Travelers Beware and Know Your Legal Rights!

How many of us remember Michael Fay? While traveling in Singapore, Fay  was charge with vandalism. In 1994, he was sentenced to flogging, which meant that he would be repeatedly hit on the buttocks with a rattan cane.  At the time, President Bill Clinton viewed the punishment too extreme and inhumane.  Fay's sentence was later reduce to four strikes, four  months in jail, and a $3500 fine in Singapore dollars ($2214 in U.S. currency).

In March 2016, Otto Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years hard labor in North Korea. Warmbier's crime was attempting to steal a propaganda poster.  His parents have maintained that their son was tortured, terrorized, and brutalized. In fact, they were unaware that Warmbier was in a coma for over a year.  North Korea stated that the cause of coma was due to a sleeping pill or botulism.  Doctors in the United States would later reveal that Warmbier was in a vegetative state. It was announced that Warmbier died on today. 

It is crucial for Americans to learn and understand the laws of the country that they plan to visit. Our United States Bill of Rights are not UNIVERSAL! What does that mean? The laws in the United States are for Americans residing in the U.S.   In some countries, you can be searched at will and even held prisoner because a  police officer may feel that you are behaving suspiciously. It behooves any traveler to research the laws and customs of the country that they plan to visit before he or she leaves the United States.

Here are a few tips if you are arrested:

1.  Politely ask the authorities to contact the U.S. Embassy and Consular. 

2.  Remain calm and friendly.

3. If you are allowed to use the phone, you may want to call the U.S. Embassy and Consular.

4. Contact family and friends and let them know where you are and give them an exact location of where you are being held.

5. The assistance that you receive from the U.S. Embassy and Consular is very limited. They can not:

• Get you out of jail
• Pay legal fees or act as an attorney on your behalf
• Be responsible for legal, medical, or other fees incurred
• State that you are guilty or innocent of any criminal charges

Your trip abroad can become dangerous or even deadly. American should always respect the laws and customs of the country that they decide to visit.  Stay vigilant, stay informed, and stay safe! For more information visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/emergencies/arrest.html

If you are interested in learning more about the Davon Green Franklin Foundation or to donate visit: www.dgffoundation.org

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You are invited to join us for an evening of food, fun, and bowling for only $25! All lanes will open at 7:00 p.m. We are also looking for individuals to sponsor each lane for a cost of $250 per lane. Since November 2010, family, friends, and community partners have helped the Davon Green Franklin Foundation to raise funds for the DGF Legacy Award & Scholarship and the Surviving Spring Break 101 program. The DGF Foundation is committed to helping individuals to understand the hidden dangers and vulnerabilities associated with international travel.https://www.eventbrite.com/e/davon-green-franklin-2017-legacy-bowling-night-tickets-36735212008?aff=erelexpmlt

Donations can be mailed to:

DGF Foundation (501c3)

P.O. Box 47223

Baltimore, Maryland 21244