Bringin Wine in by car from Mexico

Old Dec 2nd, 2016, 10:07 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bringin Wine in by car from Mexico

Hi there, so I know there is a limit of 1 liter per person for wine, if you are a California resident coming back to California from Mexico by car. But this rule doesn't apply for airplanes. Does anyone know if there's a way for me to get a case of lovely wine back for my own personal use?
reubensandwich is offline  
Old Dec 2nd, 2016, 10:47 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 26,778
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've never been charged. The duty is only a couple bucks a bottle and the agent will likely not bother to charge.

However... The risk might be that they enforce state laws, some of which can be quite restrictive. Where are you crossing the border and what state do you reside in?
travelgourmet is offline  
Old Dec 3rd, 2016, 05:59 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,957
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The 1 liter "limitation" is that's the amount a person can bring into the country "duty free". You can bring in more but you may have to pay duty on the "overage".

Basically, you can bring in a "reasonable amount" for you own consumption without having an import license but you'll pay customs duty. Sometimes if it's just a case the customs agent may waive the duty.
RoamsAround is offline  
Old Dec 3rd, 2016, 07:12 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,024
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We have brought wine back from Italy over the liter limit. We always declare it, we are always waved through. Usually the customs agents are just too busy to stop and figure out the tariffs. We are always prepared to pay the tariff, someday we might get shuttled aside for that. IMO it is more a matter of attitude and honesty.
socaltraveler is offline  
Old Dec 3rd, 2016, 07:46 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 26,778
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Basically, you can bring in a "reasonable amount" for you own consumption without having an import license but you'll pay customs duty.

There is some nuance here, which I think is the OP's concern... The CBP does enforce state laws regarding importation and some of them can be restrictive and arbitrary. It sounds like the one in question (which I didn't fully grasp when I wrote my initial response) is that CA residents can only bring 1 liter back from Mexico if crossing the CA-Mexico border by car or foot. Non-CA residents and CA residents arriving by plane can bring back something like 5 cases of wine.

Now, I don't know exactly what enforcement is like, but that is the law and the CBP says they enforce them. While not exactly the same as this case, I have heard many stories about seizures of alcohol when people arrive (by plane) at SLC, due to Utah's restrictive laws being enforced.
travelgourmet is offline  
Old Dec 3rd, 2016, 10:57 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yeah I'm a California resident and would be crossing into San ysidro by car. It seems like 3 is the limit but it's ridiculous to me that if I were flying, I could bring in 5 cases!!! That seems odd.
reubensandwich is offline  
Old Dec 3rd, 2016, 05:49 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well you can bring it in and take the chance of having it seized and losing what you paid for it.
nytraveler is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Melnq8
United States
40
Mar 9th, 2018 08:31 PM
sasark
Caribbean Islands
9
Jul 5th, 2011 02:20 PM
amelie
Canada
5
Sep 11th, 2008 04:20 PM
Amy40
Europe
4
Dec 31st, 2007 09:05 AM
PrincessKateXOXO
Europe
13
May 23rd, 2005 03:12 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -