Travel News - TSA screeners show off confiscated items from Midway Airport

ABC News 4 Article (http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/030104_ns_confiscated.html)

"One-year after the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the local branch's TSA screeners show off hundreds of confiscated items people tried to pass through Midway Airport.

People tend to forget things. They forget the scissors in their carry-on luggage. They forget the screwdrivers, and maybe the monkey wrench -- unless they were planning on doing some on board plumbing. But how do you forget a dumbbell? It does weigh something. And what's with a knife that's not even in a sheath? That could wreck your carry-on luggage."

Whoopdeefrickindoo.

You can label anything you want as a "weapon" and steal it from someone, as long as you've got a TSA logo on your shirt.

Thousands Stealing from Americans - that's the nation we should be proud to have evolved into. A dumbbell? A brick? There are better weapons already on the plane. Nice job confiscating these dangerous items. Got a little home improvement scheduled? Needed some furnishings for your home gym?

What a disgrace we have become.

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

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Spiff:
But how do you forget a dumbbell? It does weigh something.

</font>

Dumbbells are NOT on the prohibited items list (check under sporting goods, where baseball bats are listed); though I agree they violate the (misguided) "spirit" of the list and slightly more threatening than a brick (another oft-confiscated item not on the list). Personally I think neither dumbbells nor bricks should be confiscated.

I wonder if they would let me on with a bowling ball. What about a baseball? What about a tennis ball? A nerf ball? I always kary a koosh ball (slightly heavier than nerf ball) when I travel (strange habit and stress reliever) and have never been hassled for it.

But stupdity knows no bounds . . .

Dumbbell= not allowed

Bowling Ball= Allowed (at least at my airport)

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The prohibited and permitted items list is not intended to be all-inclusive and is updated as necessary. To ensure everyone's security the screener may determine that an item not on this chart is prohibited.</font>

Not saying I agree with what I quoted, but the site says that even if a item isn't on the list doesn't mean it might be labeled as prohibited.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by screenerx:
Bowling Ball= Allowed (at least at my airport)</font>

Billiard balls?

Never honestly seen a set come through, Wheezer. But we check bowling balls every time and I would assume that billard balls would get checked to but not taken.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by screenerx:

Not saying I agree with what I quoted, but the site says that even if a item isn't on the list doesn't mean it might be labeled as prohibited.

</font>

I have no problem with that, because it's common sense (imagine that!). I do have a problem with any pax being fined for having an item that is not on the prohibited list and is disallowed at screener discretion, i.e., cake-server woman from a few weeks ago, a brick, or a dumbbell. The "fine-able" prohibited-items list should be complete, although generic terms like "explosives" are OK. Surely it's not legal to fine someone for breaking an unpublished law.

Gee I wish I had more money and more free time to hire (or become) a lawyer and try to fix some of this crap. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by studentff:
Surely it's not legal to fine someone for breaking an unpublished law.</font>

These are CIVIL penalties, not criminal penalties. So technically, nobody is being accused of breaking any law.

Bruce

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by bdschobel:
These are CIVIL penalties, not criminal penalties. So technically, nobody is being accused of breaking any law.

Bruce</font>

Let's not get too cute with semantics here. Civil or criminal, it is a government regulation, rule, code, etc = law in generic terms. The real question is, with most things TSA, how do you appeal these things?

Previous newspaper stories have implied that these determinations can be appealed to an administrative law judge (not a REAL judge, but a civil servant working for the Department of Fatherland Security). The hearing takes place in the same city as the incident, which doesn't help much if it isn't your home. And fines are doubled if you lose -- which seems likely.

Bruce

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by screenerx:
I would assume that billard balls would get checked to but not taken.</font>

Thanks for the info. I was reminded of a determined attempt some time ago to ignite a bowling ball (nope, Bakelite), and then of the fact that billiard balls used to be made of nitrocellulose. Doubt many of those are still around, though.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by bdschobel:
Previous newspaper stories have implied that these determinations can be appealed to an administrative law judge (not a REAL judge, but a civil servant working for the Department of Fatherland Security). The hearing takes place in the same city as the incident, which doesn't help much if it isn't your home. And fines are doubled if you lose -- which seems likely.

Bruce</font>

Actions like this are what fueled the Amreican Revolution. Its time for another one now. In time it will be 1984.

Yes, this is on the way towards a revolution. Penalizing people because they forgot and carried something into an airport that is normally permissable anywhere else in America is wrong.

The thought that this process is making us safer is laughable.

With bushwhack and ashcrapp "1984" has taken a huge leap toward reality. TSAgoonsters are useless.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Arcolaio99:
Actions like this are what fueled the Amreican Revolution. Its time for another one now. In time it will be 1984.</font>