Hilary Swank Busted In New Zealand - Forgot To Declare 1 Apple & 1 Orange

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- When Hilary Swank opens her mail some time in the next few days, she'll find out if she owes $150 for bringing fruit into New Zealand.

A court sent its ruling to Swank in a letter. Swank was fined when she didn't declare an apple and an orange in her handbag when she arrived in New Zealand at Auckland International Airport on Jan. 15.

She wrote a letter defending herself and appealing the fine.

Swank has recently been in the news after winning an Oscar for her role as a boxer named Maggie in "Million Dollar Baby." Swank is the third actress to win two Academy awards by the age of 30. Her first Oscar was for her role of Brandon/Teena in "Boys Don't Cry."

http://www.wftv.com/entertainment/4302375/detail.html

just write the check and move on, damn it.

I had just flown in from London and was in baggage pickup. The little guy smelled an apple (I'd forgotten about it...) in my backpack and jumped on top of the backpack and started wagging its tail furiously. He got a biscuit as a reward. They told me why they had to take the apple and threw it in a big garbage can and I was on my way.

I saw a TV show on these dogs. It's reasonable to control agricultural imports and as long as Customs aren't assholes about it, I don't mind.

They explained why they had to take the fruit. I said I understood and that I simply forgot a bout having the fruit. They threw the apple away and I went on through customs. The little dog sure was cute. You can't be mad at a beagle wearing a little Dept. of Ag. coat!

All law-enforcement professionals should be so charming.

Just this last November too! I was getting of the return flight from Milan, Italy. I had two vacume sealed packages of cured proscuito ham. Good stuff and getting harder and harder to find. Customs got 'em. They let me keep the wine and chocolate though. Oh well.

Huh. I guess they needed some prosciutto for their lunch.

A friend of my is a research vet who specializes in aninal vaccines and diseases. For instance, Foot and Mouth disease,was introduced to Canada by a tourist with a cured Geraman suasage. There is a virulent swine disease that was brought to Haiti from (I believe) Europe. The feds are very concerned about it being brought to the US by Dominicans or Cubans or US Armed Forces. It could wipe out the US swine industry if introduced.

"Apples and Oranges" was a cool song.