US Customs

[the dude abides]

I think a similer question to this was asked earlier, but my circumstances are different. I am taking a trip to Germany, Italy, and Austria this summer, andit's more than likely that ill see a piece I want. This is convenient not only because it will be a souveneer, but because I am underage (16) and cant get my grimy little hands on bowls and pipes in the States (German age is 16) without going through people first, which can be a real drag, so I have some questions.....

1. Drug paraphenalia laws are really shady, even without the problem of US Customs. Sometimes people get arrested for possesion of bongs, but they are legally sold as tobacco pipes. I may buy a traditional pipe that just looks good for smoking ganje, which shouldn't be a problem unless (see question number 2), but i will most likely also see a glass piece or bong which may seem suspicious to customs if it isnt illegal alltogether. Can I legally and safely bring an unused piece into the US as a minor?

2. I also want to get some fine german pipe tobacco and/or cigars. Will Customs take it for me being a minor or for any other reason? Even though I bought it legally in Germany?

thanks

[Big Calhoun]

Yeah, this was just asked. Just don't use the pipe so there's no resin and pack it with the tobacco and you should be fine. I wouldn't even put it in your carry-on, put in your checked luggage.

[JLP100]

Mail it if it means anything to you. I brought back 2 glass spoons (over 90 bucks for both) from Vancouver a few years ago and they were taken at customs in the airport even though they were brand new, never been used with the sales receipt in the bag. They told me to write a letter if it bothered me so much (yes, I did get pissy with them but not too much as there was more stuff for them to not find).

Mail it ahead and you shouldn't have problems.

[skaisdead]

Both of these are good suggestions.

A friend of mine was coming back from Amsterdam last summer and had a Bic Pen that had been used in making a pipe. It had some resin inside the shaft and he got a paraphenalia ticket.

Mailing it ahead is probably your best bet. If you can't do that definately pack it inside your checked luggage, inside of something that will cover it when it goes through the X-ray. [I hear a box lined with aluminum foil works wonders.] Most of the time they won't check it because it won't look like a bomb or drugs. And if it hasn't been used there's no way to really detect if, even if they have dogs around.

I wish you the best of luck in both shopping and transporting it back.

[the dude abides]

thanks alot guys, i think ill be fine, as for the second question i had, i still dotn know since customs doesnt really pu age-specific information on the web.