I get accused of being too much of a "downer" from time to time, and I understand why. So here's a piece to try and lighten the mood, and at my expense.
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Your imagined Interpol is much too competent. They are an international version of Inspector Clouseau. As you discovered, being on their alert, or not on their alert list makes no difference whatsoever.
Sounds like you had an encounter with government bureaucracy.
That said, with that level of confusion, you COULD have ended up in jail, too.
In late November 2022 my nighttime bus from Mostar to Split was held up at the border for a seriously long time. Based on what happened next, I'm guessing Croat authorities didn't like that the driver had skipped the final bus stop before the border, because we had to drive to some small village, go into a parking lot, then turn around and go right back to the border station.
Absurd situation all around. The bureaucrats seem almost too nice and helpful, however the bureaucratic procedures are complicated as expected(go to location A, then come back to B, then go to C), but once you get there, everything gets taken care off in minutes.
All I can imagine is that some clerk fat-fingered his input and instead of a "remind this guy about his speeding ticket if you see him" notice in the system you ended up with "WAR CRIMINAL ALERT" - would make sense as there was no arrest warrant or anything else attached.
Tsk tsk, Niccolo, a speeding ticket is the easiest infraction to avoid.
In my previous career I traveled a lot. I spent about ten years living out of a suitcase traveling the world, but mostly Europe, including Eastern Europe just after the Wall came down (I lived for a couple years in London and most of a year in Paris and Brussels, too). That was all a long time ago, and today I am often asked if I would like to travel again. The answer is always, "No," mostly because it's simpler, and also because I am improbably satisfied with my parochial existence here in Northern Nevada. There is no where else I would rather be.
But to be honest, there are a few places in the world I would like to visit at least once, including former Yugoslavia, owing primarily to a biography I once read of Marshall Tito. I gather as an American I would not be very welcome in Serbia, but I have heard that about a lot of places where I was in fact treated with warm hospitality.
Another place that would be interesting for me is Vietnam. And still another is, sadly, Russia, and I suspect the window for a visit there is closing.
The number of times I’ve been stopped re-entering the US is actually retarded. It’s always nothing - glad your experience of being stopped was nothing too…
Holy shit, Nic, I have an unpaid Italian speeding ticket from the Emilia-Romagna region. I was caught on some camera and the car rental company forwarded the ticket/fine onto me by email. I tried to pay it online more than once but their fucking system is all in bureaucratic Italian gibberish. Eventually I just gave up. Should I be worried about the carabinieri grabbing me by the collar when next I try to enter Italia? Should I fly to Switzerland instead and cross the border by car???
At the risk of stating the obvious, this is beyond fucked.
First off: you can have your ID confiscated on the basis of a civil fine?
Second: International police agencies get red alerts for _speeding tickets_?
Honestly if I was in your shoes I probably would have grabbed the border guards gun and blown my brains out right in front of him. I'm not living in a world like that
Not to mention, doesn't really matter how apologetic he was. He could have just said he took your id, and not. At the end of the day, he gave you a sob story but he's still the iron fist of global authoritarians. Fuck that guy, he gets the rope
The irony is that if you were irate, they would have had "reason" to suspect you.
I've had similar encounters in this Kafkaesque world and despite being a fiery person, I naturally remained calm and nothing escalated.
I honestly don't get why people look to intimidate police... Even with the stupid mask mandates on public transport, I would put my mask on and apologize only to let it uncover my nose later.
Don't give the authoritarian system a reason to arrest you!
I get accused of being too much of a "downer" from time to time, and I understand why. So here's a piece to try and lighten the mood, and at my expense.
Hit the like button at the top or bottom of this page to like this entry. Use the share and/or re-stack buttons to share this across social media. Leave a comment if the mood strikes you to do so.
Your imagined Interpol is much too competent. They are an international version of Inspector Clouseau. As you discovered, being on their alert, or not on their alert list makes no difference whatsoever.
Sounds like you had an encounter with government bureaucracy.
That said, with that level of confusion, you COULD have ended up in jail, too.
Glad you evaded the dragnet!
Think positive!
In late November 2022 my nighttime bus from Mostar to Split was held up at the border for a seriously long time. Based on what happened next, I'm guessing Croat authorities didn't like that the driver had skipped the final bus stop before the border, because we had to drive to some small village, go into a parking lot, then turn around and go right back to the border station.
I was expecting the Globalists have put a ransom on your head for your anti-Imperialist sentiment. I guess not this time. :)
Absurd situation all around. The bureaucrats seem almost too nice and helpful, however the bureaucratic procedures are complicated as expected(go to location A, then come back to B, then go to C), but once you get there, everything gets taken care off in minutes.
All I can imagine is that some clerk fat-fingered his input and instead of a "remind this guy about his speeding ticket if you see him" notice in the system you ended up with "WAR CRIMINAL ALERT" - would make sense as there was no arrest warrant or anything else attached.
It is still surprising a speeding ticket was important enough to justify Interpol alert + how did the system know it was you who was speeding.
Wow- almost becoming a non-person due to a speeding ticket!
One too many speeding tickets and you might risk an extraordinary rendition.
Tsk tsk, Niccolo, a speeding ticket is the easiest infraction to avoid.
In my previous career I traveled a lot. I spent about ten years living out of a suitcase traveling the world, but mostly Europe, including Eastern Europe just after the Wall came down (I lived for a couple years in London and most of a year in Paris and Brussels, too). That was all a long time ago, and today I am often asked if I would like to travel again. The answer is always, "No," mostly because it's simpler, and also because I am improbably satisfied with my parochial existence here in Northern Nevada. There is no where else I would rather be.
But to be honest, there are a few places in the world I would like to visit at least once, including former Yugoslavia, owing primarily to a biography I once read of Marshall Tito. I gather as an American I would not be very welcome in Serbia, but I have heard that about a lot of places where I was in fact treated with warm hospitality.
Another place that would be interesting for me is Vietnam. And still another is, sadly, Russia, and I suspect the window for a visit there is closing.
Basically, I like being among tough people.
The number of times I’ve been stopped re-entering the US is actually retarded. It’s always nothing - glad your experience of being stopped was nothing too…
Holy shit, Nic, I have an unpaid Italian speeding ticket from the Emilia-Romagna region. I was caught on some camera and the car rental company forwarded the ticket/fine onto me by email. I tried to pay it online more than once but their fucking system is all in bureaucratic Italian gibberish. Eventually I just gave up. Should I be worried about the carabinieri grabbing me by the collar when next I try to enter Italia? Should I fly to Switzerland instead and cross the border by car???
Clearly, you have the patience of Job.
Wait till they learn you've talked to the RWA guys recently.
At the risk of stating the obvious, this is beyond fucked.
First off: you can have your ID confiscated on the basis of a civil fine?
Second: International police agencies get red alerts for _speeding tickets_?
Honestly if I was in your shoes I probably would have grabbed the border guards gun and blown my brains out right in front of him. I'm not living in a world like that
Not to mention, doesn't really matter how apologetic he was. He could have just said he took your id, and not. At the end of the day, he gave you a sob story but he's still the iron fist of global authoritarians. Fuck that guy, he gets the rope
The irony is that if you were irate, they would have had "reason" to suspect you.
I've had similar encounters in this Kafkaesque world and despite being a fiery person, I naturally remained calm and nothing escalated.
I honestly don't get why people look to intimidate police... Even with the stupid mask mandates on public transport, I would put my mask on and apologize only to let it uncover my nose later.
Don't give the authoritarian system a reason to arrest you!