Originally Posted by
PhlyingRPh
I will admit that I have a really bad memory and on every trip have inadvertently been a violator of the liquids rules. I normally forget to remove my baggy from my carry-on and usually have two baggies containing liquids. I usually have a protein shake inside my bag in a place where I think the xray will make it difficult to detect their presence. Same with yogurts and other foodstuffs that I really like(Jello Fat free pudding). Sometimes I get caught and in the spirit of Tom and Jerry (I'm Jerry BTW
) I cheerfully give up the contraband.
My question to you is that on most occasions (about 60% of the time) I have noticed TSO's have detected the liquids in my bag but have not taken any action. Is this because they are too busy, feel it's unimportant or they really have missed the inadvertently packed contraband?
I don't have access to the x-ray images, so any response I would offer you would be a poorly informed guess. There is also a lot of SSI involved in this issue, which I am specifically forbidden to reveal. You might, however, find the following bits of info from TSA public communications enlightening.
From
www.tsa.gov: "...small containers below a certain size and in limited amounts don't pose a real threat..."
http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/..._announce.shtm
(quote is about 1/2 way down the page, underneath the picture of the soda can.)
From the TSA blog: "...Why can't multiple people bring on explosives in three-ounce containers and mix them post security?...
...Because there are limits to our ability to detect every thing every time at the checkpoint, we use layers of security....
...The preparation of these bombs is very much more complex than tossing together several bottles-worth of formula and lighting it up. In fact, in recent tests, a National Lab was asked to formulate a test mixture and it took several tries using the best equipment and best scientists for it to even ignite. That was with a bomb prepared in advance in a lab setting. A less skilled person attempting to put it together inside a secure area or a plane is not a good bet. You have to have significant uninterrupted time with space and other requirements that are not easily available in a secured area of an airport. It adds complexity to their preferred model and reduces our risk, having the expert make the bomb and give it to someone else to carry aboard. They are well aware of the Richard Reid factor where he could not even ignite a completed bomb. Simple is truly better for them. Also, bomb-makers are easier for us to identify than so-called clean 'mules.'..."
http://www.tsa.gov/blog/2008/02/more...do-things.html
I hope this isn't too much like doublespeak for you. I am trying to support my responses to potentially sensitive questions with information from public sources to make sure I don't accidentally reveal any SSI. If I find any better public information, I will post it.