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Does anyone know if you can legally bring small pocket knives to Jamaica? I used to always bring small pocket knives as gifts for our security guards and other friends we met over the years but recently was told by a friend that you can't . Any info would be great. We leave on Monday morning and today we changed our departure date so we can stay for 3 weeks instead of 2 :) Five more sleeps and the wait is killing us
You can carry them in your checked baggage.
As to how you would explain them to customs is another matter.
Odds are highly unlikely but as Judy Tenuta would say "It could happen......"
Cap
Ty Captain. I definitely would be putting them in my checked baggage like I always did. Just don't want to get in any trouble or tossed in a Jamaican jail lol. Had a friend spend some time in a Jamaican jail and it didn't sound like anyplace I would want to spend part of my vacation lol.
Every trip I pack a multi tool and small flashlight in my checked luggage. I usually pick them up on sale or at Walmart. It is always a nice way to end my trip by gifting them to a Security Guard.
On my second trip to Negril I gave 2 of the security guards where I always stayed pocket knives with their names engraved on them and they always had them in their pocket when we returned the next year. We aren't staying at our usual spot this year and they don't work there anymore either but I am gonna surprise both of them with a visit next week and I bet at least one of them has the knife I gave them in his pocket
I have brought kitchen knives in my checked bags and actually never even thought about it. But, since they are checked, I really can't see the problem.
My husband hasn't had a problem bringing them in our checked baggage.
my *thoughts* & experiences....
1..''yes'' ,,, you CAN take knives with you [[[ in checked luggage as mentioned, and have a *good* explanation as to WHY you bringin' 'em, if Ja-
Customs should ask WHY ]]]
2...[[ to me ]] pocket knives is a *strange* gift ~~~ 'cause it's my *understanding* that Jamaican law PROHIBITs carrying around knives ::::: at least that is was told, a few years ago, by TWO Jamaican police officers, who stopped AND searched my walk-around bag.
For some reason, I liked the then-popular 3-star ratchet SouthAfrican Okapi knife :::: at the time, all the young-guys,,, the rude-boys,,, would be carry-ing them .... it was not unusual to hear the ''.click-click.'' sound of the knife being flipped open & closed, as you walked around Negril or other parts of the island.
Residents had warned me about having and carrying the knife.
''..Sir... you DO realize that I'm suppose to LOCK YOU UP for having this blah blah blah..'' <<<<::: said the police officer(s), TO ME.
my first smart-ass stupid response was::>> ''...WHAT..!!!... EVERYbody carry this knife...''
but then i quickly came to my senses,
and
Scared to death,
I lied,,, and told 'em, i was carrying the knife to peel mangos, blah blah blah.
the officers weren't ''buying'' what I was ''selling''
but probably 'cause i was a from-foreign tourist
they let me slide, with a STRONG warning::>>> ''.. If we blah blah blah... AGAIN...blah blah...''
Guns aren't that prevelant in Jamaica, as they are here in the good 'ole-USofA ::::: the weapon of choice is some kind of blade IS ::::: cleavers, machettes of ALL types,, and every sort, lentht, and size of knife you can imagine.
I remember
the times i went to visit folks in the Ja-hopitals
and/or
when I went to various court house, for this and that ::::::: the number and variety of blades that were confiscated from visitors was mind-blowing. Sometimes, the confiscators gave 'em back to the visitors when they left,, most times they didn't.
Many moons ago,
when we went to a local wake/party
my landlord [[for some reason]]
concealed & carry-ed a looooooooooong machette
tuck-ed discrete-ly
in his waist bad & down his pant leg
[[ to this day, i don't know HOW he was able to walk & dance with that long thing stuck in his pants ]]
again::>> unless the law has changed since back-then,,, pocket knives are illegal in Jamaica.
.
.
now,
the Jamaican jails
:-(
you DON'T wanna go there..!!
:-(
in another 'life', i did photography
...took a few pictures in Jamaica, for residents :::: was asked to go-with a Lucea-country neighbor to SandyBay police station to shoot a Polaroid of her then locked-up brother,,,, so he could get out on bail.
The jail-officers took me back in the lock-up, to do my 'thing'.
* Whew *
Folks...!!!! ... AGAIN you DON'T wanna be locked-up in a Jamaican jail...[[[ period ]]]
.....''think'' and/or ''imagine'' a place from 'OliverTwist' times.
* whew *
in close-ing::>>> Knives as a gift...??? ..... ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm .... I'd consider a soccer ball or a cricket bat instead.
I brought soccer balls as gifts once and it took us a week to find a pump with the attachment to fill balls lol. Ty for the info smith. I ne ear knew it was illegal to carry knives in Jamaica. I have seen so many Jamaicans using a small pocket knife to cut up ganja in their hand and countless Jamaicans walking around with machetes so it never crossed my mind that a pocket knife would be illegal. I never felt a need to carry a knife with me while in Jamaica but I always brought one for myself to peel and cut fruit to toss in the blender.
.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irieonline
lol
lol
again, now in 2016, the ''law'' may have changed, and there's possibly and/or *probably* some fine-print clause related to pocket-knives :::: e.g., size, blah blah blah..
HOWEVER,
they got a '''saying''' in Jamaica,
which is attributed to the former PrimeMinister PJ Patterson:::>>> ''''... the law IS NOT a shackle..'''
..........which could 'apply' to pocket knives, and a HOST of other Ja-laws.
lol
lol
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...etes-_18384406
So while you can certainly bring them in your checked luggage, it does appear that they cannot legally be carried on your person in Jamaica.
My friends who drive, like me to bring them "Super Shammies" and quick detailing spray from Walmart. They love their cars and with it raining all them time in JA, it makes the perfect gift...You'll get a big thank you from them for sure...
LOL mr. smith you know you can't carry a rachet knife . Big difference between a switch blade and a swiss army knife . you can cary a pocket knife . safe with blade less than 3 inches . It is called the offensive weapons act for a reason .
Ah, you remember Smith's rachet incident. We've been wondering when that story would come out.... (grin)Quote:
Originally Posted by pine tree john
And bring Swiss Army - I am partial to those beauties.... hand made craftsmanship... and the scissors and "toothpick" ROCK!
A Knife among knives...
Agreed rob. Swiss Army knives are wonderfull. I own several and I spend a lot of time at my camp in the bush and never leave home without one or 2 and yes the toothpick and scissors do rock
so funny , anyone notice the golf club ?Quote:
Originally Posted by wrtiii
No going to the bush and carry your machete. Say what????
Cap
Just to clarify, 3" or less is good to go for a folding knife? I always have one on me and haven't given much thought to what passes and what does not. I have seen my fair share of machetes, and never imagined that Jamaica had a law on carrying knives.
i ALWAYS BRING 6 MULTI TOOL KNIVES WITH ME TO GIVE AWAY TO INDIVIDUALS WHO II SEE COULD BE OF GOOD USE TO THEM...THEY LOVE THEM..THAT ALONG WITH 50 9LED FLASHLIGHTS EACH YEAR.
I believe machetes are supposed to be wrapped (in newspaper or cloth or something) but out in the bush most folks just carry them openly.
The machete exclusion is pretty hilarious and the irony isn't lost on Jamaicans.
I've got a wee pocket knife that I carry in my murse (man purse) when in Jamaica. It has a little cork screw and a bottle opener. A true "gentleman's" or even "lady's" pocket knife. Drinkers anyway! I forgot to take it out on my way home a few weeks ago and somehow made it through Jamaican and US security checkpoints. It's a shame that TSA backed away from letting us carry on this sort of item on board. My Cross pen/pencil set is much more deadlier.
Mace, pepper spray, and knives also are prohibited and may not be brought into Jamaica without specific authorization from the Jamaican Ministry of National Security.
This is from: http://travel.state.gov/content/pass...y/jamaica.html
Meanwhile, I always carry a tool (you might call it a 2.5in bladed instrument, a 'knife' or a wee cutlass) wherever I am, home and travel. When travelling it is the last thing to go in checked luggage and the first thing out. I carry it with the clip and short lanyard showing in my front pocket - not concealed - and have only had a problem with it once, in Curacao, but that is another story.