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Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 1:32:20 AM

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When you send handcuffs overseas (from US to other countries) as a "gift" what do you mark as value and as the item? Are they considered a weapon by chance? Do people mark them as something else maid of metal? Also, if you are shipping to someone who has roommates and you don't want them to see on the customs label "HANDCUFFS," what's a pretty good non descriptive thing to write?

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 2:44:46 AM

pqui

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To avoid your question: Why not order them in the respective country? Given low product prices vs. international shipping costs.

When it comes to shipping stuff illegally internationally, you either plainly hide it (declare as gift, value below USD 20, content toys - if it gets intercepted by customs you claim you know nothing about it and don't want it, the customs will then, in most countries, just destroy it) or you have to read into the law. You don't have to get overly descriptive with the declarations and they are only meant for taxing - so if the value is too low to tax, no one cares. I can't imagine that US export of handcuffs is illegal, so its all about the import for the receiver in the country you ship to. Germany has some twisted weapons law, even certain small knifes are considered weapons of war. But I don't think handcuffs are in any way. Ironically, swords for example are effectively not weapons here but collectibles.

Anyway, you really can't tell if it is illegal or legal until you read both: export law of your country and import law of the other, including import law of the EU in EU countries (plus certain international restrictions - but short of uranium and stuff like that, I can't imagine anything here).

< Message edited by pqui -- 8/11/2013 2:46:57 AM >

(in reply to AAkasha)

RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 3:01:41 AM

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I wouldn't ship them overseas. Send some other non-weaponry type of implement. Zip ties, scarves, etc. are not illegal or misunderstand able. If it is a non-English speaking country, definitely don't put TOYS as the descriptor. Toys are for children in any translation dictionary, and your person could get in a whole heap of trouble... the BAD kind of trouble. The world does not follow USA type acceptance of stuff.

sunshine

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 3:11:27 AM

pqui

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How would you get into trouble for toys? In almost all countries, you don't get into trouble for receiving packages, simply because anyone could have sent them to you without your consent. If you get a customs notice, just ignore it. Also "toys" is often used when people have no clue what to declare it as, if its not electronics, because most things can qualify as toys, such as handcuffs, which are actually sold as real children toys in stores (but obviously not with the same quality as real handcuffs). Have a look:

No girl ever wanted to tie me up. I had the ropes and everything. :'(

< Message edited by pqui -- 8/11/2013 3:31:57 AM >

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 3:14:13 AM

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Hi Aakasha

I have been looking into this recently as have been trying to import something similar to the UK. As far as I can gather, if the said restraint is intended for government use (police, hospital, prison etc) then it has to have an export license first. If the cuffs are from a bdsm store though and are not gov't issue, then maybe you don't need a license.

Could the cuffs be describes as 'costume jewelry', like maybe a punk rocker might hang off a belt?

Here's the article I was having a look at btw regarding the license;

http://www.exportlawblog.com/archives/4207

hope this is of some help.

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 3:21:35 AM

pqui

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@jola37: I don't live in the US, but aren't those licenses required only for commercial exports? If you ship stuff as a private person outside of a business, I can't imagine that those laws apply in any shape or form. I work in a company which does international exports/imports and I am aware that you get into a heap of restrictions if you do it commercially, especially if it gets to larger quantities.

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 3:22:33 AM

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FR~

AFAIK, handcuffs are not considered as weapons of any sort.
What customs are looking for are things like knives, guns, spears, daggers, swords, grenades... etc.

On the customs declaration you should put the actual true value.
To falsify that info would land you in serious trouble for tax evasion if it was undervalued.
And it is quite 'normal' to label handcuffs as bedroom or adult toys.
At the receiving end, the recipients' country will have different rules as to whether they pay duty on them or not.
As the sender, that is not your responsibility.
Unless they are very expensive handcuffs, they aren't likely to go over that threshhold.

Hope that helps.

(in reply to pqui)

RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 3:33:24 AM

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hi pqui

my gut feeling is they would still apply as they fall under a controlled items category.

An easier way round this is maybe to purchase the said items in the country they are destined for, so they can be shipped internally thus negating the need for any embarrassing trips to the Customs postal depot !

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 3:39:47 AM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: pqui

How would you get into trouble for toys? In almost all countries, you don't get into trouble for receiving packages, simply because anyone could have sent them to you without your consent. If you get a customs notice, just ignore it. Also "toys" is often used when people have no clue what to declare it as, if its not electronics, because most things can qualify as toys, such as handcuffs, which are actually sold as real children toys in stores (but obviously not with the same quality as real handcuffs). Have a look:

I am speaking from an actual real life experience. When customs calls and says "yes, you can pick it up, but you will be deported," it gives chills. As I stated, not every country has the same ideals and such as the USA. You don't seriously believe that Russia has the same rules as Saudi Arabia has the same rules as Italy has the same rules as Vietnam, do you? Cause if you do, whew, you've never lived abroad. one of the main topics when expat folks happen to find themselves in the same place is all the crazy customs experiences we all have.

Heck you aren't allowed to have CHEWING GUM in Singapore, but I have no problem with it in S. Korea. And gum is not a weapon, but there is a restriction on it.

< Message edited by sunshinemiss -- 8/11/2013 3:45:36 AM >

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 3:48:39 AM

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FR~

I found this little nugget of info from our government website detailing prohibited items -
"leg-irons, gang-chains, shackles and individual-cuffs or shackle bracelets - excluding handcuffs which have an overall dimension, including chain, measured from the outer edge of one cuff to the outer edge of the other cuff, between 150 and 280 millimetres when locked and have not been modified to cause physical pain or suffering"

Source: https://www.gov.uk/controls-on-torture-goods

That should give you a pretty good idea.

(in reply to jola37)

RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 4:01:33 AM

pqui

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EDIT: It seems I misunderstood the law at first and it is reasonable. Pretty much handcuffs are fine as well as electro-shockers below 10kV. Though, if you knew anything about electro-shocks you knew that it is amps plus volts that make the difference. That there is a restriction on volts only shows that the person drafting the law had no clue about the subject.

< Message edited by pqui -- 8/11/2013 4:16:49 AM >

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 4:42:19 AM

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I didn't realize she was sending things to the UK. In that case, forget what I said. I've next to know info about the UK's policies. But, hey, have fun!

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 5:23:01 AM

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FR

I might go for 'metal stage implements' or some other term that hints strongly of the theatre.

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 5:25:22 AM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: sunshinemiss

I didn't realize she was sending things to the UK. In that case, forget what I said. I've next to know info about the UK's policies. But, hey, have fun!

The last I heard was that a huge tome is kept by the Royal Mail that specifically lists everything that is banned. If x is not listed, x can be sent. A phone call should sort it out.

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 7:45:54 AM

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They should be fine. List them as "fancy dress prop". Absolutely put the real value on them, the risk of getting them impounded is too great otherwise. Obviously, if you're listing them as a gift, don't put in a receipt and don't send them from a business address.

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/11/2013 9:03:41 AM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: pqui

To avoid your question: Why not order them in the respective country? Given low product prices vs. international shipping costs.

Agreed. That's the great thing about the internet - you can go on eBay or Amazon.co.uk or whatever from the US and buy something from a local seller and not have to deal with customs at all.

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/13/2013 11:51:02 PM

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I bought some Smith & Wesson handcuffs from the U.S. to Denmark without problems and they were not described as a weapon, but I think you have to be careful about, describing them as a different product than it is, perhaps Security Guard Tool could be ok but I do not know.

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/14/2013 12:12:12 AM

MyMasterStephen

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jola-

That article is about US exports, not UK imports. If someone wants to sell you stuff then why worry whether or not they're in the wrong?

And more generally, standard police-issue handcuffs are openly on sale in certain shops in the UK. They are in no way classified as weapons. If you wanted to export them and "disguise" their nature, why not use their English nickname: bracelets.

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/14/2013 4:15:23 AM

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Ok, standard issue handcuffs are legal in the UK. They're considered an aggravating factor if you carry them on a burglary, but I'm assuming your friend wasn't planning to! If someone is stopped and searched carrying them, they aren't illegal, but the police are likely to ask some probing questions about why they have them.

Source for all of this is a police community support officer who should probably remain nameless.

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RE: Shipping handcuffs overseas - 8/14/2013 5:32:36 AM

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Hi MyMasterStephen

If I'm importing something to the UK then 'exporting from the US' is also part of the equation. Why worry? The person sending might get in trouble (see the link I put), your items may also be held by Customs, for you the explain/collect/pay taxes on.

Handcuffs these days are pretty tame, even some of my vanilla girlfriends owned handcuffs before I met them. You can also buy them on most high streets these days (places like Ann Summers) As such I don't see much of a problem for someone to ship handcuffs from the US to the UK. But if the cuffs are US Gov't issue, then one should get an export license from what I can gather, but if you were to buy the same cuffs in a fetish store, then I don't know if the same rule still applies.

I don't think I made any mention of 'weapon' or about exporting anything from the UK.

best j :)

(in reply to Apocalypso)

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