Originally Posted by
Gynob001
What constitutes a suspicious behavior?
For the purpose of this discussion, how do you define "suspicious"? It's difficult to answer your question with knowing what you meant.
Originally Posted by
Gynob001
1. Leaving package/luggage unattended.
That probably indicates someone was forgetful. In a minuscule portion of cases -- none, maybe -- it indicates that someone sneaked a bomb past TSA's checkpoint and left it sitting there.
Discouraged, but to my knowledge, legal.
Originally Posted by
Gynob001
2. Carrying any prohibited items such as firearms/knife etc.
The knife probably indicates forgetfulness, but might have been brought by someone who didn't want to give up his pocket knife and just gambled that no one would notice. The gun? That seems more likely to indicate trouble.
Possibly unlawful. Does anyone know?
Originally Posted by
Gynob001
3. Use of threatening language or gestures towards crew/officials.
Unless it rises to the level of assault (i.e., if someone feels he or she is actually at risk of harm as a result), it's just rude. Doesn't indicate wrongdoing, no reason to investigate.
Originally Posted by
Gynob001
4. Vandalizing property in order to atrract/dicert attention.
That requires some guesswork. If we leave off the speculation about motive, it's unlawful and unethical, but not, it seems, reason to investigate for reasons other than righting the wrong by prosecuting the vandal.
Originally Posted by
Gynob001
5. Attempting to gain access to restricted areas.
Without even knowing what you meant by "suspicious", and assuming that it's not accidental (i.e., the door is clearly marked as someplace that the public are not allowed to go), this seems like the most suspicious of the actions you enumerated. However, it's probably just someone who wants to see what's there, but probably worth checking into a bit beyond just saying, "Beat it."
Maybe unlawful, but I suspect it's nothing more than trespassing.
Originally Posted by
Gynob001
6. Taking pictures/videos of restricted areas or general public/traffic
Taking pictures of anything that can be seen from publicly-accessible areas of the airport is no more cause for concern than looking at that thing is. TSA places no restrictions on such (other maybe than photographing their computer monitors. Blogger Bob Burns says that's prohibited, but declined to cite any law stating such).
It seems that most airports have no such restrictions, either. Neither of these facts means you're not likely to end up
detained and searched or
tossed in jail as a result.
Only in the minds of the paranoid or authoritarian is photography in public areas of an airport "suspicious behavior".