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Old Jan 4, 2009 | 11:57 am
  #73  
Global_Hi_Flyer
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Originally Posted by SgtScott31
Hmmm - I carry melatonin and some vitamins fairly frequently on trips. They're in baggies. Sometimes they're buried in an available pocket inside my bag. Guess I can end up in a heap 'o trouble?
Not that it's enforced greatly, but many states make it unlawful to carry prescription meds in anything but the containers they were issued in. I wouldn't necessarily call it a "heap 'o trouble," but yes, out on the street you can be arrested for it.
I hope you're not the one that has to make the determination. Neither melatonin (a dietary supplement) nor vitamins are prescription meds.

If I hear you correctly, the presumption would be made by an investigating officer that the pills are drugs or contraband until I proved otherwise. At the minimum, it would mean that I'm detained (and miss my flight(s) ) while y'all spend time figuring it out. At the worst, I'll face a false accusation and have to prove myself in court. In other words, I am faced with a "penalty" for flying with perfectly legal substances. That, my friend, is precisely what's wrong with the current process.

By the way, it's pretty a pretty common technique amongst certain law enforcement organizations to force someone to "pay" even if the law-enforcer can't prove anything illegal. It's done to "send a message". And yes, I have personal knowledge of that being done.....
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