Camera and Phone Use - International

[Harpoon]

Couple of questions based on a recent experience.

I've seen the signs when arriving at an international terminal in Australia that mobile phone use is prohibited until you've passed through both immigration and customs. However it seems to me that these signs are largely ignored by passengers, and I've personally never witnessed anyone being 'told off' or fined by customs officials for using their phone, particularly when waiting to pass through customs.

So is this rule supposed to be enforced? Is it a federal thing or is it just an airport decision? And why? I'm not sure why mobile phone use is prohibited in this area, why is it restricted?

Reason I'm asking is because on Friday, some people waiting at the baggage carousel at BNE International were on their phone and another passenger 'sarcastically' pointed out to them that theres a $500 fine for using your phone. So it just got me thinking that most people ignore this rule.

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The other question I have is around using your camera in the airport, particular through immigration and customs. Say for example the line was huge and I wanted to take a happy snap of the queue just for kicks, is this against the rules? Are there any area's in the aiport I can't take photos? What about in the air-bridge? What about photos of the customs officials?

(Asking for the purpose of happy 'tourist' photos and trip reports)

 

[simongr]

I've seen the signs when arriving at an international terminal in Australia that mobile phone use is prohibited until you've passed through both immigration and customs. However it seems to me that these signs are largely ignored by passengers, and I've personally never witnessed anyone being 'told off' or fined by customs officials for using their phone, particularly when waiting to pass through customs.

In front of me going through quarantine a chick was on her phone constantly and was threatened with a $1000 fine by the AQIS official. I think was linked to the fact that they found a heap of new horse equipment (not used) that had not been declared and should have been - in the middle of the equine flu outbreak in NSW.

Personally I am always very conscious of these rules (it is in my nature as an auditor for a start) as the last thing I want is to pi55 off some official who has the power to make my life more difficult than it needs to be.

I wouldn't think that photos of long queues would be an issue (have you seen the Heathrow long queue on youtube?) but you might be more at risk if taking pics of the immigration/customs staff directly...

 

[Fluid-Flyer]

So it just got me thinking that most people ignore this rule.

Downright unAustralian not to ignore stupid rules!

 

[dot]

I concur with simongr - I have used my phone (not the camera though) at the baggage carousel - even when the customs dogs have been walking around - I have never been asked by the handler nor any other official to turn of the phone... I would not - however - try to use the phone or a camera while going through either customs or immigration control points.

 

[Febs]

However it seems to me that these signs are largely ignored by passengers, and I've personally never witnessed anyone being 'told off' or fined by customs officials for using their phone, particularly when waiting to pass through customs.

I hadn't witnessed it either, until last Tuesday when a Customs officer told a passenger (in no uncertain terms) that if he continued to use his mobile, he'd be fined $1,000.

He put it away then pulled it out about 5min later - we were stuck there for almost 2hrs waiting for our bags.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Mal]

Yep, saw a passenger told off for using their mobile phone in Sydney departures customs area. Line was huge, but the pax was spotted and told to switch it of, and the sign pointed out.

While at Macau, also saw a passenger told off for taking photos of the huge queues waiting for immigration.

I don't mess with Customs or Immigration. If they have it in for you (eg spot you taking a photo and are annoyed), the many hours they can legally delay you for and invasive questioning they are legally allowed to do is not worth the hassle.

Leave the phones and cameras off. Wait until leaving the secure areas.

I believe the reason for no photos and mobile phones is so that a person can't communicate with a friend what to do to avoid customs scrutiny (eg there is a dog walking around - drop the drugs down the toilet), here's photos of the customs staff, techniques or scanning equipment, or to find other ways to defeat the system. However, it's effectiveness is limited -especially with shows like Border Security and people being able to switch phones back on as soon as they are out the door.

 

[Leumas]

I haven't seen anyone fined, but I've seen people warned while waiting for Immigration.

Are there signs at Luggage Area as well as the actual Customs X-ray area? I remember looking for the sign at the Luggage Area, but couldn't find any. I, of course, made a call while waiting for my bags...

As to why we have these rules, and after watching Border Security, smugglers can easily use mobiles to communicate with other 'passengers' or people outside.

 

[Hvr]

Interesting that there a couple of mentions of Border Security here, just who controls what they can and cannot broadcast? And why don't pax appear to have any rights about being stalked by these vultures?

Has anyone actually been filmed by this show? Be interested to hear what happened and your choices about the matter?

 

[Mal]

Interesting that there a couple of mentions of Border Security here, just who controls what they can and cannot broadcast? And why don't pax appear to have any rights about being stalked by these vultures?

When they are filming, a sign is placed in the arrivals hall (before Immigration) advising that the filming is taking place, and to advise a Customs (?) staff member if you do not wish to be filmed.

I believe, but am not totally sure, that if you are 'featured' on Border Security (as opposed to a group shot), you are asked to sign a waiver or similar. The reason why even stupid people who are flouting the law agree to be filmed is to show bravado or pretend that they aren't doing anything wrong.

I also believe that Customs Public Relations or some other part of the Customs/AQIS areas would get vetting rights over the content of the shows as part of the agreement. Some Customs/AQIS staff have their faces blurred for example, and there are many things in the Customs process that are glossed over.

 

[Keith009]

Arriving into Oz on SQ the PA will remind about the ban on mobile phone use, along with a warning that fines will be imposed on people who use mobile phones before the arrivals hall. Can't recall hearing a similar announcement on other airlines though.

 

[Hvr]

Thanks Mal, on my last trip through SYD immigration etc there were signs advising that filming was taking place and that if you didn't want to be filmed then you had to approach the filming company.

Since I told the truth and was through in minutes I wasn't affected but wondered if the arriving pax really had no rights about their participation.

 

[Mal]

I wasn't affected but wondered if the arriving pax really had no rights about their participation.

Went and did some digging looking for where I'd heard about Border Security and waivers etc.

Here's a quote from The Courier-Mail, 10/5/2006:

"``But we find that the bad guys agree to us filming them more than the good guys. You tend to have someone over a barrel when you ask them to sign a release and they are hiding half a kilo of heroi_ in their luggage.'' "

So, I think concerns about being featured without signing a waiver is pretty slim, but I'd still watch out for those feet/group/background shots.

I've only seen them filming once. It was Sydney, and the camera guy looked bored as there was no-one to film going through Secondary. My workmates constantly joke that I'll be on the show one day! :shock:

 

[simongr]

Arriving from Asia on morning flights I frequently see them filming - but they never seem to be focussed on a white male, smartly dressed with nothing to declare...

 

[dot]

My sister is a production assistant for the BBC and has worked on a number of reality shows in the UK - they take waivers very seriously - no waiver, no face! I would think it be the same here.

 

[kpc]

I believe the reason for no photos and mobile phones is so that a person can't communicate with a friend what to do to avoid customs scrutiny (eg there is a dog walking around - drop the drugs down the toilet), here's photos of the customs staff, techniques or scanning equipment, or to find other ways to defeat the system. However, it's effectiveness is limited -especially with shows like Border Security and people being able to switch phones back on as soon as they are out the door.

I love watching Border Security as I think there are plenty of tips / clues to learn to keep one on the safe side of the law. Always declare is my motto now....never can get into trouble by declaring! I now know (by watching BS) that the Xray machines are very good at picking up organic (food) material!!

Recently, I saw a sign in arrivals in Syd (just before Quarantine) that Border Security were filming, and to inform the crew if you did not agree to be filmed; they must all have been on a coffee break as I saw none of the film crew.

I don't think I would agree / liked to be filmed esp. if I have just arrived after a long haul flight in the early hours of the am, still unshaven, hair all over the place, and sometimes still in my tracksuit pants (which I find most comfortable to sleep in), and have not bothered to fight the Qs to the toilet to change back into my proper trousers / jeans.

 

[Harpoon]

I don't think I would agree / liked to be filmed esp. if I have just arrived after a long haul flight in the early hours of the am, still unshaven, hair all over the place, and sometimes still in my tracksuit pants (which I find most comfortable to sleep in), and have not bothered to fight the Qs to the toilet to change back into my proper trousers / jeans.

I'm sure they have a makeup facility available so you can powder your nose.... *cough*

:mrgreen::mrgreen:

 

[winetraveller]

Interesting that there a couple of mentions of Border Security here, just who controls what they can and cannot broadcast? And why don't pax appear to have any rights about being stalked by these vultures?

Has anyone actually been filmed by this show? Be interested to hear what happened and your choices about the matter?

Not sure if it's just me but they seem to film at MEL all the time, well they have the signs up, but I've never actually seen anybody.

 

[winetraveller]

There has been an interesting turn around in the US. Up until last year TSA would yell at people to turn off their phones, and generally were rather unpleasant.

There then seemed to be a change in attitude, and they are certainly more pleasant then they were, and also more preemptive. There are now more signs warning that you can't use your phone.

I certainly wouldn't want to piss the TSA guys off, but I do use my phone at the carousel, and everybody else seems to as well. In the US they don't have as many staff wandering around the carousel as they do in Oz.

 

[serfty]

Not sure if it's just me but they seem to film at MEL all the time, well they have the signs up, but I've never actually seen anybody.

Same MEL experiences for me ...

I am so used to seeing the signs but no film crew that I hardly notice any more. I came through immigration from HKG last year with mrs serfty who lurves the show. She took great delight in pointing out the signs and spent much of our time while waiting for bags in a fruitless search for the cameras.