Right To Search & Seize Laptops

[ccrain]

My company has just issued an alert for all of us international laptop, PDA or Blackberry carriers. On April 21, 2008, the Court of Appeals issued an opinion which grants CBP large lattitude in searching AND confiscating laptops.

Essentially, if you carry a laptop, PDA or Blackberry overseas and bring it back, the CBP can search it, look at the files and determine if you were carrying Export Controlled Data.

My company is issuing us the necessary documentation (e.g., Computer/Tools of the Trade Letter, commercial invoice, packing slip, etc.), U.S. Government authorization (e.g., export/import license or permit, AES Internal Tracking Number, etc.) and/or ATA Carnet as issued from the United States Council for International Business (USCIB).

We have been told that:

The traveler must allow and be prepared for presenting these documents to U.S.
Customs upon demand. In the case of controlled export/import of commodities
and/or commodities traveling under an ATA Carnet, the traveler must make time
in their agenda to personally present the commodity and documentation to CBP
and foreign customs authorities for their review and acknowledgment AT THE
PORT OF EXIT/ENTRY.

Another great reason to leave the laptop at home now...

[f-mattox]

Customs has always been pretty lenient with cruise ship passengers; at least those re-entering the U.S. by ship.  Airport Customs is a different story.  At least we have been forewarned.