Travelling to the UK

Utreg

Just wondering if anyone has travelled to a skirmish in the UK from Ireland after the VCRA came into effect?
If so, were there any problems, was there something to keep in mind, etc.?

Im planning to go over again this summer and was just wondering what the story was.

Cheers

ED E

I beleive you will have to rent any "guns" there. As you're not resident you cannot get a "specific defense" or whatever its called and thus bringing your own gear would be importing Realistic Imitation Firearms Illegally.

Lemming

It seems that the uncertainty concerning this well thought out piece of legislation are still lingering.

I was reasonably sure that you could avail of the defense once you could prove you were a skirmisher (i.e. showed them IAA/HRTA membership, plus confirmed attendance details for whatever UK site you were to be visiting etc.). I should point out that there was no actual official policy on this, but that the customs folks were recommending (as opposed to dictating) use of the UKARA database since they hadn't a clue of how to do it themselves.

But after what Lethal just posted I have to ask; Lethal are you 100% sure on the "resident" bit? Because that would change the dynamic of the VCRA defense significantly. It would also mean that even if registered as a skirmisher with a UK site (e.g. Predator up North), you would still be ineligible to move your kit.

ED E

Lemming wrote: »

It seems that the uncertainty concerning this well thought out piece of legislation are still lingering.

I was reasonably sure that you could avail of the defense once you could prove you were a skirmisher (i.e. showed them IAA/HRTA membership, plus confirmed attendance details for whatever UK site you were to be visiting etc.). I should point out that there was no actual official policy on this, but that the customs folks were recommending (as opposed to dictating) use of the UKARA database since they hadn't a clue of how to do it themselves.

But after what Lethal just posted I have to ask; Lethal are you 100% sure on the "resident" bit? Because that would change the dynamic of the VCRA defense significantly. It would also mean that even if registered as a skirmisher with a UK site (e.g. Predator up North), you would still be ineligible to move your kit.

No, I'm not. I read the stuff in AI but I didn't pay that much attention:p wasn't all that gripping stuff.

But tbh I wouldn't take a chance with your precious gear, if you find a way to be sure its above board then fine, otherwise rent.

nonex

Utreg wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone has travelled to a skirmish in the UK from Ireland after the VCRA came into effect?
If so, were there any problems, was there something to keep in mind, etc.?

Im planning to go over again this summer and was just wondering what the story was.

Cheers

just ring the site you are going to and ask for a letter from them, or they will inform you as to what you wil need, the thing to remember is a lot of the site's in the uk are not with the vcra, so remember to ask,

Utreg

Last time i went to the uk was 2 years ago and they indeed supplied a letter to that effect.

I'll keep asking around anyways.

Thanks so far!

ion c

when my team travels with our paintball gear to england and farther abroad we just throw the gear in the check-in luggage. no questions are asked and we've never had any trouble.

Lemming

ion c wrote: »

when my team travels with our paintball gear to england and farther abroad we just throw the gear in the check-in luggage. no questions are asked and we've never had any trouble.

Paintball is not affected by the VCRA legislation concerning what UK Customs deem as RIFs [Real Imitation Firearms].

andy_g

ion c wrote: »

when my team travels with our paintball gear to england and farther abroad we just throw the gear in the check-in luggage. no questions are asked and we've never had any trouble.

when was the last time you travelled with ur gear i work in the airport as dispatch. nothing to do with customs but the amount of airsoft and paintball causing bags to be level 4 is unreal and some not all some is getting confiscated by the airport search units

ion c

october it was.
i can imagine you guys get a lot of that but we pack smart, the markers have barrels and batteries removed, gas tanks have their regulators detached so they are open to the atmosphere and are not compressed.

andy_g

see tons of it the turks are for ever doing it