TSA and fines.
#16
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
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All tjis is still scary What it a young person minor travelling. That does not mean that they can pay or their parents can pay.Or their grand parent ME have $ 11.000 (what I have heard) just to throw out to somtehing I dont belive in. The whole thing is scary.
what if the person who is walked to atm maschine does not have that kind of money? A lot of people have their tickets bougth by somebody else.
Plus me I never travel with cards at all. I dont have to . Just some cash.
what if the person who is walked to atm maschine does not have that kind of money? A lot of people have their tickets bougth by somebody else.
Plus me I never travel with cards at all. I dont have to . Just some cash.
Are you confused with CBP? Many agencies around the world do that, including in Europe.
What specifically are you scared about and how does that relate to TSA? Or did you mean CBP?
#17
Join Date: May 2009
Location: LGA, JFK
Posts: 1,018
All tjis is still scary What it a young person minor travelling. That does not mean that they can pay or their parents can pay.Or their grand parent ME have $ 11.000 (what I have heard) just to throw out to somtehing I dont belive in. The whole thing is scary.
what if the person who is walked to atm maschine does not have that kind of money? A lot of people have their tickets bougth by somebody else.
Plus me I never travel with cards at all. I dont have to . Just some cash.
what if the person who is walked to atm maschine does not have that kind of money? A lot of people have their tickets bougth by somebody else.
Plus me I never travel with cards at all. I dont have to . Just some cash.
No examples known of someone asked to pay on the spot, or walked to an ATM, in this country. So, not scary. "Due process" here leaves something to be desired, lately, but it does include a chance to contest the fine *before* it is paid.
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 817
Depends on the country and "crime".
I have personally been with non- EU citizens pulled over in the Netherlands, for example, who did in fact have to pay a cash fine at that exact time or surrender a passport while they went to the nearest ATM, or in another instance get escorted to an ATM. Same for one popped for basically illegal use of a Coffee shop in Maastricht-paid cash on the spot and given a receipt for the ticket.
I have seen people have to pay airport customs fines on the spot in the UK, Italy and Australia several times. I also dealt with non-EU nationals who had to pay fines for offences in Germany, not same day but with a surrendered document.
I've seen transit fines needing to be paid on the spot in The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and Austria.
There are others that is just a sampling.
And I am not talking the baksheesh or mordida or anything like that, I mean "real" offences, to them at least.
Paying on the spot fines is nothing new arond the world and not unique to the USA, and AFAIK the TSA actually does not do that though CBP often does.
I have personally been with non- EU citizens pulled over in the Netherlands, for example, who did in fact have to pay a cash fine at that exact time or surrender a passport while they went to the nearest ATM, or in another instance get escorted to an ATM. Same for one popped for basically illegal use of a Coffee shop in Maastricht-paid cash on the spot and given a receipt for the ticket.
I have seen people have to pay airport customs fines on the spot in the UK, Italy and Australia several times. I also dealt with non-EU nationals who had to pay fines for offences in Germany, not same day but with a surrendered document.
I've seen transit fines needing to be paid on the spot in The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and Austria.
There are others that is just a sampling.
And I am not talking the baksheesh or mordida or anything like that, I mean "real" offences, to them at least.
Paying on the spot fines is nothing new arond the world and not unique to the USA, and AFAIK the TSA actually does not do that though CBP often does.
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: California. USA
Posts: 1,404
I am talking about what if the person who gets a fine dont have the money at all. Is a tourist. what do they do? I get it is maybe different from Europe. Great. But will that get back to the famly in USA and how does that haunt the in the future?
I am talking about tSA.
Contest a fine? Most tourists dont even stay in the country for that.
I am talking about tSA.
Contest a fine? Most tourists dont even stay in the country for that.
#21
Join Date: May 2005
Location: MIA/SJU/MCO
Programs: AA LT PLT; DL GLD, UA nothing, B6 Mosaic; Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 3,331
Back in April 2012, I made a Freedom of Information Act request for all fines levied at TSA checkpoints between 11/20/11 and 1/2/12 and the circumstances that gave rise to those fines.
A couple of weeks ago, TSA responded with a ~150 page document with 2-3 incidents per page. It contained not only the fines that were levied, but also situations where fines were considered but not levied.
Much to my surprise - they provided the information in both hard and soft copy, did not charge me for it, and the information was not heavily redacted.
I'm still perusing the information, but I can say that the minimum fine was $0, and the maximum that I've seen so far is $1,500. Most of them are in the $125-$500 range.
A couple of weeks ago, TSA responded with a ~150 page document with 2-3 incidents per page. It contained not only the fines that were levied, but also situations where fines were considered but not levied.
Much to my surprise - they provided the information in both hard and soft copy, did not charge me for it, and the information was not heavily redacted.
I'm still perusing the information, but I can say that the minimum fine was $0, and the maximum that I've seen so far is $1,500. Most of them are in the $125-$500 range.
#22
Join Date: May 2009
Location: LGA, JFK
Posts: 1,018
I am talking about what if the person who gets a fine dont have the money at all. Is a tourist. what do they do? I get it is maybe different from Europe. Great. But will that get back to the famly in USA and how does that haunt the in the future?
I am talking about tSA.
Contest a fine? Most tourists dont even stay in the country for that.
I am talking about tSA.
Contest a fine? Most tourists dont even stay in the country for that.
There are plenty of scary, and potentially scary, things. This is not one of them.
#23
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: UA Gold ,DL Gold,AA,HHonors Diamond, Priority Club Gold,Hyatt Platinum,Marriott Gold
Posts: 154
tanja, if the person getting fined doesn't have access to money at all how did they pay for their plane ticket? If something happens at a checkpoint, the TSA will right a report which result in the person receiving a notice of violation.
In the case of the TSA they create a notice of violation outlining the fine amount, how to pay it and how to dispute it. Only the person being fined is potentially impacted not their family.
If the fine is not paid on time and the person is not a US Citizen they will not be allowed to enter the country and any attempt to get a visa or residency will be held up until the fine is paid. If they have any assets in the US (bank account, car, house etc). The assets might be seized or a lien placed on them until the fine is paid.
The only way this can cause problems for family members in the US is if during the visa process they agreed to cover any unpaid expenses by the person who got the fine. Then they would be responsible to pay the fine or face having their wages garnished or assets seized.
If you look at section VI of this document you will see the things the TSA can fine you for. http://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/fil...nce_policy.pdf
Basically as long as you go through the checkpoint following orders and don't carry any guns or weapons you don't have to worry about being fined.
In the case of the TSA they create a notice of violation outlining the fine amount, how to pay it and how to dispute it. Only the person being fined is potentially impacted not their family.
If the fine is not paid on time and the person is not a US Citizen they will not be allowed to enter the country and any attempt to get a visa or residency will be held up until the fine is paid. If they have any assets in the US (bank account, car, house etc). The assets might be seized or a lien placed on them until the fine is paid.
The only way this can cause problems for family members in the US is if during the visa process they agreed to cover any unpaid expenses by the person who got the fine. Then they would be responsible to pay the fine or face having their wages garnished or assets seized.
If you look at section VI of this document you will see the things the TSA can fine you for. http://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/fil...nce_policy.pdf
Basically as long as you go through the checkpoint following orders and don't carry any guns or weapons you don't have to worry about being fined.
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: California. USA
Posts: 1,404
They will not be barred from leaving the country. They don't need to have any money at the time they are charged. They can contest it later, or not. It will not become a criminal charge, even if ignored. I have not heard of any cases where a foreign tourist was charged, at all.
There are plenty of scary, and potentially scary, things. This is not one of them.
There are plenty of scary, and potentially scary, things. This is not one of them.
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: California. USA
Posts: 1,404
tanja, if the person getting fined doesn't have access to money at all how did they pay for their plane ticket? If something happens at a checkpoint, the TSA will right a report which result in the person receiving a notice of violation.
In the case of the TSA they create a notice of violation outlining the fine amount, how to pay it and how to dispute it. Only the person being fined is potentially impacted not their family.
If the fine is not paid on time and the person is not a US Citizen they will not be allowed to enter the country and any attempt to get a visa or residency will be held up until the fine is paid. If they have any assets in the US (bank account, car, house etc). The assets might be seized or a lien placed on them until the fine is paid.
The only way this can cause problems for family members in the US is if during the visa process they agreed to cover any unpaid expenses by the person who got the fine. Then they would be responsible to pay the fine or face having their wages garnished or assets seized.
If you look at section VI of this document you will see the things the TSA can fine you for. http://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/fil...nce_policy.pdf
Basically as long as you go through the checkpoint following orders and don't carry any guns or weapons you don't have to worry about being fined.
In the case of the TSA they create a notice of violation outlining the fine amount, how to pay it and how to dispute it. Only the person being fined is potentially impacted not their family.
If the fine is not paid on time and the person is not a US Citizen they will not be allowed to enter the country and any attempt to get a visa or residency will be held up until the fine is paid. If they have any assets in the US (bank account, car, house etc). The assets might be seized or a lien placed on them until the fine is paid.
The only way this can cause problems for family members in the US is if during the visa process they agreed to cover any unpaid expenses by the person who got the fine. Then they would be responsible to pay the fine or face having their wages garnished or assets seized.
If you look at section VI of this document you will see the things the TSA can fine you for. http://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/fil...nce_policy.pdf
Basically as long as you go through the checkpoint following orders and don't carry any guns or weapons you don't have to worry about being fined.
Last edited by tanja; Apr 15, 2014 at 3:12 pm
#26
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
Programs: United Global Svs, AA PlatPro, WN RR, AZ/ITA Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG
Posts: 3,529
You do understand TSA has no authority to do that right? A dozen people have told you that on this thread already.
Just curious, are you as concerned when they travel to countries in Europe and around the world that do fine on the spot?
Just curious, are you as concerned when they travel to countries in Europe and around the world that do fine on the spot?
#27
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 187
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: California. USA
Posts: 1,404
Also I have heard things over years that did not came through at all. So That is why I am asking. In the end nobody knows.
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
TSA controls access to the airport.
CBP controls entry into the USA.
If a fine is owed to TSA (from some previous issue), when that pax reaches the TSA checkpoint, how does the agent know about the fine? The agents at the checkpoints don't have computer terminals--I'm sure that they don't have the list memorized.
CBP controls entry into the USA.
If a fine is owed to TSA (from some previous issue), when that pax reaches the TSA checkpoint, how does the agent know about the fine? The agents at the checkpoints don't have computer terminals--I'm sure that they don't have the list memorized.
#30
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
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