social worker, two kids with a third on the way, all with the same woman that he is legally married to.... I mean these kinds of things send up all kinds of red flags, and if you think profiling doesn't happen... well, think again.  I mean how would you feel if you found out that someone like that was living in your neighborhood?

No offense meant Ben, but someone had to say it.

Def

You forgot to mention the large hair do...

[Neil]

Let's stop beating around the bush and point out that the real reason isn't the legality of the knife in question, or the interpretation of the Customs officials.  The reality is, and I hate to say it, but Ben is simply in a high risk criminal group, and is being profiled.  After all, he has all the traits of your typical gang banger- steady job as a social worker, two kids with a third on the way, all with the same woman that he is legally married to.... I mean these kinds of things send up all kinds of red flags, and if you think profiling doesn't happen... well, think again.  I mean how would you feel if you found out that someone like that was living in your neighborhood?

No offense meant Ben, but someone had to say it.

Def

You forgot to mention the large hair do...

That's a public service though, catches litter, scares pigeons and attracts lightning away from anything important

[rp252]

Let's stop beating around the bush and point out that the real reason isn't the legality of the knife in question, or the interpretation of the Customs officials.  The reality is, and I hate to say it, but Ben is simply in a high risk criminal group, and is being profiled.  After all, he has all the traits of your typical gang banger- steady job as a social worker, two kids with a third on the way, all with the same woman that he is legally married to.... I mean these kinds of things send up all kinds of red flags, and if you think profiling doesn't happen... well, think again.  I mean how would you feel if you found out that someone like that was living in your neighborhood?

No offense meant Ben, but someone had to say it.

Def

You forgot to mention the large hair do...

That's a public service though, catches litter, scares pigeons and attracts lightning away from anything important

But that's exactly why they're hounding him.  Those pigeons may one day vote, so they have to do every short-sighted thing they can to win the pigeon vote.  Everyone knows a scared pigeon votes conservative.

No...  I'm not bitter at all...

[Benner]

Well, after all that aggro, I FINALLY received my package from John today and inside are some very special pieces.    The Vantage has obviously gone, but I am going to have great fun with what is left.

John, thank you very much my friend.