Current Events > Woman fined $500 for bringing Delta Apple into US

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/04/22/woman-fined-delta-apple/540655002/

A woman who saved the in-flight apple she got on a Delta Air Lines flight says she was fined $500 after passing through U.S. Customs and Border Patrol with the fruit in her bag.

Crystal Tadlock was traveling from Paris back to the U.S. when toward the end of her flight, a Delta flight attendant passed out apples, she told KDVR, a local FOX affiliate in Colorado. She said she wasn't hungry and decided to save the snack for the last leg of her trip back to Denver.

She was randomly stopped going through Customs, she said, and an agent found the piece of fruit, which was inside a plastic bag with Delta's logo on it.

"He had asked me if my trip to France was expensive and I said, 'yeah.' I didnt really get why he was asking that question, and then he said 'Its about to get a lot more expensive after I charge you $500,'" Tadlock told KDVR.

The KDVR report didn't specify where the Customs search occurred or what date it happened.

She asked if she could just throw the apple out or eat it but said the agent handed her a $500 fine. Tadlock said she's frustrated about the ticket and that Delta did not warn passengers about not taking the food off the plane.

"Its really unfortunate someone has to go through that and be treated like a criminal over a piece of fruit," she told KDVR.

When contacted by USA TODAY, a Delta spokesperson would not comment specifically on the incident but said the company encourage its customers "to adhere to Customs and Border Protection policies and requirements."

U.S. Customs said in a statement that the agency does not discuss details of specific inspections but "all agriculture items must be declared" and penalties can be as high as $1,000.

The agency lists the policy for bringing food into the U.S. on its website and says the strict policy is designed to prevent against plant pests and foreign animal diseases entereing the U.S.

Tadlock said she has a choice between paying the citation and fighting in court. She told the TV station she plans to bring the matter before a judge.

SMH what a fucking jerk.
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Pretty dumb that she was kind of set up like that but it's also easy enough to turn over any "contraband" like that without getting penalized before you go through customs.
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I ran into exactly this problem when I returned to the US, so I did the obvious thing and threw away the fruit in the "throw away your fruit" box before you get to customs.
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wackyteen posted...

"He had asked me if my trip to France was expensive and I said, 'yeah.' I didnt really get why he was asking that question, and then he said 'Its about to get a lot more expensive after I charge you $500,'" Tadlock told KDVR.

This is spiteful as fuck.

Shuto-uke posted...

wackyteen posted...

"He had asked me if my trip to France was expensive and I said, 'yeah.' I didnt really get why he was asking that question, and then he said 'Its about to get a lot more expensive after I charge you $500,'" Tadlock told KDVR.

This is spiteful as fuck.

It also sounds fake as hell.
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Hexenherz posted...

Shuto-uke posted...

wackyteen posted...

"He had asked me if my trip to France was expensive and I said, 'yeah.' I didnt really get why he was asking that question, and then he said 'Its about to get a lot more expensive after I charge you $500,'" Tadlock told KDVR.

This is spiteful as fuck.

It also sounds fake as hell.

nah, there's agents that are really that spiteful and by the book.
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wackyteen posted...

Hexenherz posted...

Shuto-uke posted...

wackyteen posted...

"He had asked me if my trip to France was expensive and I said, 'yeah.' I didnt really get why he was asking that question, and then he said 'Its about to get a lot more expensive after I charge you $500,'" Tadlock told KDVR.

This is spiteful as fuck.

It also sounds fake as hell.

nah, there's agents that are really that spiteful and by the book.

Tsa agents make fuck all and hate the world.
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that's fucking awful
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHwKmZnc7l4" data-time="
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Hexenherz posted...

Pretty dumb that she was kind of set up like that but it's also easy enough to turn over any "contraband" like that without getting penalized before you go through customs.

This.

And it's pretty common knowledge you aren't supposed to bring outside fruit or produce into other countries tbh.

A bit much but I'm not remotely surprised.
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What happens if you don't pay that fine?
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CanuckCowboy posted...

This.

And it's pretty common knowledge you aren't supposed to bring outside fruit or produce into other countries tbh.

A bit much but I'm not remotely surprised.

like if she had had a few apples or a dozen or something then sure fine her.

but it's just one apple. in a bag. provided by the airline she flew on.
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LightningAce11 posted...

What happens if you don't pay that fine?

you go to plane jail
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wackyteen posted...

CanuckCowboy posted...

This.

And it's pretty common knowledge you aren't supposed to bring outside fruit or produce into other countries tbh.

A bit much but I'm not remotely surprised.

like if she had had a few apples or a dozen or something then sure fine her.

but it's just one apple. in a bag. provided by the airline she flew on.

The amount isn't even slightly relevant. It only takes one outside pest or disease to potentially wreak havoc and expose new threats to a large area of existing crops. Whether it's a sack of apples or just one doesn't really matter when you understand the reason behind the rules.

The airline part is.... That's the only reason I don't think she should have been fined tbh. They should've taken the apple and explained it to her, but I mean.... I'm not super bothered by this.
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Trigg3rH4ppy posted...

Tsa agents make fuck all and hate the world.

Article states border patrol agents, not TSA.
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wackyteen posted...

"He had asked me if my trip to France was expensive and I said, 'yeah.' I didnt really get why he was asking that question, and then he said 'Its about to get a lot more expensive after I charge you $500,'" Tadlock told KDVR.

lmao what a jerk
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@scion
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I don't fly, but I've crossed between US and Canada pretty regularly. The US customs agents are more likely to be jerks than the Canadian customs agents.
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Customs officer should be executed just for that line.
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1337toothbrush posted...

I don't fly, but I've crossed between US and Canada pretty regularly. The US customs agents are more likely to be jerks than the Canadian customs agents.

See I'm Canadian and I'd disagree entirely.

It's the Canadian border patrol that are always the dicks in my experience.
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Pretty petty, should've just let her throw it away. My aunt always hauls a ton of food here when she visits from Mexico, but she always declares it so she never has a problem like this.
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Customs agents are the most miserable people I've ever encountered. Every one I've personally dealt with had an attitude like that.

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UrCa1988 posted...

. My aunt always hauls a ton of food here when she visits from Mexico, but she always declares it so she never has a problem like this.

Since when can you transport produce across international borders regardless of whether or not you declare it?

There's a big difference in how something like processed foods, or good and alcohol get treated than something like apples or cherries or whatever.
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if Delta is smart they'll throw the lady the $500
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CanuckCowboy posted...

1337toothbrush posted...

I don't fly, but I've crossed between US and Canada pretty regularly. The US customs agents are more likely to be jerks than the Canadian customs agents.

See I'm Canadian and I'd disagree entirely.

It's the Canadian border patrol that are always the dicks in my experience.

That's odd. I have dual citizenship, so I don't think it's the citizenship that is the issue here. It could depend on the border crossing.
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1337toothbrush posted...

CanuckCowboy posted...

1337toothbrush posted...

I don't fly, but I've crossed between US and Canada pretty regularly. The US customs agents are more likely to be jerks than the Canadian customs agents.

See I'm Canadian and I'd disagree entirely.

It's the Canadian border patrol that are always the dicks in my experience.

That's odd. I have dual citizenship, so I don't think it's the citizenship that is the issue here. It could depend on the border crossing.

Could well be. There's one I've crossed too many times to count and another couple I've crossed a few times... But primarily it's just the one I generally use.
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TSA being TSA. Remember when they strip searched a young autistic boy because he was wearing a baggy shirt?

I've walked the Niagara Falls crossings as a NY resident tons of times, and the US agents barely say anything, whereas the Canadian ones always hassle you.

Also tons of things from places like Japan are completely free in the US, but cost an arm and a leg in custom charges in Canada.
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I've met my fair share of idiot TSA agents that have no sense of humor, but... I still have a hard time believing the guy was that unprofessional idk.
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CanuckCowboy posted...

UrCa1988 posted...

. My aunt always hauls a ton of food here when she visits from Mexico, but she always declares it so she never has a problem like this.

Since when can you transport produce across international borders regardless of whether or not you declare it?

There's a big difference in how something like processed foods, or good and alcohol get treated than something like apples or cherries or whatever.

That may be it then. She usually brings a bunch of bread, cheese, and candies.
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UrCa1988 posted...

CanuckCowboy posted...

UrCa1988 posted...

. My aunt always hauls a ton of food here when she visits from Mexico, but she always declares it so she never has a problem like this.

Since when can you transport produce across international borders regardless of whether or not you declare it?

There's a big difference in how something like processed foods, or good and alcohol get treated than something like apples or cherries or whatever.

That may be it then. She usually brings a bunch of bread, cheese, and candies.

lol that's exactly it, no one cares about candy they care about fruit that can introduce invasive species and ruin crops in the US.
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I was on a Delta flight from Amsterdam on Wednesday. They announced three times that we needed to throw away any fruit, otherwise we would face a big fine.

They even went around with a bag for people to throw their stuff away.
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