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Well, you never want to leave batteries in a dive light for carry-on or checked luggage, and TSA has some other rules about batteries you need to read - particularly with lithium batteries, but usually they just look at the X-ray screen, I say "scuba gear," and they nod. A couple of times I've left a pocket knife in my backpack which lead to additional searches, but they never found them.
Feel safe now?Hehe, I carry my blue Sealife (camera) moisture munchers in a double ziplock inside a cup or two of Damprid which keeps them dehydrated and recharges them. They have pulled that out of checked luggage at times to ask me; I try to stay handy in case at small airports. Last trip the Amarillo agent had a Cat Scan and he just looked at the screen.
The problems seem worse leaving Caribbean countries, where agents are supposed to screen by TSA standards but are not TSA trained or controlled. They do what they want to at times, keep what they want to take home. I think the TSA site says to keep batteries in carry-on for easier review and cabin crew control
and I do going, but returning I put them in checked bags - less likely to be stolen.The only thing I've actually lost to TSA luggage screening was a bottle of liquid shoe dressing I was bringing back from NC for a Marine reservist. Returning, I've lost a few nail clippers in 2001 and more recently some lighters. If they don't steal something, they don't feel fulfilled.
