Instant fines for NZ visitors

[El Presidente]

Instant fines for NZ visitors

TRAVELLERS who incorrectly complete Arrival Cards after landing in New Zealand will be issued on-the-spot fines of NZ$400, under new regulations which become effective today.

The new Infringement Notice regime covers a total of 70 offences, and also includes failure to declare tobacco or alcohol over the duty-free limit, or even using a mobile phone in restricted airport or cruise terminal areas.

NZ Customs says the new arrangement covers “strict liability offences,” meaning travellers will have “committed an offence even though you had no intention of doing so and there is no criminal conviction”.

Non-compliant activity includes refusing or failing to answer questions from a Customs Officer about documents, records or travel details, importing prohibited goods, or “where the contents of a parcel addressed to you do not match the description on the parcel declaration”.

The $400 fine is consistent with Biosecurity NZ’s penalty for failing to declare risk items at the border.

“Fines send a strong message about the importance of protecting the border, and deter people from breaking the rules,” NZ Customs said.

The agency also debunked suggestions the new arrangements were “just revenue gathering,” claiming that the revenue collected was negligible.

The new arrangements have become effective following a six-month education period to introduce the changes.

[El Presidente]

Bringing back 100 Customs (say Churchill) would be $1600 in duties/taxes. 

I would take the risk 

[Auspaul]

Arrgghhhh Governemn are the criminals

[Ken Gargett]

strict liability is hardly new. in place in a great many systems around the globe including here in many instances. 

[LLC]

Arrgghhhh Governemn are the criminals

Governments are like mobsters but in suits.


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[LLC]

A pure money grab and likely the customs officers will have quotas to hit.


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[El Presidente]

1 minute ago, LLC said:

A pure money grab and likely the customs officers will have quotas to hit.


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Instead of having decent limits (say 2 boxes), they provide an amount of 50 grams (2 X Monte 2). 

They can go and ______ themselves. 

[Astar20]

Sheesh and I thought the US was bad! But I guess it's just same stuff different day

[TBird55]

3 minutes ago, Astar20 said:

Sheesh and I thought the US was bad! But I guess it's just same stuff different day

We have it made in the shade compared to our brothers down under.....

[Astar20]

 

1 minute ago, TBird55 said:

We have it made in the shade compared to our brothers down under.....

After reading this I feel fortunate! I just wish our customs would be standard and not vary from agent to agent... You hear stories of people brining in the whole island and then people getting their whole loot taken.