German cook fined €300 in spud gun seizure
Meritxell Mir - [email protected]
Published: 21 Sep, 2012 CET.
Updated: Fri 21 Sep 2012 11:16 CET
A 29-year-old German cook was fined €300 and had his potato cannon confiscated after customs officers searched his car as he crossed the border from Switzerland.
In a routine check, German customs officials in Lottstetten seized the weapon, citing its owner’s lack of a gun licence, newspaper Südkurier reports.
The main customs office in Singen noted that such rudimentary weapons, usually homemade, are often fashioned from metal or plastic tubes, with gas used to propel the missiles.
Despite the name, spud guns can also be used to fire apples, golf balls, or even tennis balls at speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour.
Aimed at people or animals, potato guns can cause severe injuries.
The owner of the "spudzooka", who lives in Switzerland, was only permitted to drive on once he had paid the €300 fine.
Comments
See Also
In a routine check, German customs officials in Lottstetten seized the weapon, citing its owner’s lack of a gun licence, newspaper Südkurier reports.
The main customs office in Singen noted that such rudimentary weapons, usually homemade, are often fashioned from metal or plastic tubes, with gas used to propel the missiles.
Despite the name, spud guns can also be used to fire apples, golf balls, or even tennis balls at speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour.
Aimed at people or animals, potato guns can cause severe injuries.
The owner of the "spudzooka", who lives in Switzerland, was only permitted to drive on once he had paid the €300 fine.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.