georoc01
Contributor
My fun is that they keep taking me scuba tool out of my luggage. I have lost two so far in my checked bags. At least the last time it happened on my way home rather than on my way there.
TSA and the transmitter, a short travel story
- Thread starter HatchetJoe
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Darnold9999
Contributor
I have been carrying a knife through TSA since 911. Minimum 2 trips through the US per year. It lives in my bathroom bag and has gone through many many airports and security checks. At first it was accidental, the knife has been in the bag for years and I forgot it was even there. Now it is interesting to see how long it will be before someone finds it.
It is about 8" long and could easily be sharpened to a razors edge. At the moment it barely cuts cheese which is what it was purchased for but could be just as deadly as any boxcutter with 5 minutes work on a stone.
This particular knife has a round tip so on a scan doesn't really look like a knife, just an odd bit of metal so it has passed through with no problems. If someone finds it and wants to take it from me I will be happy to part with it.
The reality is that the screening is not particularly effective. However if the travelling public thinks it is and the bad guys think that it is then it serves a purpose and I will happily go along with the joke.
It is about 8" long and could easily be sharpened to a razors edge. At the moment it barely cuts cheese which is what it was purchased for but could be just as deadly as any boxcutter with 5 minutes work on a stone.
This particular knife has a round tip so on a scan doesn't really look like a knife, just an odd bit of metal so it has passed through with no problems. If someone finds it and wants to take it from me I will be happy to part with it.
The reality is that the screening is not particularly effective. However if the travelling public thinks it is and the bad guys think that it is then it serves a purpose and I will happily go along with the joke.
fppf
Contributor
sixgears
Contributor
I've always gone thru TSA with a lighter. For some reason they can't see it on the x-ray. I guess I position it just right in my carry-on. Another TSA inspector even inspected my bag manually to no avail. Shows just how incapable some of these bozos are. But hey, we need to feel better or more secure some how. 
MrSmitty13
Contributor
This thread caught my eye as I am currently an officer with the TSA and a semi-new diver. I've seen some positive remarks (Thanks ScubaSteve and LetterBoy) and some very negative ones... While I can't stick up for every single officer that works for us, I can say that the majority of us take our jobs very seriously and take pride in what we do. Contrary to popular belief, we are not all clueless nor "can't get a job elsewhere." I myself am a college student in my senior year studying criminal justice with a 3.6 gpa. Many other officers that work for us have degrees and past experience in security and the military.
Unfortunately just like any other organization (whether it be government or a private company) you have some bad seeds. The problem comes when passengers are forced to interact with these people. If you have a bad experience with your local cleaners, you have a choice to go elsewhere. You can stop interacting with them and cut off all ties. When it comes to the TSA, if you want to fly, you have no choice but to go through the screening eventually now and then running into these bad seeds. Unfortunately, these bad seeds are what get remembered and reported on. You don't hear about the officer that escorts the elderly individual through security personally because there are no skycaps around and that individual is going to miss their flight. You don't hear about the numerous firearms that are caught weekly across the nation at our checkpoints. You don't hear about the officer that always steps out of the line to personally help traveling parents with multiple children put their items through the x-ray while the parent tends to his or her children. The world seems to get caught up and focuses solely on the negative aspects and continue to dwell on them.
In a class I took last semester entitled "police process," we talked about the public's general opinion of local, state and federal police agencies. The question was asked if you had to put them in order from the best to the worst, how would you order them. In general, most people would order them with the best being federal, and the worst being local. Why? It is because of the interaction and intrusion into our daily lives. How many people have been personally affected by major federal agencies? I know I have never had interactions with nor do I see on the street every day the FBI, CIA, etc... But I do see my local police department constantly on the roads making me think twice before I roll through a red light, or accelerate my car. They interfere with my life. I took this and scenario we learned in class and applied it to federal agencies all together. Look at which ones interfere in your life the most and if you had to, most people would say the only interaction with a federal agency they have ever had would be with the TSA. While sometimes it may be an inconvenience, there is justification and reasoning behind what we do.
When it comes to the inconsistency that is thrown out to us constantly, my argument is this. Our policies and procedures truly are consistent nationwide. I can say this as having worked both for one of the largest airports in our country and for a smaller regional airport. The problems arise when it comes to the use of discretion. Think of it this way. If you were going down the road at 75 mph in a 65 zone, get pulled over and are only given a verbal warning, would you suddenly think that next time you were speeding it was ok? The TSA works the same way sometimes in what you can and cannot bring through the checkpoint. Sometimes when I give the the option to surrender their liquids (yes I do mean surrender, we never TAKE) passengers will say to me that they let me have it at such and such airport. I am not going disagree with the passenger and say that did not happen, but after I refuse to let them through with the same item they will think we are inconsistent. Just like the speed limit was always 65, the limit on the liquids is 3.4 oz. A law is a law. As for why the passenger may have made it through security the first time, I do not know for sure. Maybe leniency was shown, maybe it was never seen just like the speeder never encountering a speed trap (our security equipment is not perfect), maybe it was seen and overlooked by an experienced officer who weighed out the fact the he or she knows for sure that the item is not dangerous, and there is a line of passengers 100 feet long. People seem to dwell on these small petty inconveniences when in the grand scope of life, it is not a big deal. Is it really going to change your life that you surrendered that stick of deodorant?
While the TSA in it's early years may have been focused on every little pair of scissors that couldn't cut butter, the agency is focusing on what is really important. Nobody is going to take down a plane anymore with a swiss army knife, it will be with a IED or at least a firearm. This is what the TSA is focusing on. They are doing this with multiple layers of security, much of which the public does not even see, know about or recognize. The thing is we do live in America and with it comes a balance of those that are solely interested in our freedoms and those that are solely interested in our safety. We have to deal with passengers that scrutinize us on one side saying "why didn't they take my knitting needles, aren't they dangerous?" while on the other side there are passengers saying "you have no right to touch me or even look at me." There is a balance going on that will never please everybody.
To conclude, the best advice would be to have a positive attitude and comply with the rules set forth in the first place. If you go through security with a chip on your shoulder, don't expect the officers to treat you positively. Even the the most positive of us with the most positive of attitudes do not show respect to those who do not show it back to us. While it is true that there are those bad seeds that do work for the TSA and there is a chance you may encounter one of them, there is a greater chance you will encounter an officer who will show you the respect you deserve if you are willing to put your preconceived notions aside and work with instead of against the officer in front of you that is trying to keep you safe.
Unfortunately just like any other organization (whether it be government or a private company) you have some bad seeds. The problem comes when passengers are forced to interact with these people. If you have a bad experience with your local cleaners, you have a choice to go elsewhere. You can stop interacting with them and cut off all ties. When it comes to the TSA, if you want to fly, you have no choice but to go through the screening eventually now and then running into these bad seeds. Unfortunately, these bad seeds are what get remembered and reported on. You don't hear about the officer that escorts the elderly individual through security personally because there are no skycaps around and that individual is going to miss their flight. You don't hear about the numerous firearms that are caught weekly across the nation at our checkpoints. You don't hear about the officer that always steps out of the line to personally help traveling parents with multiple children put their items through the x-ray while the parent tends to his or her children. The world seems to get caught up and focuses solely on the negative aspects and continue to dwell on them.
In a class I took last semester entitled "police process," we talked about the public's general opinion of local, state and federal police agencies. The question was asked if you had to put them in order from the best to the worst, how would you order them. In general, most people would order them with the best being federal, and the worst being local. Why? It is because of the interaction and intrusion into our daily lives. How many people have been personally affected by major federal agencies? I know I have never had interactions with nor do I see on the street every day the FBI, CIA, etc... But I do see my local police department constantly on the roads making me think twice before I roll through a red light, or accelerate my car. They interfere with my life. I took this and scenario we learned in class and applied it to federal agencies all together. Look at which ones interfere in your life the most and if you had to, most people would say the only interaction with a federal agency they have ever had would be with the TSA. While sometimes it may be an inconvenience, there is justification and reasoning behind what we do.
When it comes to the inconsistency that is thrown out to us constantly, my argument is this. Our policies and procedures truly are consistent nationwide. I can say this as having worked both for one of the largest airports in our country and for a smaller regional airport. The problems arise when it comes to the use of discretion. Think of it this way. If you were going down the road at 75 mph in a 65 zone, get pulled over and are only given a verbal warning, would you suddenly think that next time you were speeding it was ok? The TSA works the same way sometimes in what you can and cannot bring through the checkpoint. Sometimes when I give the the option to surrender their liquids (yes I do mean surrender, we never TAKE) passengers will say to me that they let me have it at such and such airport. I am not going disagree with the passenger and say that did not happen, but after I refuse to let them through with the same item they will think we are inconsistent. Just like the speed limit was always 65, the limit on the liquids is 3.4 oz. A law is a law. As for why the passenger may have made it through security the first time, I do not know for sure. Maybe leniency was shown, maybe it was never seen just like the speeder never encountering a speed trap (our security equipment is not perfect), maybe it was seen and overlooked by an experienced officer who weighed out the fact the he or she knows for sure that the item is not dangerous, and there is a line of passengers 100 feet long. People seem to dwell on these small petty inconveniences when in the grand scope of life, it is not a big deal. Is it really going to change your life that you surrendered that stick of deodorant?
While the TSA in it's early years may have been focused on every little pair of scissors that couldn't cut butter, the agency is focusing on what is really important. Nobody is going to take down a plane anymore with a swiss army knife, it will be with a IED or at least a firearm. This is what the TSA is focusing on. They are doing this with multiple layers of security, much of which the public does not even see, know about or recognize. The thing is we do live in America and with it comes a balance of those that are solely interested in our freedoms and those that are solely interested in our safety. We have to deal with passengers that scrutinize us on one side saying "why didn't they take my knitting needles, aren't they dangerous?" while on the other side there are passengers saying "you have no right to touch me or even look at me." There is a balance going on that will never please everybody.
To conclude, the best advice would be to have a positive attitude and comply with the rules set forth in the first place. If you go through security with a chip on your shoulder, don't expect the officers to treat you positively. Even the the most positive of us with the most positive of attitudes do not show respect to those who do not show it back to us. While it is true that there are those bad seeds that do work for the TSA and there is a chance you may encounter one of them, there is a greater chance you will encounter an officer who will show you the respect you deserve if you are willing to put your preconceived notions aside and work with instead of against the officer in front of you that is trying to keep you safe.
ScubaSteve
Wow.....what a DB
I can only assume my name is in here for the negative remarks. I do not recall saying a whole lot of nice things about the TSA. I do know that you get bad seeds, I am sure it can be a challenging job, I do know TSA deals with a lot of idiots, I do know that you deal with an ever changing goal.....I could go on. Bottom line is, unless it can be done right every time, don't do it at all. And I live in a world where if I mess up, I get my arse thrown to the curb. I believe this should apply to the TSA as well. Get rid of the bad seeds.....this does not happen from what I can see in my (although limited in the GRAND scheme of things) travels of 6-10 times per year. I do KNOW that there are good and/or GREAT TSA agents out there. I hope I am able to see them when I travel from now on because I am not sure I will be able to keep my mouth shut in airport security forever.....incompetence should not be tolerated.
If you are one of the good ones, then thank you and keep up the good work. If not, start at post #1 and read them all again
. Also, please feel free to share (in a constructive way) all of this with your superiors.
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Butane lighters have been legal for carry-on since Aug 4, 2007. I did keep carrying them when they weren't, just stuffed a couple in my backpack with my Flashdrives and such. Such a dumb rule.I've always gone thru TSA with a lighter. For some reason they can't see it on the x-ray. I guess I position it just right in my carry-on. Another TSA inspector even inspected my bag manually to no avail. Shows just how incapable some of these bozos are. But hey, we need to feel better or more secure some how.
It's good that Spare Air company lobbied for clear rules on those and pony bottles. The first few years of TSA, I kept packing my pony but there weren't any rules - only unconfirmed rumors of some being confiscated. I didn't remove the valve until the rule requiring that was enacted. The rule since says the tank neck must be open but that's just dumb; I cover mine with 2" electrical tape that can be removed easily and have had no problems, but I stand and watch as they inspect my luggage in Lubbock. That's not always possible in other airports.
Rules change and don't always make the news. Always good to review them before packing: TSA | Transportation Security Administration | U.S. Department of Homeland Security
TSA Week at a Glance (September 8, 2008 - September 14, 2008)
* 11 passengers were arrested due to suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
* 22 firearms found at checkpoints
* 3 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 10 incidents that involved a checkpoint closure, terminal evacuation or sterile area breach
* 22 firearms found at checkpoints
* 3 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 10 incidents that involved a checkpoint closure, terminal evacuation or sterile area breach
This is news to me: Starting Aug. 16, TSA will allow laptops to remain in bags meeting new 'checkpoint friendly' guidelines. Not all laptop bags are 'checkpoint friendly'
ScubaSteve
Wow.....what a DB
I had mine taken away from me in Phoenix January 18, 2008. I travelled through Toronto with it no problem and gladly gave it up in Phoenix because I had matches and a zippo at home. I no longer smoke so I do not have to worry about it now but again.....consistency.
Ken abucs
Contributor
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Thank gawd! Sockless men tend to smell bad on planes...Socks and crocks!?!?!
Where are the fashion police when you need them.
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