A runner on vacation in India got quite a surprise when she was arrested for one of her go-to trail running devices.
Tina Lewis is a Canadian citizen living in Colorado and is known for winning the Leadville Trail 100 ultramarathon in 2012. For two months this year, the 51-year-old traveled around India and documented her adventures online. But earlier this month, she was arrested by Indian authorities after airport security in Goa found a Garmin inReach device in her carry-on. The satellite communicator is often used by hikers and trail runners in case of emergency without phone service; using a satellite GPS device without permission is illegal in the country as part of the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933.
"I had the Garmin for camping and trekking solo. And to use when no reception to check in with family to let them know I’m safe," she told iRunFar of her experience. "As a solo female traveler, I think it’s wise."
Related: Garmin Unveils Powerful and Compact InReach Mini 2
Lewis was lucky enough to have a local connection that put her in contact with a lawyer. "I was detained at the police station, being questioned and literally about to go the hospital for a medical exam before jail when my friend’s lawyer showed up," she recounted. "But I spent several full days in court."
She handed over the inReach and ended up spending thousands of dollars in court fines and lawyer fees. In all, it took her six days to get her passport back.
"I’ve taken a few days to process and I don’t want this ruining my trip," she told iRunFar after it was all over. Still, she feels that the law needs to be brought into the 21st century. "This outdated law needs to be challenged at [a] higher court so other travelers do not experience what I, and others, have," she wrote on Instagram.
If you're planning on bringing one of these devices on your next international vacation, you might want to double-check the local laws around such technology.
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