July 8, 2008

 

Re:      Exporting TASER products outside the United States

 

To All U.S. TASER Distributors and Dealers: 

 

Recently we were advised of attempted sales of TASER® products by TASER

dealers to locations outside the United States (“U.S.”) or to customers who inform the

dealer that they are taking the product outside the U.S.  The exporting of TASER

products and technology outside the U.S. without a valid export license is illegal.

 

Export to any other country¹ outside of the U.S. is prohibited and requires an

individual validated export license from the Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”),

U.S. Department of Commerce prior to export from the U.S.  Therefore, all TASER

products must have a valid export license before they leave the U.S.; this includes any

shipments to Mexico. 

 

The mode of transportation outside the U.S. does not matter.  Whether the

TASER product is shipped via air or sea outside the U.S., carried aboard a plane in a

briefcase or luggage, or sold to a customer who is thereafter traveling outside the U.S.

with the product all constitute illegal export of TASER products if a license is not first

obtained.  Additionally, whether or not the TASER device is being given away or sold

does not affect the license requirements.  All TASER distributors and dealers are

expected to know and comply with the export laws.  Violators of the U.S. export laws

may face both criminal and civil penalties.  Criminal penalties can reach up to 10 years

imprisonment and $1 million per violation.  For more information on U.S. export laws

and guidance please go to www.bis.doc.gov/.    

 

As the manufacturer, TASER International has a duty to report any known

violations.  As soon as TASER International learns of a violation we will report the

violation to the BIS and take immediate action to terminate the offending distributor

and/or dealer.  TASER will not provide any service or support to products deemed in

violation of U.S. export laws. 

 

As a reminder, pursuant to Section 2(A) of the general U.S. 2008 Commercial

Distributor Sales Agreement (“Agreement”), a “Commercial Distributor shall not sell,

either directly or indirectly, whether via the Internet or through a dealer, any TASER

 

1 Although no license is required to ship to Canada, TASER devices are illegal for consumers to purchase

or possess in Canada.

 

Citizen Products to any customers in any foreign country.”  All Commercial Distributors

are responsible for ensuring that their dealers comply with the terms of the Agreement,

including the prohibition against sales outside the U.S.  Any attempt to sell or any sales

are made outside the U.S. without compliance with U.S. export laws by the Commercial

Distributor or dealer are grounds for immediate termination.  TASER will not hesitate to

take all steps necessary to aid in the prosecution of export violators. 

 

Although the vast majority of TASER distributors and dealers are in compliance

with the export laws and TASER’s distributor programs, we are forced to remind all

distributors and dealers of their obligation to adhere to export laws.  The illegal

exportation of TASER devices outside the U.S. is a very serious matter.  We appreciate

your full cooperation. 

 

If you have any further questions regarding the information contained above,

please contact Holly Gibeaut, Litigation Counsel, at 480-502-6265 or at

holly@TASER.com  Thank you in advance for your continued cooperation.