Clearing customs with a MD????

[cottonjim]

I am heading to Scotland at the end of the month for work, I would like to try to bring my Ace 250 with me and maybe try a little MD'ing over there in my spare time (if I have any). Does anyone have any experience going through customs with a MD and going back out with new found buried loot? Or would it be easier to just leave it at home? TIA

 

[eagle77]

Don't know about Customs, but as far as loot is concerned you need to get in touch with some of the MD'ers on this site from the British Isles or someone that has been over there and knows the internal workings. Their treasure hunting laws a very different and I'd hate to have start a collection to bail you outta jail

 

[N.J.THer]

I took a MD to Mexico last year and did not have any problems with customs. I checked it and I'm not even sure they ever looked at it. As far as the finds go I just kept them in my carry on when I returned home. A bunch of foreign coins, one silver rind and two gold rings - not bad for only a few hours of hunting. The nice thing was since it was in the resort section there was very little trash.

The rules where you are going are much stricter so look into them. I believe it you find any treasure (get their definition but I believe it has something to do with age and composition opf the item) you must report it and turn it over to the officials. They review what you've found and decide if they or any museums want what you have found. If they do they will pay you the market value for the item(s) then send the rest back to you. This process could take 6 to 12 months. (Disclaimer - parts or all of this could be complete BS since I'm going off of memory from a conversation I had last year with someone that went over to England to detect - vague isn't it....)
Good Luck

NJ

 

[CRUSADER]

Easy to get a detector here.

Face stiff penalties exporting our heritage without a licence.

You need an export licence for any dug up finds over 50 years old includes buttons to gold coins.

See below for rules:

http://www.mla.gov.uk/webdav/harmonise?Page/@id=73&Document/@id=18402&Section[@stateId_eq_left_hand_root]/@id=4332

They will let you take it after a 3-4 week process. Only if you have something really special will they block & buy your finds.

You may as well hand it in because not only will you get it back but the British Museum give you a full report/ID on each find. The more you give them the harder they work

 

[phantomx6]

On a related note, how hard is it to get a detector on an airplane, and past all the security checks. Can you break it down into a carry-on bag, or does it have to go with general luggage?

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Its easy inside the USA. I just take it apart, pack it in a Hard suitcase with some clothing and check it under the plane. Telling people what it is as I go. No problems, I only once took the Bounty Hunter to CA. I am a little nervous going to NC in August with my new Whites MXT.

Keep @ it and HH!!

 

[DIGGITALL]

I TOOK A SMALL UNDERWATER HAND HELD DETECTOR TO THE CARIBBEAN THIS YEAR IN MY CARRY ON NO PROBLEMS AND ALSO TOOK MY BOUNTY HUNTER APART AND PUT THE ELECTRONICS IN CARRY ON AND THE HEAD AND THE RODS IN HARD CASE I CHECK ED NO PROBLEMS EITHER TIME TOOK IT TO CALIFORNIA

 

[BioProfessor]

I took my Garrett Infinium LS and my DFX with me to Amsterdam. I put both in checked baggage. No problems. Trying to carry it on the plane is tough. All those electronics, wires, batteries, etc. Not a good thing. I would not try to carry it on the plane. Buy an old hard sided suitcase and use it. It will protect the unit. I also packed some clothes around it as well.

The MD won't be your problem. Bring your finds home is another matter.

It all depends on what it is. Some things are tough to bring back as they have to be wrapped, packed, etc. Since they are metal, the X-ray machine picks them up real nice. The laws are strict and the fines are hefty. Try to talk to someone who has recently brought some stuff back and see what the procedure was.

Daryl

 

[davesx]

I'v taken my siver sabre to Spain 3 times and I've never had any problems,
I pack it in a hold all, the stem pokes out so I wrap it in bubble wrap,
I take it on the plane as hand luggage,it goes through the xray ,only once a Spanish customs
officer asked what it was, when I showed him he said" OK" and that was it.
I have never been asked about finds.


Dave.

 

[N.J.THer]

I have a detector hard case that I use when traveling. It is custom made to fit everything for the detector. The only problem is it adds an extra bag to your check in but if you are a light packer this should not be a problem.

NJ

 

[Sheldius]

I don't think you would have a problem with security or customs on the MD. I recently carried on a magnetometer. Might check about import tax if it is a really expensive one.

http://www.gemsys.ca/prod_overhauser.htm

They asked me what it was (actually I could tell them when the were looking at it on X-ray and said "That is probably mine") and opened the case to swipe for explosives and examine. Took no time at all. Just be polite and know what it is and how it works.

Good luck.

HH.

 

[mtbiker]

You might want to consider filling out CBP Form 4457 to "register" the MD so that Customs doesn't try to charge you duty on the way back into the U.S. The form is on www.cbp.gov under the "travel" tab. Just stop by the Customs office at the airport the day you're flying to have an officer verify the MD.