Rated-R Movies and the Law

[GMac]

50 million is quite believable, actually probably on the lite side I would have thought. NZ get 3.5 million odd and we are tiny in the middle of no-where. The funny bit is many come here to try and kill themselves in many varied and strange ways. They even pay for the chance to do so

[Mike Banks]

There are some crazy people in this world and some of them are in official positions. Regardless of how "right" your moral position is regarding benign sexual activity on film--something perfectly normal in a normal world--we are NOT in any sort of normal world. Sometimes it is hard to get this point across.

I spoke to two Aussie folk hoping to spread the Gospel in Afghanistan--and tried to talk them into some sense. They had that far away eye-rolling vacuous demeanour that told me I was addressing closed minds.

The Americam intervention saved them from the clutches of the Taliban--so maybe the Lord was looking after them. The point is--when you go to places where you have less than zero power--do not do anything which may upset them!!

Leave your movies at home.

[lookoutnw]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

David may well be right about his trip, but each year things get 'weirder' over in some countries.
Remember a few months ago the English school teacher in deep trouble - ie looking at a whipping - because a teddy bear was named Mohammad? Yes she got off... after a nice stint in jail.

Gillian Gibbons jailed for allowing teddy to be named Mohammed | NEWS.com.au

Teddy bears are one thing, videos with naughty bits could get you and your crew in a dirty prison for a long time. Is that where you want your wife for a few months?

Mark

Unfortunately I had the duty of spending time in Saudi Arabia & Kuwait. In SA the Swim Suit edition was illegal. Know the laws and customs of the countries you are visiting, and even understand taht not everyone believes in teh same ideals as the US and Aus, NZ, GB, etc, and you will leave many things out. 'When in Rome'...

[Pelagic]

Missed this thread before but my 2 cents from past experiences and studying conventions.

A foreign registered vessel has by International convention the rights to have on board as stores or equipment that which is considered culturally acceptable to its own country of registry.

The Port of Call country has a right to seize (or place in bond) items which it feels present a clear and present danger to themselves. So Quarantine/ Gun Laws/ Alcohol and even R-rated porn etc, may be removed upon entry but should be returned upon departure if practical, without the vessel owner being charged with a crime.

Exceptions to that rule are when International convention agree to prosecute the carrying of prohibited items like Child Pornography or parts of endangered species (CITES)

Even with CITES if that part is permanently attached to the vessel as furnishings or decorations it is still allowable by International Convention.


If you try to remove any sensitive material to shore, then you are breaking the law


Having said that ..... if a local official wants to make life miserable for you he can, but you should know your rights as a foreign flagged vessel in transit.

[Tempest245]

hmm.....I missed Angelina Jolie Topless? I must be watching the wrong movies!

[nautical62]

Palagic- good informative post. Thanks.

[cabo_sailor]

This thread reads to me just the same as the one by Gord on cruiser psychology http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...logy-3233.html. Somehow it seems the same arguments should apply here as well.

[btrayfors]

It seems like 100 years ago, but was only about 25 when, tired and dirty after a harrowing overland trip my companion and I stumbled into the Hotel Relax in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

We were looking for a clean bed and some cool beer. My companion was looking for a swizzle stick with Bobo's name on it....he'd promised his wife he'd bring her a momento.

The tiny reception area was crowded, with just we two, the desk clerk, and six local citizens clustered together on an old couch opposite the desk. They were all watching a video on a screen up in the ceiling beyond the reception desk.

When pen-in-hand I paused filling out the reception form, I looked up to see what held them in such rapturous attention. Surprise: it was an American film. In English. Uncensored. Titled, "American Girls in Heat". Rated XXX. Or, maybe, XXXXXXXXX.

Ya just never know.

They say the French are great at exporting their culture, but here was proof -- in a Francophone country at that -- that sometimes we do, too!

True story :-)

Bill

[Captn_Black]

Originally Posted by cat man do

All my media is going on external harddrives

Have quite a few hundred movies allready done.

No CD's or DVD's at all

Dave

Same here... Is that safe? Anyone ever had their hard-drive checked?
Not that anything I have would be considered illegal in any western country, but as has been mentioned, some countries can be odd about this kinda thing...
(Though, barring religious based stuff, from what I've seen on day-time TV in Hispanic countries I don't think they'll be a problem...)

[hellosailor]

Actually, the US Customs & Immigration checks hard drives (internal or external) often enough that there have been major lawsuits over it. I would expect other countries to be doing the same thing for the same reason. Looking for terror plots, supposedly, and kiddie porn or any other contraband is just a plus.

Apparently the only way to bring computer memory (hard drive, USB stick, whatever) into the US without it being subject to inspection and confiscation, is if you seal it into a US Mail packet with postage on it. The federal courts have already ruled that the mail is inviolate (rules apply even to UNposted mail, as long as there is postage on it and it is sealed) while the same media in your pocket or bag is subject to search and seizure, contrary to the fourth amendment.

[chorus: "But it can't happen heeeere!"]

[Captn_Black]

Lol... I suspected that might be the case... well I shall just have to check the laws before i go to a specific country... But a single-hander needs his guilty pleasures... Though I had already planned on leaving a duplicate external HD in the UK with my ex (sending updates to her on CD incase the drive gets fried), so having to delete some of my favourite 'movies' isn't the end of the world if I can get it sent to me...

[hellosailor]

Sent to you? Shipping contraband in the mails, or via courier services, often is treated as a stiffer penalty than carrying it on your person. Not to mention--the person posting it may be charged as well.

Better to sail to someplace like Holland, and simply patronize local industry.(G)

[Captn_Black]

But you said:-

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Apparently the only way to bring computer memory (hard drive, USB stick, whatever) into the US without it being subject to inspection and confiscation, is if you seal it into a US Mail packet with postage on it. The federal courts have already ruled that the mail is inviolate (rules apply even to UNposted mail, as long as there is postage on it and it is sealed) while the same media in your pocket or bag is subject to search and seizure, contrary to the fourth amendment.

[chorus: "But it can't happen heeeere!"]

[Captn_Black]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Better to sail to someplace like Holland, and simply patronize local industry.(G)

.... Why you think I married a Dutch girl??

[hellosailor]

Yes, I said that. Including the part about sealing the envelope--and how that envelope does not have to be posted, in order to be protected as mail. If it hasn't been posted, it is unlikely to be opened by a postal inspector, isn't it?

The US Mail, foreign posts, and Customs agents, all operate under different rules and laws. US Customs is unique, they claim that they cannot perform their job unless they can ignore constitutional rights, and the US courts tend to agree with them.

Me? I don't need to travel with contraband for recreational purposes. Customs? Yeah, big border, isn't it?