Hello,
I wonder whether any of you ever find yourself in a situation when your precious TLR is treated as an "national heritage" or "historical technology artifact" by the law.

That's what I have recently found in Poland. According to a specific Bill, all cameras that were made no later than 25 years ago may be treated as "historical technology artifacts" or even "national heritage" (as falling into some categories listed in the Bill). Then as such bear further scrutiny of the Custom & Border law enforcement agencies at the time of leaving the country! Failure of showing appropriate certificate issued by the local authorities may even lead to seizure of the given object and the courtcase!

I have been informed that I need to pay a fee and apply for a certificate that will let me & my Rollei go safely (in this respect) to Italy for vacation. Otherwise there's a risk of getting "caught" and charged! They also told me that's very likely that other EU countries may have similar lawcode and I may need formal translation of my certificate for an event where I'm asked for instance by the Carabinieri??!! :confused:

thanks
Dominik

Wow Dominik
That's a new one on me. I'm sure that the UK has no such law, seems impossible to enforce across borders I mean how old is my camera? I think a new Rollei looks like it may have been made in the 1950's certainly to the police any film camera is 'old stuff'.
Normally I'd advise to to 'play ball' with authorities get the certificate, but it sounds like someone wants to make sure you 'up-grade' every few years- do you get a tax cut for using historical national heritage artifacts? Surely if they're part of our heritage there has to be some break- possibly you could get a grant for a CLA?
Mark

Hi, I recently spoke with a lady from one of the National Heritage agencies..(on the "taxpayers payroll") that in order to get a certificate (it's actually an authorization to let my Rollei go out from Poland) I need to pay some 15 EU fee bring two photographs and get my Rollei registered. Sounds like deep socialism to me... :] It's good to hear that UK is free from such nonsense..

Sounds like a two pronged make work strategy for bureaucrats and to make some money for the Government. I am glad I don't have to deal with that in Canada.

I've never heard of such a thing in the USA. It seems that 25 years is awfully new to be considered either "historical" or a "national heritage artifact" based on age alone. Sounds like an excuse for a new tax to me! I'm not sure I own a camera newer than 25 years old. My Minolta 800si, perhaps. My Rollei was made in March, 1939, according to the serial number.

15 EU to take your own camera out of the country sounds more like capitalism to me, and since all my cameras would fall in this category, thanks, I know now not to go there.

Capitalism, is where free enterprise(individuals)are free to come and go, and figure innovative ways to earn money. Socialism, is where the government imposes fees(taxes) and gives it a label it to make it appear noble, to make money for itself, and you are not free to choose otherwise. God Bless the U.S.A.

15 Euros to take a German made camera out of Poland that's more like corruption.

Capitalism (US style) is legalised theft by the rich from the masses and brainless middle classes.

Ian

Could capitalism be defined as free enterprise? Just asking. And could socialism be defined as controlled enterprise? Again just asking, I am not political. There is the conflict of freedom to grab as much of the pie as you can and may the best and quickest get the most vs the restriction of the advantaged in order to insure equality or equal enjoyment of life for the greatest number. The ones with financial power tend to favor freedom while those less fortunate tend to favor equality. I would be of the latter group and spread the wealth if I could, but it isn't my money so it is easier for me to say.
Dennis

Ian makes a good point about the camera being German NOT Polish. Should make a good argument for not having to pay the fee, and being able to cross borders with it.

Rick

Anybody who thinks "capitalism" is the only form of government that makes stupid rules should go to Cuba and try to take photos of one of Castro's bimbo's palaces or do the same with one of Putin the Great's doxy's extensive chalets. Try taking a photo of a government building in North Korea, for that matter. Every country has dumb laws. In Austraila a pro photog had to pay a tax on EVERY sheet of photo paper he bought. The government figured when you buy 25 sheets of 8x10 glossy you sold every one of those sheets for big bucks, and taxed you accordingly. They never heard of the concenpt that maybe you use several sheets to get the print right and throw them away. There was an IRS rule for a while in the US that a freelancer couldn't take any expenses off his income tax until he sold that whatever -- a book that took five years to research, a photo book that took three years to gather the photos.
As the poet once said "the law is a ass, a idiot." (I
An" wasn't in use then.)

All the above said, I do recall that if you leave the US with a camera made elsewhere (which is most cameras!) you can be hassled by customs on coming home. The claim of course being that you bought it while you were out vacationing. If you don't have original purchase documentation you can purportedly register such gear with US customs before leaving and get a paper to flash if you're questioned on return. I don't recall if there is any charge. I had intended to do that before my first overseas trip, but the flight ticketing was so screwed up I didn't have time and so far, in three trips, it hasn't mattered.

There's no doubt a boatload of quirky regulations to bug the world traveler. Sometimes begging forgiveness is easier than getting permission ...

Having gone overseas and taken my gear with me, I too had heard about the possibility of being hasseled upon return to the US. I went to the local customs office registered the equipment before leaving, no charge back then. So I was covered in case I was questioned, although I was never questioned.
As far as there are no such fees YET in the US. Give em time the tax-aholics are working on new and more inovative ways to pick our pockets every day.