Can't Bring GPS into Russia??
 

According to Lonely Planets "Russia & Belarus" guide (3rd edition, 2003), GPS devices may not be brought into Russia (p. 73). Does anyone know if this is still true?

Thanks.

Mike

[This message has been edited by liketoride2 (edited 06 December 2004).]

I read that too, but i know people who have ridden through with a GPS. I wasn't asked at the border.
Sean(freezing my arse off in Russia)

Thanks for the info, Sean. Questions: Wouldn't the gps need to be declared on the travelers custom delaration upon entry to the country? If so, wouldn't the authorities then know a traveler had one? Or, do they not look at the custom declaration until the person is leaving the country?

Thanks again.

Mike

Simple - dont declare the GPS

Call it an electronic compass.

I apologize for being so dumb on this, but I've never been (yet) a world traveler and had to deal with things like customs declarations. What would happen in Russia if an expensive item, such as a gps, is found which isn't listed on the customs declaration? Is it confiscated, is there a fine or tax, etc.?

Thanks again.

Mike

Technically foreigners are not allowed to have a GPS in Russia without pre-authorization. Realisticlly only the border guards know this. I watched as one rider(a regular on this forum) just put his GPS in his jacket pocket before going through customs and of course didn't declare it. Later on at police checkpoints(which you will go through dozens if you do a crossing) the police thought it was the coolest thing when he was showing them how it works. They have no clue. Its only the borders that you need worry about. I was asked only once about GPS and that was when leaving Russia and entering Mongolia. The Russian controls kept asking me if I had a "sputnik" and pointing to the sky.

I don't use one, just a map. There are a few travelers and contract workers right now in Russian jails on spy charges(carrying a GPS) so nothing is certain. Your choice...


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Improvement makes strait roads, but the crooked roads without Improvement, are roads of Genius - William Blake

WOW!! Jail for having a gps! What a sobering thought. I depend heavily on one for navigating through unknown territory, especially if roads are poorly signed, and had planned to take mine. But, if jail is a possibility, sounds like I had best leave it at home.

Thanks for the info.

Mike

[This message has been edited by liketoride2 (edited 09 December 2004).]

Recently I purchased a Garmin 76s for a trip to Siberia and Mongolia. Then a few days ago I read this post. Researching it further, I came across this,

http://travel.state.gov/travel/gps.html

Just wish I had know sooner. Now the GPS will have to stay home. It’s not worth the chance of getting shaken down by corrupt L.E.O.’s (Law enforcement Officers). Once the word is out about the legality of having a GPS in Russia, It will be seen a way of generating personal income for many. Better to stay legal, than to give someone a reason to shake you down.

We travelled through Russia and Mongolia from Vladivostok to Murmansk. When we flew into Vladivostok we simply carried our GPS and noone said anything. Police check points saw our GPS but either did nothing or were interested to see it working. Nobody ever indicated that they were prohibited.

I read that the rules in Russia have changed and that GPS's are now legal. GPS receivers can also be purchased in Russia.

The roads in Russia are very well sign posted and straight forward. Therefore, a GPS in Russia is really only useful in getting in and out of cities. We found very good Garmin maps for all cities and they were very useful in Navigating through cities. I will post the details on our WEB page as soon as I get time.

If you are going to Mongolia then I would rate a GPS as VERY USEFUL if not mandatory.

If you have a GPS then my recommendation is to take your GPS with you.

Happy travelling,
Geoff.
http://overland.dreamers1.com

Geoff, thanks for posting your experiences. I've bookmarked your site and look forward to reading the Garmin map info you plan to put there.

Mike

mike,

noticed your posts - obviously you're still going ahead. i lost your contact details because my computer crashed - be interested to know how things are going with the plans - offer of acommodation still stands.

starting to think about planning for the trip in summer '06. rooting for you - good luck.

zenbiker
(simon h.)

I rode from Vlad to Moscow via Mongolia with no problem showing my GPS to cops at checkpoints. When departing for Mongolia, an English speaking female border guard said if I had a GPS to be sure and hide it when returning and not declare it. Did as directed and had no trouble. Now in Pakistan. wwww.strikingviking.net
Suerte amigos

I live in Mongolia and I see a lot of overland travelers who have been through Russia. No one I have spoken to has had a problem with the GPS inside Russia, but the borders can be a problem. The smart choice at the Russian border seems to be just tuck it away somewhere. Why leave it out in the open and take a chance on trouble?

By the way, GPS is completly legal in Mongolia. Garmin has the best GPS mapping for Mongolia (on the Garmin WorldMap CD-ROM). As Geoff says, GPS is VERY useful for Mongolia, though some brave souls like COuntpacman have made it through just with maps and a compass.

-Scott

Yes, and across Moscow walk bears playing on balalaikas)))) Friends, not so it is terrible in Russia as write in guidebooks. Recently has replaced old, 1998 "Magellan" on " Garmin 60C " Any problems with use GPS in territory of Russia was not. Cards of regions can be taken here
http://www.rus-roads.ru/gps/garmin_map.htm
http://corsar.avtostop.ru/gps/index.html

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+ 7 910 456 40 20 Dmitry

For those who are interested, I have updated our WEB page to include more details on using a GPS in Russia and Mongolia.

http://dreamers1.com/russia/Practica...m#Maps_and_GPS

Geoff..

I have just travelled as far as Kazan (only 2 weeks off work!) and knew none of this GPS stuff, I had my garmin streetpilot, a fairly sizeable unit, on the dash all the time when I was travelling at borders etc and never had a problem. I was warned when I travelled in Africa of the same probs but everyone uses them, we just used to hide ours at checkpoints. Pays not t get too hung up about these things me thinks.

andy
1990 landcruiser
landrover 101 ambie
ford escort, morris minor traveller!!

I declared my GPS on entry to Russia at the Russian/Finnish border last year and also on exit to the Estonia border, i read they were legal thats why i declared them. I had no problems, by the way any one know where i can obtain street leval city maps for my Garmin, for Russian cities

Maverick Bubble

I have been 11 times in Russia and around, covered all between North Korea border and Murmansk, never had a problem with police and the GPS; I always told them it is an electronic map.

I am currently in Russia with a GPS device and although the police makes me stop up to seven times a day, I never had a problem with my GPS. Even those officers who really try hard to get money or presents never argued my GPS device being illegal (and therefore I had to pay something).

Further, I think a lot of the police officers realize that the electronic map is a GPS device. My russian is not very good, but the often talk about "navigation sputnik" which should be understood as satellite navigation, I think.

Regards

Lars

There are companies in russia working on producing satnav maps - I know a least one russian company - navicom - doing this (for garmin). I don't think they'd waste their time unless people were able to get away with using their products in everyday practice. Forget about legalities.

Russian laws are applied in a very arbitrary way because the function of russian law is to separate people into two groups: those who must follow a particular rule and those who can ignore it. The entire russian legal code should start with the words "it depends" - on who you are, who you know, how much money you've got and what works in practice.

If everyone followed all the rules, nothing would happen in russia. However, quite alot happens, so people must be ignoring the rules quite alot!

The last 2 paragraphs were taken from a book written by a russian who was attempting to explain why russia was different to western countries.

Rgds

Les

This doesn't have anything to do with the legal question involved in this thread, but I contacted Navicom by email in March about the availability of Garmin compatible maps, and below is the answer I received:

"Unfortunately we haven't all maps of Russia now. Only the small part of west Russia we have."

So it appears Navicom isn't very helpful for someone overlanding across the country.


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Mike

[This message has been edited by liketoride2 (edited 16 June 2005).]

[This message has been edited by liketoride2 (edited 16 June 2005).]