Bringing kit back from the US.

[creamerybutter]

It it for a while be the misses and I are going to America/Canada for our honeymoon next summer by which point my Lid will be a bit long in the tooth. With the recent story about the American snell test being much tougher than the EU tests on lids i was thinking of getting one while I was out there plus it should be cheaper. What I don't know it what I would get charged when I got back, I don't think we pay VAT on safety equipment but I am not sure if Lids are included.

Has anyone brought kit back from abroad before?

[Baph]

Buy the lid over the pond, and wear it on your way back. Also, keep looking at your watch & making jokes with the missus. When you eventually get on the plane, make sure you read the emergency leaflet, and check about 5 times to make sure your life jacket is there. To ensure you don't have to pay import duty, you might find that putting gunpowder in the soles of your shoes helps to fend the security guards off.













Oooo look, my coat just arrived :oops:

[Stu]

If you make out like it's yours and not just bought, then the issue won't arise.
As an aside, when I flew Southampton to Bradford on a 12 seater a couple of months ago, my helmet was one of the few things they let on board as hand luggage, I think even lap tops were being taken off people at the steps and put in the hold as there was no room in the plane but I think they acknowledged the seriousness of carrying your helmet yourself.

[CoolGirl]

hmm. i was thinking about travellng by air with a lid. I reckon if you just carry it in an ordinary (proably your usual, used) lid bag as carry-on, you'll be fine. Take all the obvious stickers off and if anyone asks you say you've been touring and brung it out with you - they won't have any record of it.

Not that I'd ever condone evading tax payment (honest Lyn!). not even when I bought a v expensive handbag back from across the pond and just happened to be using it, so customs never twigged.

[Supervox]

I'm fairly certain that all this may be immaterial - due to the fact that the SNELL test regime / certification is not recognized over here.

You might want to check out whether or not it's still an offence to wear anything other than a EC / BS certified lid before you spend your money on something you can't legally use.

As I say, I'm FAIRLY certain - not positive. I know this used to be the case because the good old Simpson Bandit was SNELL certified but did not pass British Standards (due to the size of the visor I think) & was therefore illegal.

[lynw]

Not that I'd ever condone evading tax payment (honest Lyn!). not even when I bought a v expensive handbag back from across the pond and just happened to be using it, so customs never twigged.

We dont have to, we just wait til everyone 'fesses up in threads like this... :twisted:

There will be no VAT on a lid as they are Zero Rated here - all compulsory safety equipment is ZR.

The main issue is whether it complies with UK law. Or if HMRC think youre smuggling drugs in it, they can in theory destroy it without having to compensate you. :twisted:

[Stu]

they can in theory destroy it without having to compensate you. :twisted:

Thought that was only if they found something? I guess I stand corrected.

[UlsterSV]

I believe Supervox is right. I brought a helmet over from America for alot cheaper than what it would have cost here but the local mechanic told me they aren't legal here and could possibly invalidate my insurance. But I think it might just be a case of getting the right stickers on it...

[creamerybutter]

I'm fairly certain that all this may be immaterial - due to the fact that the SNELL test regime / certification is not recognized over here.

You might want to check out whether or not it's still an offence to wear anything other than a EC / BS certified lid before you spend your money on something you can't legally use.

As I say, I'm FAIRLY certain - not positive. I know this used to be the case because the good old Simpson Bandit was SNELL certified but did not pass British Standards (due to the size of the visor I think) & was therefore illegal.

Aye this was pointed out to me by my sister at the weekend but I still think I will look into it especially as I have seen a few Simpson Bandits around latley. Thing is both my sisters and girfiends lids have labels with Kitemarks on them but mine only has the British motorcycle sport gold sticker does that mena my lid it technically illegal or is just a gold sticker ok? It's annoying as the EU tests are sh*te and as far as i am concerned the US lids will be perfectly safe.

[Supervox]

I'm fairly certain that all this may be immaterial - due to the fact that the SNELL test regime / certification is not recognized over here.

You might want to check out whether or not it's still an offence to wear anything other than a EC / BS certified lid before you spend your money on something you can't legally use.

As I say, I'm FAIRLY certain - not positive. I know this used to be the case because the good old Simpson Bandit was SNELL certified but did not pass British Standards (due to the size of the visor I think) & was therefore illegal.

Aye this was pointed out to me by my sister at the weekend but I still think I will look into it especially as I have seen a few Simpson Bandits around latley. Thing is both my sisters and girfiends lids have labels with Kitemarks on them but mine only has the British motorcycle sport gold sticker does that mena my lid it technically illegal or is just a gold sticker ok? It's annoying as the EU tests are sh*te and as far as i am concerned the US lids will be perfectly safe.

I should have said ORIGINAL Simpson Bandit - they now do one that IS legal over here.

[lynw]

Thing is both my sisters and girfiends lids have labels with Kitemarks on them but mine only has the British motorcycle sport gold sticker does that mena my lid it technically illegal or is just a gold sticker ok?

IIRC what this means is that all lids are road legal but your sisters and girlfriends lids cant be used on track days while yours can as it has that BMS gold sticker.

Stu, Customs officers can strip down your car at a port to do a search and leave it in bits if they have to go search something else - they have no legal requirement to have to put it back together again. :D

In the case of a lid they would scan it first - and only destroy it if they found something. However, there is a case of someone bringing back some statuettes as gifts for his mother that the scan couldnt show anything on - the statuettes were then broken open for a search and while nothing was found there was still no onus on HMRC to compensate or replace.

Basically if there are reasonable grounds for an officer to do a search they can destroy the item in the process. There IS a reason people say Customs have more powers than the police. :wink: :P :lol:

[Baph]

Basically if there are reasonable grounds for an officer to do a search they can destroy the item in the process. There IS a reason people say Customs have more powers than the police. :wink: :P :lol:

So where can I apply for the job of "Stuff breaker" ? :D

[creamerybutter]

Thing is both my sisters and girfiends lids have labels with Kitemarks on them but mine only has the British motorcycle sport gold sticker does that mena my lid it technically illegal or is just a gold sticker ok?

IIRC what this means is that all lids are road legal but your sisters and girlfriends lids cant be used on track days while yours can as it has that BMS gold sticker.

Sorry they both have the gold sticker as well as the Kitemark mine just has the gold sticker.

[lynw]

Basically if there are reasonable grounds for an officer to do a search they can destroy the item in the process. There IS a reason people say Customs have more powers than the police. :wink: :P :lol:

So where can I apply for the job of "Stuff breaker" ? :D

Try www.hmrc.gov.uk. Probably a remote chance since Gordys trying to cut 100,000 civil service jobs. :?

[Law]

Thing is both my sisters and girfiends lids have labels with Kitemarks on them but mine only has the British motorcycle sport gold sticker does that mena my lid it technically illegal or is just a gold sticker ok?

IIRC what this means is that all lids are road legal but your sisters and girlfriends lids cant be used on track days while yours can as it has that BMS gold sticker.

Sorry they both have the gold sticker as well as the Kitemark mine just has the gold sticker.

IIRC the gold sticker means you can race in the helmet for 4 meets. The lack of kitemark means it hasn't been through the british tests(which includes a sharp point smashed through the helmet) only the weaker EU ones. It saves money on tests I think.

Should have a mark somewhere I guess but checked my Roof and I'll be damned if I can find it. My old FM has a label with E3 sewn onto the chin strap but I have no idea what it's for.

[Law]

I don't think the construction of helmets changes for different countries. A Japanese company (Arai or Shoei, I can't remember) only changes the padding inside for different regions (different head shapes). You could find out which helmets passed the SNELL tests as well and get that model here.

[Ceri JC]

I don't think the construction of helmets changes for different countries. A Japanese company (Arai or Shoei, I can't remember) only changes the padding inside for different regions (different head shapes). You could find out which helmets passed the SNELL tests as well and get that model here.

What he said. Following the recent Snell test story in whatever mag it was, a lot of people have this concern. MCN recently printed a (rather amused) response from either Arai or Shoei (though I imagine it's the same situation for almost all manufacturers) along the lines of, "Don't worry, we don't engineer weaker helmets specially for the UK market. We make helmets that pass the most stringent tests in all countries the helmets will be sold in and then make all helmets to that spec." :)

In short, the lid same lid bought here will be SNELL-compliant, just like the American version. It just might have different markings to the American one (eg ACU Gold Sticker, etc.) However, I wouldn't like to wear one that didn't have all the neccessary UK-spec markings. Not for any legal reasons; I can't see a police officer asking to inspect my helmet (fnar, fnar :lol: ), but more those of insurance.

Have a bad off (either as a result of another driver on any policy, or "your fault" on fully comp) that results in head injury and you can guarantee the insurance company will try to get out of paying the associated costs as you were technically not wearing a helmet (much like technically, riding with a small plate is "without a numberplate"). Twisted I know, but that's the way their minds work. :roll:

[jenni]

Basically if there are reasonable grounds for an officer to do a search they can destroy the item in the process. There IS a reason people say Customs have more powers than the police. :wink: :P :lol:

So where can I apply for the job of "Stuff breaker" ? :D

Try www.hmrc.gov.uk. Probably a remote chance since Gordys trying to cut 100,000 civil service jobs. :?

tis also the same job as "poo poker" you still wanna give it a go? :lol: :lol:

[jenni]

Thing is both my sisters and girfiends lids have labels with Kitemarks on them but mine only has the British motorcycle sport gold sticker does that mena my lid it technically illegal or is just a gold sticker ok?

IIRC what this means is that all lids are road legal but your sisters and girlfriends lids cant be used on track days while yours can as it has that BMS gold sticker.

Sorry they both have the gold sticker as well as the Kitemark mine just has the gold sticker.

IIRC the gold sticker means you can race in the helmet for 4 meets. The lack of kitemark means it hasn't been through the british tests(which includes a sharp point smashed through the helmet) only the weaker EU ones. It saves money on tests I think.

Should have a mark somewhere I guess but checked my Roof and I'll be damned if I can find it. My old FM has a label with E3 sewn onto the chin strap but I have no idea what it's for.

the "e" markings are now required as opposed to the kitemark. your lid needs one of these for use on the road, don't think they are kitemarking any more.