Carrying a DS with a flashcart into europe.

[ayinaim]

Hi all,

I'm going for a trip to a few countries in Europe later this month and i just have something that i couldn't take off from my mind. Would it be fine for me to enter these countries (through airports, of course) carrying a ds with a flashcart loaded with you-know-what? Will the officials at the airports gonna check on it? Does anyone have any unpleasant experience regarding this matter? Would it be better if i just leave my flashcart behind or is it something that i really shouldn't be worried about?

I really dont want to get into trouble in a foreign land and would really appreciate any advices from the gbatemp community. Thanks!

 

[Keshire]

Hi all,

I'm going for a trip to a few countries in Europe later this month and i just have something that i couldn't take off from my mind. Would it be fine for me to enter these countries (through airports, of course) carrying a ds with a flashcart loaded with you-know-what? Will the officials at the airports gonna check on it? Does anyone have any unpleasant experience regarding this matter? Would it be better if i just leave my flashcart behind or is it something that i really shouldn't be worried about?

I really dont want to get into trouble in a foreign land and would really appreciate any advices from the gbatemp community. Thanks!

How would they know or even check for something like that. If need be separate cart from DS and state one is for personal storage of personal files.

I'd be more concerned with a baggage handler recognizing it for what it is and stealing it for their own use.

 

[zidane_genome]

Well, since you could hide explosives or even a shiv (prison knife) in your flash cart, yea, you better expect the airline officials to stop you!

Why would some poor shlub who's getting paid like $5/hr for being "airport security" care if you have a DS?? What could you do? Take over the plane by annoying the fuck out of everyone with Rhythm Heaven, or Pokemon??

 

[sepinho]

I would assume that most customs agents wouldn't even know what a flashcard is. I guess you could argue that it's a multimedia player. Just make sure that you carry along a few legit games as well. I guess it would look a little suspicious to bring an NDS without any obvious, legally-bought games. I've picked up quite a few flashcards at customs offices in Germany. I had to bring with me a print-out of DX's product description, because they didn't have a clue what it was I had ordered. It never stopped them from handing out the flashcards.

What's the situation like when entering the USA btw. The wife and I are going to SF this summer and we would love to entertain ourselves with a couple Tetris matches and Mario Kart races on the long flight. Any risk that we'd be arrested and deported to Guantanomo?

 

[zidane_genome]

Well, since Obama is shutting down Gitmo, your stay will only be for about 8 months...

 

[Noobix]

Well the European Union is well aware that most terrorists love nothing better than playing DS games on their flashcarts (What else can they do hiding in a cave?), so if they do happen to notice it, you might be in trouble!!

Still as long as you don't have any pokemon rom's (since Osama wants to catch 'em all), you'll be ok.

Any problems and you can just mention that Noobix told you it was ok, which is as good as a free get out of jail card!

PS - I've flown round the World (Including USA/China/Canada etc with my DS and R4 and never had a problem, but maybe that's just because I didn't have any pokemon roms on it!

 

[sepinho]

Well, since Obama is shutting down Gitmo, your stay will only be for about 8 months...

.. I could finally catch up on some of the great NDS games that have been released in recent months. Awesome.

Seriously though, considering that US customs agents allegedly copy entire laptop hard disks, is there any risk that they could make a backup of my sd cards to arrest me upon leaving the US?

 

[ayinaim]

Haha you guys sure are funny. But thanks to all those who provided their advices, really appreciate it!

 

[Frederica Bernkastel]

I went to russia and back last summer with 3 flashcards. (people probably know that russia are paranoid and have the tightest security europe.)
Did they care? no.
Did I laugh at the 8 year old kid trying to impress me with his R4? Yes.

 

[Whizz]

Nope, I doubt they will even look at your DS. I'm not saying it would be a good idea to blurt out that you have a flashcart, but otherwise it's perfectly safe.

In fact, I only took my old M3 adapter + flashcart with me. It went through one of those x-ray machines, so they must have seen the cartridge stick out a bit, but nothing. Don't worry.

 

[dark42]

I went to Russia 3 times with my flashcarts, and never had a problem. Funny thing is, I was bringing an empty flask back with me as a souvenir, and my bag got searched because of that in 3 airports (Sheremetyevo, Warsaw, and O'Hare) because they thought I had liquid, or even alcohol in it. Security won't care, probably won't even see it. However, what the US likes to do these days is search laptop hard drives at the border, apparently they don't think the 4th amendment applies to travelers, so if you have any shady stuff on your laptop I suggest you look up Truecrypt. I personally have never had my HDD searched, but I've heard horror stories.

 

[bRKcRE]

I went to russia and back last summer with 3 flashcards. (people probably know that russia are paranoid and have the tightest security europe.)

dont they also have one of the most rampant scenes for piracy too tho?

 

[Smartpal]

Well the European Union is well aware that most terrorists love nothing better than playing DS games on their flashcarts (What else can they do hiding in a cave?), so if they do happen to notice it, you might be in trouble!!

Still as long as you don't have any pokemon rom's (since Osama wants to catch 'em all), you'll be ok.

Any problems and you can just mention that Noobix told you it was ok, which is as good as a free get out of jail card!

PS - I've flown round the World (Including USA/China/Canada etc with my DS and R4 and never had a problem, but maybe that's just because I didn't have any pokemon roms on it!

Sarcasm ftw!

 

[Man18]

it can be conceived as smuggling since they are illegal now.

 

[JDMEVOIXMR]

Take the microSD out, put it in an SD adaptor, and put it inside a camera

 

[da_head]

@op: they will shoot u on site.

lol i've been to portugal and france, and they don't give a shit.

 

[Deleted User]

I went to russia and back last summer with 3 flashcards. (people probably know that russia are paranoid and have the tightest security europe.)
Did they care? no.
Did I laugh at the 8 year old kid trying to impress me with his R4? Yes.

Kid: Look at my R4 aren't you jealous dood
Antiology: bitch, I been had a Cyclo *smacks kid upside his head and flees*

 

[Cablephish]

Take the microSD out, put it in an SD adaptor, and put it inside a camera

You must live a pretty paranoid life...

No need to go to such lengths, they won't care. Try looking up cases where that would happen on google if you care so much.

 

[Regiiko]

I went to Sweden during 2008/2009 for 3 months. Obviously they didn't arrest me for anything as I'm posting here

 

[Xarsah16]

Here's another strategy - Empty your DS Slot 1, put your flash in your shirt or pants pocket and walk through the metal detector. If my father can get through without taking his watch off, and if I can get through with my glasses, you should have no problem with the flash cart getting through. I do travel a bit, btw.