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At this point, you probably know what items you can and cannot pack in your luggage when traveling through a US airport. Even when flying internationally, you can usually enter another country without incident with the same TSA-approved items.

However, if you have an upcoming trip to Mexico, you could face hefty fines if you pack the wrong items.

On a recent visit to Mexico, TPG reader Karen Bishop was forced to pay nearly $100 before she could clear customs at Cancun International Airport (CUN). The culprits were the iPads that she and her husband packed for every trip.

The issue wasn’t the iPads themselves; It was that Mexican customs regulations allowed only one portable computing device per traveler. According to the rules, both laptops and tablets are considered personal computing devices. Bishop and her husband each packed laptops and tablets in their carry-ons, which exceeded the limit and resulted in fines.

RELATED: Here’s What to Pack in a Carry-On Bag Whenever You Travel

“As you enter the customs area, there is a sign detailing this law,” Bishop told TPG. “It’s well hidden from most incoming customers so, at this point, you’re stuck. We hadn’t seen this on any website before leaving for Cancun, so we were completely caught off guard. I’ll assume this is happening. Another Mexican Also applied in places.”

This rule is not new, but it is applied both rarely and randomly. In fact, personal baggage limits are printed on the customs declaration form that most travelers complete on the plane before landing in Mexico.

However, based on Bishop’s story and similar accounts found in online forums and other recent news articles, enforcement seems to have become more common recently. Bishop said customs agents were checking the luggage of all incoming customers.

Mexican customs rules regarding goods you can bring into the country without paying tax go beyond laptops and tablets. According to Mexican Ministry of FinanceThere is a limit to the number of certain items you can bring into the country without being subject to tax.

Here are some restrictions on common items that tourists bring into Mexico:

• Two cameras or video cameras
• Three cellphones
• A GPS device
• A portable computing device
• One video game console and up to five video games
• Two musical instruments

Each of these limits is per traveler, so a couple traveling together can bring, for example, six cellphones and four cameras. If you exceed this limit, you may be fined before you can clear customs and enter Mexico.

There are also some more specific items on the list that you may need to be aware of, especially if you’re planning any outdoor pursuits:

• a tent
• A pair of binoculars and a pair of binoculars
• A set of hand tools
• Four fishing rods
• For passengers over 18 years of age, 3 liters of liquor or beer and 6 liters of wine

The amount of tax you owe depends on the value of your item. Bishop was told that the amount was 19% of the value determined by the customs officer. “The process is to have your device taken from you, go into a room and a customs officer determines what it’s worth, then they come back with a bill,” she said.

In order to clear Mexican customs quickly and efficiently, you should not only notice baggage limitations. Travelers to Mexico also need to fill out an official entry immigration form, also known as a tourist card. This card is free, and you can Apply online Before your trip to save time on arrival.

Some regions, including the state of Quintana Roo (where Cancun is located), also require tourists to pay. Visitor tax. You can save time at the airport by filing your taxes online before leaving for Mexico.

Several TPG employees have recently passed through Cancun without incident, so it’s hard to say when, where, and how often these rules apply. However, it is better to be safe than sorry. If you want to stay within the tax-free rules, you should avoid exceeding the limits that Mexico places on items brought into the country.

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