Delta Passenger Fined $500 For Taking Apple From Airplane Into U.S.

leekohler2 said:

Umm...this is exactly why I avoid flying if at all possible. At one time, it was a really fun experience. But that was back in the 70s.

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You avoid flying because you fear fines? :roll:

According to regulations from U.S. Customs and Border Protection: "It is best not to bring fresh fruits or vegetables into the United States" and all fruit must be declared for inspection, with failure to do so potentially resulting in a fine.

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Passengers are being advised of that during their flight. Ignorance of the law doesn't make it right.
You say it is just an apple, but that isn't entirely true, is it.
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/clearing-cbp/bringing-agricultural-products-united-states
Might not be this very apple, but when your supply dwindles because someone can't follow the rules, you might think differently.

danarhea said:

You have to be kidding me. United Airlines attendant gives her an apple, which she did not want to eat, so put it in her bag. For that, she is being fined 500 bucks.

There is something called the letter of the law, and there is something called the spirit of the law. There is also something called a complete asshole.

Delta Passenger Fined $500 For Taking Apple From Airplane Into U.S.

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There has to be more to the story. The passenger must have been mouthy with the U.S. customs folks. The fine will get dropped.

Napoleon said:

There is a reason why these laws exist. Foreign produce can bring in all manner of insects, fungi, etc that can cause catostrophic damage to North American ecosystems. Travelers should know and understand the rules.

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I wouldn't argue about the law, but the punishment is way severe for the crime IMO. Taking the fruit away is fine, but that amount for a fine is ridiculous especially since the apple was from the airline.

danarhea said:

You have to be kidding me. United Airlines attendant gives her an apple, which she did not want to eat, so put it in her bag. For that, she is being fined 500 bucks.

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False. She is being fined $500 for failing to declare prohibited agriculture items when asked on her declaration, lying about having them when asked by an agriculture specialist, and for being a Global Entry trusted traveler while doing so.

Questions on the customs declarations are not rocket science. Here is a sample CBP Form 6059B: https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/CBP Form 6059B English (Sample Watermark).pdf

The GE kiosk asks similar questions, grouped differently, with slightly altered wording, but the gist of the questions is identical to the sample form linked above. See Question 11a for the relevant question. The question has some specific examples, but it clearly asks if you are bringing food. Note it makes no distinctions whatsoever regarding what food it is, where it came from, where you obtained it, how it's packaged, if it's processed, whether it is store-bought or homemade, whether it was in checked or carry-on bags, or any other distinction you can imagine. Are you bringing food? Yes? Answer "yes."

Global Entry members are not allowed to make mistakes. If you are a trusted traveler who makes mistakes, you no longer deserve to be a trusted traveler. The penalty is there to encourage compliance because what good is a rule that you never get punished for breaking?

She deserved the penalty. She deserved to get bounced out of Global Entry. Period.