The Forum at Handcuffs.Org

Exporting Handcuffs from the US.

14 visible archived posts · 14 preserved total · topic ID 2576

Damon Shields 05 May 2008

I saw a auction for a pair of handcuffs listed on ebay by my friend Mark Cannon. Mark advises that it is unlawful to ship handcuffs and restraints from the US to any country except Canada without an export license.

I called the Commerce department to see if there were any exceptions IE collectors with single pairs of antique handcuffs. There are no exceptions and the penalties can be enormous. If you ship from the US to anywhere but Canada, you must go through the licensing process for every item and each transaction. (As a seller you have to register and you must keep records of everything). The Commerce department explained that the law was changed because of human rights issues in foreign countries. The good news is that most collector sales shouldn't be a problem other than a 4 to 6 week delay for the license for each sale.

I guess it's the world we live in.

Damon
ushandcuffs.com

axylon 05 May 2008

I wonder how collectors or dealers are supposed to learn about such laws. Is any special paperwork now required to mail handcuffs out of the US for repair, with the intention of having them returned to the US after repair? And does this law affect the ability to carry handcuffs out of the US, in checked luggage for example?

Anonymous 05 May 2008

I saw a auction for a pair of handcuffs listed on ebay by my friend Mark Cannon. Mark advises that it is unlawful to ship handcuffs and restraints from the US to any country except Canada without an export license.

I called the Commerce department to see if there were any exceptions IE collectors with single pairs of antique handcuffs. There are no exceptions and the penalties can be enormous. If you ship from the US to anywhere but Canada, you must go through the licensing process for every item and each transaction. (As a seller you have to register and you must keep records of everything). The Commerce department explained that the law was changed because of human rights issues in foreign countries. The good news is that most collector sales shouldn't be a problem other than a 4 to 6 week delay for the license for each sale.

I guess it's the world we live in.

Damon
ushandcuffs.com
Click to expand...

The law does not recognize sending the cuffs out of the country for repair as an exception. The law also applies to carrying the cuffs in your luggage. I've taken many cuffs out of the US and never had a problem, even though it is technically illegal. I worry more about getting them into the arrival country.

Mikeintightpants 06 May 2008

I saw a auction for a pair of handcuffs listed on ebay by my friend Mark Cannon. Mark advises that it is unlawful to ship handcuffs and restraints from the US to any country except Canada without an export license.

I called the Commerce department to see if there were any exceptions IE collectors with single pairs of antique handcuffs. There are no exceptions and the penalties can be enormous. If you ship from the US to anywhere but Canada, you must go through the licensing process for every item and each transaction. (As a seller you have to register and you must keep records of everything). The Commerce department explained that the law was changed because of human rights issues in foreign countries. The good news is that most collector sales shouldn't be a problem other than a 4 to 6 week delay for the license for each sale.

I guess it's the world we live in.

Damon
ushandcuffs.com
Click to expand...

For several years I've been travelling from the UK to the US and regularly bring gear back with me in my checked baggage, I've also mailed cuffs back to myself in the UK.

My next visit to the States is 15th of this month for around 10 days - watch this space everybody!

MikeR
a.k.a. Mikeintightpants
Birmingham, England

Edgeplay_Cgo 06 May 2008

I saw a auction for a pair of handcuffs listed on ebay by my friend Mark Cannon. Mark advises that it is unlawful to ship handcuffs and restraints from the US to any country except Canada without an export license.

I called the Commerce department to see if there were any exceptions IE collectors with single pairs of antique handcuffs. There are no exceptions and the penalties can be enormous. If you ship from the US to anywhere but Canada, you must go through the licensing process for every item and each transaction. (As a seller you have to register and you must keep records of everything). The Commerce department explained that the law was changed because of human rights issues in foreign countries. The good news is that most collector sales shouldn't be a problem other than a 4 to 6 week delay for the license for each sale.

I guess it's the world we live in.

Damon
ushandcuffs.com
Click to expand...

To my knowledge, there is no restriction against importing cuffs, just exporting them. I suppose you could be required to pay import duty, as you wouldn't have the customs paperwork demonstrating that you had already had them in the States.

jq0 09 May 2008

I saw a auction for a pair of handcuffs listed on ebay by my friend Mark Cannon. Mark advises that it is unlawful to ship handcuffs and restraints from the US to any country except Canada without an export license.

I called the Commerce department to see if there were any exceptions IE collectors with single pairs of antique handcuffs. There are no exceptions and the penalties can be enormous. If you ship from the US to anywhere but Canada, you must go through the licensing process for every item and each transaction. (As a seller you have to register and you must keep records of everything). The Commerce department explained that the law was changed because of human rights issues in foreign countries. The good news is that most collector sales shouldn't be a problem other than a 4 to 6 week delay for the license for each sale.

I guess it's the world we live in.

Damon
ushandcuffs.com
Click to expand...

I ran across an article on the internet about the new laws for restraints. These cover more than just handcuffs BTW. Thumbcuffs can not be exported to any country (including Canada) for any reason. Leg irons can only be exported to Canada. Handcuffs require an export license to anywhere but Canada. Medical restraints like straight jackets and human restraint leathers may only be sold to licensed medical facilities. And there are some strange new "re-export" laws covering exporting restraints to an authorized country for resale into an unauthorized country. All of this seems to have stemmed from a pair of peerless handcuffs that were recovered from a room in some middle east (can't remember which) country that was used for human torture.

Eva 05 Aug 2013

I saw a auction for a pair of handcuffs listed on ebay by my friend Mark Cannon. Mark advises that it is unlawful to ship handcuffs and restraints from the US to any country except Canada without an export license.

I called the Commerce department to see if there were any exceptions IE collectors with single pairs of antique handcuffs. There are no exceptions and the penalties can be enormous. If you ship from the US to anywhere but Canada, you must go through the licensing process for every item and each transaction. (As a seller you have to register and you must keep records of everything). The Commerce department explained that the law was changed because of human rights issues in foreign countries. The good news is that most collector sales shouldn't be a problem other than a 4 to 6 week delay for the license for each sale.

I guess it's the world we live in.

Damon
ushandcuffs.com
Click to expand...

Dan thanks for the info. I have a few cuffs that were in my pops estate and put them on ebay. I did have inquiries from several people regarding export of various cuffs and I declined to deal with all this hassle. Chances are no one would check the package but my luck has always ben such to catch the proverbial brass ring of gloom and doom . I guess it would be worth the fuss if the cuffs were worth big money but for pittance items I can't see it feasable to go through all the record keeping , licensing, and aggravation.
Again thanks for the info, I had a suspicion about this and prior to reading the post blocked international bidders, I am now glad I did rather then dumb stumbling in the dark.

best wishes Eva

Harry_Tasker 17 Aug 2013

I saw a auction for a pair of handcuffs listed on ebay by my friend Mark Cannon. Mark advises that it is unlawful to ship handcuffs and restraints from the US to any country except Canada without an export license.

I called the Commerce department to see if there were any exceptions IE collectors with single pairs of antique handcuffs. There are no exceptions and the penalties can be enormous. If you ship from the US to anywhere but Canada, you must go through the licensing process for every item and each transaction. (As a seller you have to register and you must keep records of everything). The Commerce department explained that the law was changed because of human rights issues in foreign countries. The good news is that most collector sales shouldn't be a problem other than a 4 to 6 week delay for the license for each sale.

I guess it's the world we live in.

Damon
ushandcuffs.com
Click to expand...

http://www.network54.com/Forum/261154/t ... rt+license

Wonderous 24 Aug 2013

I saw a auction for a pair of handcuffs listed on ebay by my friend Mark Cannon. Mark advises that it is unlawful to ship handcuffs and restraints from the US to any country except Canada without an export license.

I called the Commerce department to see if there were any exceptions IE collectors with single pairs of antique handcuffs. There are no exceptions and the penalties can be enormous. If you ship from the US to anywhere but Canada, you must go through the licensing process for every item and each transaction. (As a seller you have to register and you must keep records of everything). The Commerce department explained that the law was changed because of human rights issues in foreign countries. The good news is that most collector sales shouldn't be a problem other than a 4 to 6 week delay for the license for each sale.

I guess it's the world we live in.

Damon
ushandcuffs.com
Click to expand...

Wonder.. I am currently visiting NYC and would love to buy a pair of ASP training cuffs from here.

If I buy a pair here locally and carry it along with me would it also need a license for exporting from myself to myself?

holstcollection 14 Feb 2023

#10

To bring handcuffs in your luggage from the US is obvious not illegal. I recently went to Portland and brought a number of handcuffs in the cabine with me home.

I sent a qustion to TSA and they replied that handcuffs onboard are ok. I also had no problems in the security check.

Lars

10-15 15 Feb 2023

#11

@holstcollection

That's somewhat accurate but needs further attrition.

It is true that handcuffs are not a prohibited item by TSA. However, that is not an absolute policy as the final decision to allow handcuffs in carry on luggage rests solely with each TSA officer, TSA supervisor and TSA screening checkpoint. Obviously boarding them in checked luggage beneath the plane should never be a problem.

This means that handcuffs and other non prohibited items can be confiscated at individual discretion. You also have to be aware of laws concerning handcuff possession where you're traveling from and to.

Florida for example makes the carrying of concealed handcuff key a third degree felony. New York City has criminalized the possession of handcuffs and handcuff keys for your average person. Touchdown in the five boroughs with handcuffs and you're in criminal violation the minute the wheels make ground contact.

I doubt you would ever have a problem carrying them in New York City but you never know. A random bag search on the rails or mass transit systems could cause a problem. Departing from any 'port' in the city where bag checks are conducted including JFK and LGA and perhaps even sea ports could cause attention to the prohibited possession. This could be caused even by TSA who alerts airport police as you're trying to leave the city.

There aren't many laws concerning handcuff possession but there are some spread throughout the United States. A bigger concern is traveling to a jurisdiction that classify handcuffs as a concealed or prohibited weapon because of some loosely worded piece of legislation where handcuffs are not expressly prohibited but can meet the definition of a prohibited weapons law.

Don't take anything for granted and always be diligent. Places like New York City depend on criminal and civil monies from offenders for funding. Don't think they will just 'let it slide' because in New York City, getting arrested is equal to getting a parking ticket somewhere else. A lot of times it's a simple formality and 30 days in jail with $3500 in court costs and fines is no big deal.

holstcollection 15 Feb 2023

#12

@10-15

Thanks for the additional information. I confess I was worried when passing the security ckeck. However, this time they were very nice to me but as I understand, that can change to another time.

Now I have a much bigger problem as I'm helping my client to sell the Tom Gross collection. Export of restraints out of the US is probited except from export to Canada.
It's really a pity if only US citizens will be a allowed to buy from the collection. In this moment I just don't know what to do. One option would be someone in Canada forwarding packages but that would be quite expensive shipping costs.

10-15 15 Feb 2023

#13

Yeah I don't know much about the export laws but I am sure there is a way to work with them or work around them.

KruegerKuffs 17 Feb 2023

#14

Yup, seems like they changed that. Turns out they'd rather have some at hand when they need them.