American woman fined for offering $100 bribe to German passport control officer

Oh my !!!

Well, she's American, maybe the bribe was her idea of a tip!

I often read stories about folks leaving Passports on airplanes. Since that's one of the most important items one travels with, how can this happen? Whatever......

I often read stories about folks leaving Passports on airplanes. Since that's one of the most important items one travels with, how can this happen?

My horrified mind is guessing some people put their passports in the seatback pocket.

well, ATH-MUC is Schengen, so since she didn't 'need' it when she deplaned, I'm sure she forgot about it...

At least now we know the price of a German passport control officer is more than $100..

Moral of the story, "Pay (more) in the local currency"

Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain (and I'm not talking about her mistake in leaving the passport, but the bribe). Sheesh.

"My horrified mind is guessing some people put their passports in the seatback pocket."

Yes, this. I have seen people doing that and I instantly want to say DONT DO THAT!!! I try to slide it back in my small crossbody bag I wear on the plane as I'm going down the jetway but sometimes that is not possible.

A bribe. My word. Unbelievable.

And missing from the story: Let's just for the sake of this assume her bribe had worked and she got on her plane...how exactly was she planning to get through immigration in the U.S.?

And missing from the story: Let's just for the sake of this assume her bribe had worked and she got on her plane...how exactly was she planning to get through immigration in the U.S.?

She had another $100 in her purse....?

"asked them to let her through without a passport"
🤦‍♀️🙄🤦‍♀️🙄

how exactly was she planning to get through immigration in the U.S.?

Yep, even an expired US passport will not get you in anymore.

joe32f, clearly today has not been my best day because I can't stop laughing at your post.

My passport is always in my neck wallet.

joe. Love your humor!!

Yep, even an expired US passport will not get you in anymore.

That being true, then if she had gotten past the German passport officer, she would become the Tom Hanks character in The Terminal ?

Happy to see I gave some folks a chuckle.

That was an incredibly stupid thing to do!!! I can't imagine her demented logic to assume that a foreign law enforcement officer, who has sworn an oath, would take a bribe and jeopardize his career. Perhaps she's used that tactic before in her home area with some success? In any case, she has received a rude awakening! I would have fined her substantially more!

I always keep my Passport safely secured in my shirt pocket or in my money belt, so there's no way I would forget it on a plane. Putting it in the filth that often resides in seat back pockets is the last place I would put it - https://www.businessinsider.com/dirtiest-parts-airplane-cbc-report-2018-10 .

"Yep, even an expired US passport will not get you in anymore."

Actually as a citizen of a country you are entitled to enter it. You of course need to prove you are a citizen, and a passport is the easiest way to do this. But the US cannot forbid someone entry once it has been established that this person is a US citizen. It will however probably entail you spending at least a few hours at the border...

I am American and I've observed over the course of my life that many Americans believe they can resolve any issue with money.

Which poster said to throw money at problems? I mean, it often works.

I'd think more like $500 for such a bribe.

I am American and I've observed over the course of my life that many
Americans believe they can resolve any issue with money.

I'm guessing you hang out with politicians. Noteworthy that this woman was headed to DC.

And it would be no surprise if her disregard for documentation and borders was also acquired from the same DC crowd that disregards these elements elsewhere around the country.

Actually as a citizen of a country you are entitled to enter it.

That's the same answer I got from an immigration "officer" at Denver airport some years ago when I was inquiring (hypothetically) about what might happen if my passport expired while I was out of the country.

In the woman's case, she probably couldn't get through Schengen emigration (outbound passport check) without her passport.

@roubrat

Well, she's American, maybe the bribe was her idea of a tip!

still my favorite post here

“Actually as a citizen of a country you are entitled to enter it.”

But without a passport how do you prove you’re a citizen?

@Susan - the same way you do when you're coming back from Canada via land or MX via land w/o a passport. They look you up in the database and ask you questions. It may take some time but it works that way.

Which poster said to throw money at problems? I mean, it often works.

That was quite some years ago , and it was by Ed , from Pensacola . Unfortunately , this is taking what he said out of context . He was never advising anyone to stupidly attempt to break the law , or try to bribe your way out of a problem , When he made that comment , his point was that a legitimate solution to many problems could be solved by spending more than one would like for an answer . An example - Some years ago , we were on train that departed from Bruges , bound for Lille, France . At the border station ( Kortrijk ) it was announced that the French train, completing the trip ,was cancelled, due to a strike . The solution was clear , although more than I wanted spend , but whipping out EU 100 got us to Lille at that moment with a cab , when there was no other alternative .

Ah ok, thanks skunk. I’ve never not had my passport so didn’t know it was even possible without one.

Actually as a citizen of a country you are entitled to enter it.

While technically true, what has changed recently (within the last year or so), is that you need a valid passport.

You essentially will not be allowed to board, and will need to go to the US Embassy in the country you are in, and renew before coming to the US.

Link: https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article1861?language=en_US

@Paul - the hypothetical was what if you got to the US (if the bribe had've worked), w/o the passport. So yes, you'd eventually be let in as a Citizen cannot be denied entry.

Can not imagine how an individual/s could possibly pass the checks at the departing airport to board the flight to the USA.

Lets assume it has happened. (For $100 obviously an inexperienced operator! $100k well maybe) At the arriving USA airport, this represents a security breach regardless of citizenship (including US citizens. They get their phone call). The suspects should be ushered by airport security to a secure area, luggage collected and wait to be interrogated. In this case one would assume FBI in the first instance.

Personally, I am interested in an actual case example as opposed to hypothetical.

Regards Ron

Let's say the US citizen, on the flight back to the US, had their passport stolen post boarding, or whatever. the FBI would have nothing to do with them when they returned - that is all CBP's purview here. US Citizens cannot be denied entry, even if they get pulled into secondary screening for a few hrs. There have been many reports on travel boards of people coming back from Canada w/o an EDL or passport and this is the process.

Seems very strange to me that someone can enter the US from an airport without a valid passport. .

BIG mistake offering money as a bribe. You bribe Germans with sausages and beer.

can't imagine her demented logic to assume that a foreign law enforcement officer, who has sworn an oath, would take a bribe and jeopardize his career.

Back in the days before Schengen, and each country had their own borders, it was common for tour busses to hand over a six pack of Coca Cola to the Italian border guards to "expedite" the processing.

If you arrive at the U.S. border without a passport you will be escorted into an interview room. The CBP already has your flight information and they will contact the aircraft to see if you have they have found a passport. If not and you can show them some other type of ID they will use that to try to verify that you are a citizen. It will not be a few minutes. It will take a while.

The airline will cooperate because if they can't find your passport, the airline gets fined.

You'd be amazed how much they know about your travels. When I was interviewed for my renewal of Global Entry, I was asked about my visit to the Channel Islands. I had flown there from London and crossed no borders. But they knew.

She ended up being fined 1000 euros ($1122) for attempted bribery. Also, she had to stay in Munich and obtain a new passport at the consulate office. Since it was the weekend, i am sure that did not occur overnight. The $100 bride became somewhat expensive. Wonder if they took cash or credit card for the fine?

you can show them some other type of ID they will use that to try to verify that you are a citizen

I always bring my license even when we don't rent a car. I like to have another form of ID in addition to my passport. Of course, one can lose both.

If you have a passport card or one from a trusted traveler program, it will help to identify you with a federal id.