An small aircraft pilot is upset with customs rules.

Attributes
ACN	314949
Time
Date	199509
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cxl
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6500 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	DVR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	314949
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

After evacing south baja because of a hurricane, we were forced to arrive at cxl without a flight plan. I filed with san diego FSS in the air and was told I couldn't land at cxl for 1 hour or face $5000 fine. I elected to hold over the airport for the remaining portion of the hour. Customs would not waive the time even though we saw them drive up 1/2 hour before. On arrival I was told not only could I not land for 1 hour, I had to hold over mexican airspace, not united states, a silly law which endangers others for no reason. Customs says they need the time to get there. Not true. Cxl is a small town. It takes 5 mins at most, even if agents are asleep, 30 mins is enough. I was never told about rule remaining outside of united stated airspace for the 1 hour and have never read anything about it either. After checking rules, it's clear that a pilot must remain outside for 1 hour prior and then land directly and immediately at nearest airport. What rule gives customs jurisdiction over aircraft and far enforcement? What training do customs officers get in the FARS, etc? Pretty soon the IRS will be closing flight plans.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT IS UPSET WITH CUSTOMS RULES.

Narrative: AFTER EVACING S BAJA BECAUSE OF A HURRICANE, WE WERE FORCED TO ARRIVE AT CXL WITHOUT A FLT PLAN. I FILED WITH SAN DIEGO FSS IN THE AIR AND WAS TOLD I COULDN'T LAND AT CXL FOR 1 HR OR FACE $5000 FINE. I ELECTED TO HOLD OVER THE ARPT FOR THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE HR. CUSTOMS WOULD NOT WAIVE THE TIME EVEN THOUGH WE SAW THEM DRIVE UP 1/2 HR BEFORE. ON ARR I WAS TOLD NOT ONLY COULD I NOT LAND FOR 1 HR, I HAD TO HOLD OVER MEXICAN AIRSPACE, NOT UNITED STATES, A SILLY LAW WHICH ENDANGERS OTHERS FOR NO REASON. CUSTOMS SAYS THEY NEED THE TIME TO GET THERE. NOT TRUE. CXL IS A SMALL TOWN. IT TAKES 5 MINS AT MOST, EVEN IF AGENTS ARE ASLEEP, 30 MINS IS ENOUGH. I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT RULE REMAINING OUTSIDE OF UNITED STATED AIRSPACE FOR THE 1 HR AND HAVE NEVER READ ANYTHING ABOUT IT EITHER. AFTER CHKING RULES, IT'S CLR THAT A PLT MUST REMAIN OUTSIDE FOR 1 HR PRIOR AND THEN LAND DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY AT NEAREST ARPT. WHAT RULE GIVES CUSTOMS JURISDICTION OVER ACFT AND FAR ENFORCEMENT? WHAT TRAINING DO CUSTOMS OFFICERS GET IN THE FARS, ETC? PRETTY SOON THE IRS WILL BE CLOSING FLT PLANS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.