U.S. Customs have impounded my 961

BLIGHTYBRIT/SF

BLIGHTYBRIT/SF

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Yep they have,in Los Angeles & stuck there ATM,I did everything & more to get the bike to USA ,got permission from EPA ,which have the decibel rating & emission s on tick over details, the reg & vin number & my details,details of where I was going to stay,phone numbers,email address s ,occupation blah blah etc ,my shipper told me to get a 715 stamped on entry to USA ,I crossed border at Calais in Maine & requested one,was informed I didn't need one,by the lone guy in the booth,2 guys in the office,who finger printed me,Palm printed & the eyeball thingy,still concerned I kept asking for one ,was sent round corner to a larger border control office,spoke to around 8 border staff who all told me u don't need one,in fact in the end they thought there was more to my story than I was telling, asked if I was going to sell it or get involved with commerce ,as It was only a temp import & not permanent there was no need for one , reluctantly they gave my EPA letter a "Red customs bullseye stamp " so over the west coast now what do they want ? To know why I ain't got a 715 ???? Couldn't make it up could I ,they seem to be a referee in their own game ??? so stalemate ,
 
Had a similar problem when I imported my Lotus Elise S1 for a road trip across the States a few years back. One department would tell you one thing, another the opposite. Basically you didn't need to get all the EPA stuff, waste of time. All you have to do is fill out an HS-7 form. Biggest problem was getting insurance and finding a customs officer who actually knew the law - one wanted me to pay a $50,000 bond and trailer the car across the States :roll:

The following applies to Non US residents:

Vehicles
You may temporarily import an automobile, trailer, airplane, motorcycle, boat, or similar vehicle for the transportation of yourself, your family, and your guests. The vehicle must be free of soil and plant material.

Motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment for personal use may be imported for up to one year. The vehicle must be imported in connection with your arrival, and it must be owned by you or on order before you depart from abroad.

A vehicle cannot be sold in the United States unless it complies with U.S. laws governing motor vehicles. The laws governing motor vehicle safety apply to all vehicles other than motorcycles if their date of entry into the United States is less than 25 years after the date of manufacture. Motor vehicle safety laws also apply to motorcycles manufactured after January 1, 1969.

Federal law also requires that motor vehicles beginning with the 1969 model year, and motorcycles manufactured after December 31, 1977, meet all air-pollution control standards. Finally, federal cost savings standards relating to imported vehicles must also be complied with. Nonresident visitors to the United States are exempt from the foregoing standards provided that the vehicle is imported for a period not to exceed one year and the vehicle is for personal use.

If you plan to emigrate to the United States and import your car permanently, or if you intend to sell your vehicle, please request a copy of the CBP pamphlet, Importing or Exporting a Car.
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https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1664/kw/non-resident import vehicle/suggested/1

HS-7 form is here http://icsw.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/hs799short.pdf

Here's my journey starting part way through when I find myself in the same situation as you! http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f135/mad-idea-need-some-help-coming-america-14153/index9.html

All ended well in the end - Jacksonville to LA. Ran into this guy at the end. :shock:

U.S. Customs have impounded my 961
 
That's horrible news. Usually customs makes you wait but they usually let it through . Did they say what they want ? Iwilson I see you 've got the goods . Good Job !
 
That's awful. I'm so sorry that's the kind of ending to a spectacular trip you had.
I thought letting it in would be more trouble than letting it go home. Kind of like driving to Tijuana Mexico. 30 seconds in......5 hours out.
 
As i text here , far as I know west coast officials are treating my bike same as a car, there also holding approx dozen other UK reg bikes, & in some ways I'm not surprised, as I found a lot of the interstate tolls a bit expensive & that " Lincoln tunnel " in New York $15 for the assault course of rippled Tarmac likened to riding on logs & the $45 to park for 4 hrs when I left it in a multi-storey car park ,did have time of my life on the 10 week trip , but compared to UK , American bikers are well tucked up on silly charges,in UK lot of bike things are free to ease congestion ,
 
It seems that "liberty" has become another meaning in the States and The Times They Are A Changin' over the big lake as Dylan sings...
 
My bike now is in a container with bout 30 other uk bikes waiting for a final ok,& all being well will leave LA on 9th sept & return to uk on October 1st, apparently custom officials have a staff swap every couple years at LA & they like a paper trial of the bike coming in , and they don't have the on line system that is used on the east coast ?? , so flying in to west coast ur point of entry in recorded on line & no paperwork issued,I was lucky to get a "red bullseye customs stamp " after I asked for that elusive 715 form on crossing Canadian /USA border ,so west coast boys like to see bits of paper?? To prove it entered legally, just why anyone would want to temporary import a bike illegally beats me , so logic & common sense would assume no one would ! However common sense is not very common on this occasion ,it s just something that happens to other people far as there concerned,the bike holed up for near on 7 weeks for something I was told I didn't need . Hoo bloody Ray
 
BLIGHTYBRIT/SF said:
My bike now is in a container with bout 30 other uk bikes waiting for a final ok,& all being well will leave LA on 9th sept & return to uk on October 1st, apparently custom officials have a staff swap every couple years at LA & they like a paper trial of the bike coming in , and they don't have the on line system that is used on the east coast ?? , so flying in to west coast ur point of entry in recorded on line & no paperwork issued,I was lucky to get a "red bullseye customs stamp " after I asked for that elusive 715 form on crossing Canadian /USA border ,so west coast boys like to see bits of paper?? To prove it entered legally, just why anyone would want to temporary import a bike illegally beats me , so logic & common sense would assume no one would ! However common sense is not very common on this occasion ,it s just something that happens to other people far as there concerned,the bike holed up for near on 7 weeks for something I was told I didn't need . Hoo bloody Ray
Click to expand...

Great News! Now you have an even better adventure story!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: With a good ending..
 
BLIGHTYBRIT/SF said:
My bike now is in a container with bout 30 other uk bikes waiting for a final ok,& all being well will leave LA on 9th sept & return to uk on October 1st, apparently custom officials have a staff swap every couple years at LA & they like a paper trial of the bike coming in , and they don't have the on line system that is used on the east coast ?? , so flying in to west coast ur point of entry in recorded on line & no paperwork issued,I was lucky to get a "red bullseye customs stamp " after I asked for that elusive 715 form on crossing Canadian /USA border ,so west coast boys like to see bits of paper?? To prove it entered legally, just why anyone would want to temporary import a bike illegally beats me , so logic & common sense would assume no one would ! However common sense is not very common on this occasion ,it s just something that happens to other people far as there concerned,the bike holed up for near on 7 weeks for something I was told I didn't need . Hoo bloody Ray
Click to expand...

Can you imagine what it would like in a third world country? :mrgreen:
 
Well the 9th September came & went,& my bike still didn't budge from the states,then it nearly left a week ago again,then Monday this week I was asked to produce the date of entry in Canada & USA ,presumably to prove I arrived same day as bike, now I'm assured its leaving on the 4th October ,now just to update & remind those who may have followed my post,s, I was told the bike went by road from Seattle to Los Angeles ,& was holed up there . Off to listen to Duran Duran now playing "Is there something I should know"????
 

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BlightyBrit,

Absolutely outrageous behavior by US Customs.
Perfect example of bureaucratic hell.
I hope your luck gets better soon.

Beware if Customs give you a revised date of April 1st. :lol:
 
HOORAH ,this is my vessel ,off the coast of Mexico ATM ,so Curtis when your down the ocean drive in about 2 weeks,get your bins out(binoculars) & see if can see this little ship sail by, am looking forward to being reunited with the bike,but less than enthusiastic about what it might look like,so again watch this space & I will post some arrival pictures. Happy days are almost back.
 

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