Originally Posted by
triehle
Let's make one small factual change in the story:
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/election/969
Suppose Steve had $10,000.01 in his cash box (not the $4,700 he had that day), and the same STL-DCA itinerary he was carrying in his pocket that day.
TSO asks, "Why are you carrying this amount of money?" or "Where did you get this money?"
Steve asks in response, "Am I legally required to answer that question?"
Remember, TSA says cash in excess of $10,000 is "contraband," and the TSO is required to investigate the matter under TSA Directive:
(1.) Must a TSO or the TSO's supervisor deny Steve the right to pass through the security checkpoint unless he answers the question?
(2.) Isn't the TSO
required to call in an LEO at that point, if Steve keeps asking, "Am I legally required to answer that question?"
...and if the answer to (1) and (2) are "yes," haven't we just instituted a ban on domestic transport of cash "if you want to fly today?"
Your questions should open some eyes, but we know that TSA has blinders on.
First if something is contraband then having any amount of that item is not allowed. By designating "money" as contraband TSA has declared "money" to be an illegal item regardless of the amount. I'm sure Treasury will be interested in that development.
Second, nothing in the currency control laws require or even suggest a need to declare carriage of any amount of currency to TSA. Nothing!
Regardless of the TSA Op Directive the carriage and possession of cash is not TSA's business and I would refuse to cooperate with them in this aspect.
To the final point, if a TSA employee becomes aware of a large amount of currency then to comply with internal policy they apparently must notifiy someone, although it is unclear to me if that someone is a superior TSA employee or law enforcement.
In either case I think TSA has exceeded their charter if they do so. To deny passage into the secure area for refusal to discuss ones finances should set up an opportunity to challenge TSA procedures that restrict a persons ability to travel by air for doing nothing that threatens that action.