Getting into legal trouble while traveling in a foreign country is more common than you might think. The laws of other countries are often very different than those in the United States, and you may break a law without knowing it. You should know what to do if you do get in trouble with the law in a foreign country, but you should also know how to avoid legal trouble in the first place.
Tips for Dealing With Legal Trouble
If you do get into trouble with the law while traveling abroad, you should know whom to call. Of course, United States courts have many different officers, including attorneys, judges, court reporters Sacramento, etc. However, court officers such as these most likely do not have the authority to help you with a legal matter in a foreign country.
Often, your first call should be to the U.S. Consulate or Embassy. If you have been detained by local authorities, you may have to request that they inform the embassy or consulate of your arrest. Most countries must allow officials of the United State to see you upon request following an arrest because of the terms of an international treaty. However, this does not happen automatically.
Nevertheless, there is only so much that Consular Officers can do for you. They can help you find an attorney who is familiar with the laws of the country and can help you with your case. They can also help you get in touch with your family. However, they do not pay for your defense, nor will they demand your release.
Do not underestimate the importance of a good attorney. It is best to secure the services of a lawyer as soon as possible rather than try to deal with the local authorities yourself. In addition to your ignorance of the local laws, there may also be a language barrier. Therefore, your attempts to communicate with local law enforcement may do more harm than good.
Travel insurance is a good idea that can help with many adverse circumstances that may arise during your trip. However, do not rely on it to pay for any legal services you might require as this typically is not a covered expense. There are services that may help with this, however.
Tips for Avoiding Legal Trouble
It is important to know how to cope with legal trouble in case it does arise unexpectedly. However, it is vastly preferable to avoid it altogether. While honest misunderstandings can and do happen, you may be able to avoid the most serious legal faux pas by doing a little research before your trip into the laws of the land you will be visiting.
There are things you may do in America without thinking that are illegal in other countries. For example, it is against the law in Spain to drive a car while wearing flip-flops, and chewing gum is illegal in Singapore. A lot of countries also have laws against immodest clothing. These laws may seem unreasonable, or even laughable, to you. However, once you understand the reasons behind them, they may start to make more sense.
A good resource for finding useful information about the laws of foreign countries is the U.S. State Department’s website. It has a whole directory of pages that are country-specific, so you can research your intended destination without getting distracted by a lot of irrelevant information. The State Department also offers a free service called the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. When you sign up and enroll in your trip, it makes it easier for the U.S. Embassy to contact you in case of emergency. You can also receive emails specific to your destination containing relevant travel updates.
While nothing can replace research into the laws of the country you’ll be visiting, you can probably go a long way toward avoiding legal trouble abroad just by showing respect and consideration for those around you. If there is any doubt or question in your mind whether an activity may get you in trouble, err on the side of caution and don’t do it.
