Originally Posted by
TSORon
No Phil. No. Intent is the point. I intentionally search for prohibited items, I do not intentionally search for drugs. Drugs are not the TSA’s concern, just as child abuse is not a citizens concern, unless they are mandated to report it if suspected. I am mandated to report the finding of anything I suspect to be an illegal substance.
Serious question here ... how far does your "mandate to report the finding of anything you suspect to be illegal" carry? If you incidentally find a pornographic magazine with pictures of very young adults, are you mandated to report that to your superiors on suspicion that the material is child pornography? If you incidentally find a large collection of amateurly labeled DVDs, are you mandated to report that to your superiors on suspicion that the material is a stash of illegally copied DVDs?
I'm wondering how far "anything you suspect to be illegal" really goes. Is it really completely at your discretion? Or have you been given specific guidance regarding certain (suspected) illegal items which, if incidentally found, must be reported? If the latter is true, then you are, in a way, intentionally looking for those items --- even if only in the context of a legal administrative search.