Newsstand - Fliers' security questions answered

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/4789164.htm

"Q: What if screeners find marijuana or other contraband?

A: They are going to call the police. Anything screeners find when they open your bag is fair game, said Tom Doyle, a criminal defense lawyer and Stanford law lecturer. Civil-liberties advocates disagree, and you can bet this issue will end up in court in the new year."


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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

Interesting how one point says - if your bag (lock) has been broken, items missing or stolen you can call the TSA Consumer Response phone number at 866-289-9673.
How would the passenger or the TSA prove how, where, when anything was stolen ?? This sounds like a can of worms that will be opened up.

[This message has been edited by misstree (edited 12-22-2002).]

in the last year [before i was grounded] my checked baggage was checked at dfw on checkin for international flights. the lead bag with my film was singled out and when i told the people to look where it was , they got it out and said thanks for my help.

message to the screeners "put it all up front , stop any problem before the baggage goes to the handlers.

I travel for construction management and have to carry a 100 ft, 30 ft, and 12' tape measure, workboots, lots of lap top and PDA / Cell phone accessories on my carryons.

At TSA security I put all the tape measures, mny belt, and laptop on open containers so that the TSA can visually look at my stuff.

This results in more cursory 2nd inspections , for example checking my laptop for explosives, checking the zippers of my computer bags for explosives, etc.

Because everything is out in the open they don't have as many things to check on.

Minimizing the TSA inspectors concerns about your luggage will definetely speed up the process.

Good Luck!