European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 28, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                If you Are accused of a crime the key to the Legal status of an american in Germany accused of a crime is jurisdiction whether a person is tried by military court mar tial or in a German court depends on which country has Legal authority or jurisdiction for offences that Are punishable Only under the uni form code of military Justice Ucma military aug homilies have exclusive jurisdiction e.g., awol disobeying an order Etc German authorities have jurisdiction when their country s Laws have been violated such at in customs Vio lations or traffic offences. In some cases there is concurrent jurisdiction where a service member could be subject to either German or military authorities. German authorities have exclusive jurisdiction Over civilian employees and family members of military and civilian personnel. The army has primary jurisdiction Over its members in offences against the properly or Security of the United states offences committed in performance of offi Cial duty and crimes against persons or property of another . Service member a civilian employee or a family member. In All other offences German authorities have primary jurisdiction and of convicted a person could be confined to a German prison. In some instances German authorities can waive jurisdiction or . Officials can request that the Case be turned Over to them. The sofa also provides safeguards for your rights As a service member civilian employee of he military or family member of either of you Are arrested by the German police you have the right to be accorded a prompt and speedy trial. Be informed in Advance of the trial of charges against you. Be confronted with the witnesses against you. Compel the appearances of witnesses in your favor. Have Legal counsel of your own Choice for defense. Have a representative of your own govern ment present at the trial when rules of the court permit. Be presumed innocent until All guilt is established beyond reasonable doubt. Not be tried twice for the same crime Dou ble jeopardy. A Soldier cannot be tried for the same crime by both German and Mili tary courts. Have the services of a competent interpreter. Have an american trial observer. Payment by the . Government of counsel fees and court costs but not fines in serious cases involving service members not civilian employees or family members. If you Are arrested or detained by the German police it s not Long before the newcomer to Germany to Able to recognize he Green and White vehicles of the police or Polisei. Most of us will spend our entire tour Here without needing to say More than Guton tag to a German police officer. But if you Are involved in a situation of a More serious nature you should be prepared to act appropriately. German police have authority Over service members civilian employees and the family members of both. Your relationship to the Ger Man Polisei is much the same As it is to the police in your Home town. Under the status of forces agreement sofa German police can arrest americans. They May search seize fingerprint and take blood samples. Ii you Are a ervice member they my detain you until you Are re leased to . Military authorities. If you Are t civilian they May detain you in a local jail. 1. Do not resist them. 2. Be polite and cooperative. 3. If you Are a service member show them your Legal status card a form $317. Point to the portion in German that request that your unit commander of military police be notified. 4. Identify yourself with your d card. Carry it All times. 5. Cooperate with the police but be cautious about what you say. What you say can be used As evidence against you later. In and out import to bring merchandise into one country from another country. Export to take merchandise out of one country into another country. German Law usually requires the payment of customs duty on imported and exported items. However under the nato status of forces agreement All members of the , forces the civilian component and their dependents family members Are exempt from German customs duty on importation or exportation of furniture Auto mobiles and other goods intended for personal use. There Are two ways you can import items into Germany. I you know exactly what you re going to buy Complete a form 2075 before you leave Germany when you Are crossing Back into Ger Many with purchases made in another country this form will exempt you from paying customs duty. Or you May have the merchandise shipped to Germany by the shop where you make the Purchase. Complete your a 2075 when you return to Germany present it to the German authorities when you arc notified that your goods Are Here. They will release your shipment to you duty free. You should be aware that you will need an a form 2075 for each shipment and that it citation of customs Laws or regulations Are grounds for judicial action by German or . Forces authorities if you Are not sure of what to do in partic ular situations Check with he 42nd military police office. Some items Are limited in the amounts which May be imported. Additionally these items May be imported exported not More than once a month and Only when contained in accompanied baggage. The table below shows the Allowa ble amounts. Cigarettes 200 import 600 Export other tobacco products 250 Grams import 500 Grams Export Coffee 500 Grams or pure Coffee extracts 125 Grams or mixed Coffee extracts 250 Grams Tea Sod Grams wines and spirits 2 liners of spirits or spar Kling wine and additionally 2 liners of other wine import. Transfer of goods Legal or illegal have you Ever rented to Gin your German and bad of Rte of Tolch to gift do you Fine some Anterior friends who Are not associated with ice maj tary who d Jove of get Fri air favorite us. Brands from the commissary have you Ever considered giving a Carton of cigarettes to someone in a foreign country Ai payment for services Well Only in the tint instance would the Transfer of goods be regal. It it illegal to sell Trade or give away any commissary items to anyone not authorized commissary privileges. 10 pay for services rendered by germans or other unauthorized persons with cigarettes liquor or other rationed or non rationed items. Sell any items bought in . Forces facilities without authorization by the customs officials. Give As gifts any rationed items in quantities greater than the following 25 cigarettes or 10 cigars or 2.1 of. Smoking tobacco. 17.6 of. Coffee or 4.4 of. Instant Coffee. 4.4 of. Lea or 1.75 of. Instant Tea. One bottle alcoholic beverage not More than 1.2 liners. If you want to sell a Nonexpendable item such As a car refrigerator or stereo to a person not authorized under the sofa you May if you meet the following requirements 1. You have been in Possession of the goods for at least six months 2. You have obtained prior approval of . Military and German customs authorities. Do this by submitting a form 2074 permit to Transfer to the 42nd my group. Know when you Sand  paged in paid special insert to the stars and stripes thursday May 28,1987