Australian Visitors Must Declare Illegal Porn To Customs Officers

[mook jong man]

It's not the intent of catching criminals, it's the illogic of it.

"If you're breaking the law, please stop here and identify yourself so we can prosecute you."

It's like expecting a mugger to see the "No Guns" sign and think "Oh crap, I better go put my gun in the car before I hold up that crossing guard."

They don't have to say " Guess what I'm a rock spider " for them to be stopped.
If the border protection think you look a bit dodgy they can start going through your laptop and phone.

If you've just got some home movies of you and the missus on there doing some horizontal folk dancing then you've got nothing to worry about.

But if you've got something more sinister on there , then you will be going to the big house where you can have plenty of sex , whether you want it or not.

 

[Bob Hubbard]

True, but the home movies are legal. Bambi n Thumper meet Rocko isn't.

 

[jks9199]

The mere concept of that is illegal anywhere in the civilized world. And even in much of the uncivilized world!

That you came up with it is proof that YOU are probably illegal in Australia! LOL

I like swords, of course I'm illegal in Oz.

Incidentally -- I've received word from Glinda the Good Witch and from Ozma.

They politely but firmly insist that you no longer use that particular abbrievation -- and have suggested that you would be received most unkindly should you visit their Oz, as well.

 

[Flying Crane]

So if you declare your porn in a good will effort to fess up and maybe dump any questionable material before entering the country, do the authorities then pop the disk into the DVD player and have a look-see to decide if it's illegal or not?

"Thank you sir, this video of you and your wife and your neighbors engaged in a four-way is perfectly legal, after viewing the video I did not see anything to object to, you may keep it and go about your business. May I make a copy? My wife and neighbors might be interested in this..."

 

[Carol]

Incidentally -- I've received word from Glinda the Good Witch and from Ozma.

They politely but firmly insist that you no longer use that particular abbrievation -- and have suggested that you would be received most unkindly should you visit their Oz, as well.

Munchkins everywhere are breathing easier now.

 

[David43515]

"Thank you sir, this video of you and your wife and your neighbors engaged in a four-way is perfectly legal, after viewing the video I did not see anything to object to, although a few situps wouldn`t kill you. You maykeep it and go about your business. May I make a copy? My wife and neighbors might be interested in this..."

Fixed that for you. At least I`m sure that`s what they`d tell me. Oddly enough, the wife seems to get better looking each year.

 

[mook jong man]

So if you declare your porn in a good will effort to fess up and maybe dump any questionable material before entering the country, do the authorities then pop the disk into the DVD player and have a look-see to decide if it's illegal or not

Apparently so.

"Thank you sir, this video of you and your wife and your neighbors engaged in a four-way is perfectly legal, after viewing the video I did not see anything to object to, you may keep it and go about your business. May I make a copy? My wife and neighbors might be interested in this..."

Let em make a copy then you can charge them with video piracy , or if it finds its way onto the internet you can make a squillion dollars from your celebrity sex tape like the Paris Hilton's and Kim Kardashian's of the world.

 

[Bob Hubbard]

You know, I was thinking, this can work.

Just pass a law requiring all plane hijackers to identify themselves when boarding planes. Also, all suicide bombers need to register 7 days in advance, and bank robbers should have their own lane at the bank for faster escapes.

Makes as much sense as mandating someone carrying something illegal to declare it at customs.

 

[Bruno@MT]

I don't think anyone here supports that kind of behaviour, what we're having a good chuckle over is the wording.

What actually happens when such material is declared? Does the person have the chance to avoid legal action if they declare their material to the authorities? The wording (and this may be our American English ears) comes across to us as the authorities expect the travelers to basically go to the authorities and say "Yes, I have illegal materials, you may arrest me now."

It depends. But remember, until you have passed customs, you are not IN the country and the laws of the land do not yet apply. Australia customs are often on television here (it's one of those reality shows).

There are a lot of import restrictions in Australia, and as long as you declare everything up front, they will simply ask you to dispose of the things that are not allowed in the country and check that you do. Otoh, if you try to sneak those things into the country, you get a hefty fine which you have to pay immediately.

I could imagine that for porn they do the same.
IIRC, they already confiscated porn that looked like the participants were there involuntarily. But until now, they only checked the porn if they stumbled upon it during bagage checks. Now they ask you to declare your porn.

 

[Tez3]

Asking criminals to declare their deeds is a trick which is used when prosecuting them, it isn't intended to actually make people tell all. When there's enough evidence to charge someone it is added evidence that they can show these people haven't declared their intent or their illegal stuff, it helps add time on sentences. The American visa forms contain similiar questions, like 'are you a member of a terrorist organisation', if you sign to say you aren't and then found to be guilty of terrorism it is added proof of your perfidy that you lied under oath when signing. It's another charge against the criminal ie 'making a false statement' worth another year or two on top of the original sentence.

 

[Bob Hubbard]

Criminals iz dumb.

 

[Carol]

It depends. But remember, until you have passed customs, you are not IN the country and the laws of the land do not yet apply. Australia customs are often on television here (it's one of those reality shows).

There are a lot of import restrictions in Australia, and as long as you declare everything up front, they will simply ask you to dispose of the things that are not allowed in the country and check that you do. Otoh, if you try to sneak those things into the country, you get a hefty fine which you have to pay immediately.

I could imagine that for porn they do the same.
IIRC, they already confiscated porn that looked like the participants were there involuntarily. But until now, they only checked the porn if they stumbled upon it during bagage checks. Now they ask you to declare your porn.

Ahhh...that makes sense!! Thanks :asian:

 

[MA-Caver]

Well, as no one wants paedophiles in their country I imagine it's focussing on kiddy porn on DVD etc. Watching kiddy porn isn't a victimless pastime, it's creating a market for this stuff. You can't blame the Australians for trying to protect children even if their actions seems an amusement for others.

Late reply to this thread but reading through I went back and have to agree with Tez on this.
The fact that someone (might) have kiddie porn IS creating a market for it. Supply and demand. Minimizing the demand hurts the industry in any market. It won't stop it completely but it won't have a big boost in the creation of it.
I realize that it may sound naive but it's how I'm simply looking at it. I know there's much more to it than just that.

It would be nice that more countries would simply hunt down these directors, producers, actors (adult ones) and any and everyone else involved in the making of this crap and shut them down and put them away. But bribes, and what nots isn't. But knowing they're being hunted may make some of them reconsider... particularly if they have the penalties as stiff as possible.

So as far as Australia goes in getting people to declare the illegal stuff people have... that is worth a chuckle. Who's stupid enough to say "yeah I got several videos of kiddie porn in my stash here." It's doubtful that the customs agents will say "oh right okay then well g'day mate and enjoy your stay".

 

[Bruno@MT]

It is indeed true that the people buying / downloading it are creating a market for it. It is not a victimless crime, and the people who buy it actively support the victimization that happens.

I am usually a moderate person in all controversial topics, but not in this one. This is my red button issue. Noone touches kids (no pun intended). I'd honestly support old style crucifiction to deal with the people abusing children. Not talking about statutory rape here, but about actual paedophilia and rape. The cross or the pyre is what such people deserve.

 

[Carol]

This is my red button issue.

:asian:

If more people adopted this as their red button issue, we would be living in a different world.

 

[MA-Caver]

It is indeed true that the people buying / downloading it are creating a market for it. It is not a victimless crime, and the people who buy it actively support the victimization that happens.

I am usually a moderate person in all controversial topics, but not in this one. This is my red button issue. No one touches kids (no pun intended). I'd honestly support old style crucifixion to deal with the people abusing children. Not talking about statutory rape here, but about actual pedophilia and rape. The cross or the pyre is what such people deserve.

Yes, what is worse about this crime is that the victims are abused repeatedly. Made to act out fantasies again and again and eventually some of them survive enough to be adults and think this is normal behavior or go as far to act out with other children and a cycle is born with each new victim. Often times these adult victims of childhood abuse don't realize what they're doing is wrong or they hear that it's illegal but still don't comprehend their impulses/compulsiveness to act out. They get caught, arrested, sentenced and sent to prison yet how many get the therapy help they need? What about the victims as well. Breaking the cycle of abuse is very tough.
That is the saddest thing for me.

:asian:

If more people adopted this as their red button issue, we would be living in a different world.

It would indeed but when you think about it, it IS a red button issue with a lot of people... I think the trouble is that it's not hunted down and punished severely enough to make it an deterrent in many countries.
We talk about how pedos will get theirs in prison... well if that is true then why hasn't the number of pedos been reduced? (see above reply to Bruno's post).