Originally Posted by
Mr. Elliott
Another question for the TSO’s.
After I place my personal belongings on the belt for x-ray and I am selected for NOS screening, if my personal belongings are now out of my sight, do I have any rights to have my possessions removed after x-ray screening so it is within my sight at all times while going through the NOS.
The reason I ask this is there has been enough reported cases of theft of laptops, wallets and other valuables from the table after x-ray screening, sometimes picked up accidentally, other times intentionally. I very concerned that my laptop will be stolen from the table.
It has been posted on FT that the TSA is not responsible for any thefts from the screening area, so that puts the burden on me to protect my personal possessions, but if the TSA prevents me from protecting my possessions by not allowing me to keep them in sight while I am waiting or going through the scanner, what recourse do I have.
Mr. Elliott
In theory, TSA encourages you to keep your belongings in your sight at all times anywhere in the airport, not just at the checkpoint.
In practice, they often interfere with and prevent you from doing so. Recourse? Well...you can fill out a form or make a complaint. If someone has just walked off with your laptop, you probably won't get much help from TSA.
I would defnitely encourage you to get in the habit of securing your wallet/phone/small valuables in a locking compartment of your carryon when you go through the checkpoint. Someone (TSO or pax) is less likely to grab an entire bag than a loose wallet, phone or watch. It also means that if a TSO does want to search your bag, they have to ask you to open it. I've cleared the WTMD to find them already in my bag on a couple occasions. That isn't supposed to happen, but it can and does.
Most of the TSOs and pax are honest, but you have to protect yourself against the ones who aren't. It's likely to be a bit messier for a while until they get the WBI routines downpat. Depending on the checkpoint setup, it can be very difficult to be in close physical proximity as well as line-of-sight to your belongings. I have nightmares about being groped, seeing someone walk off with my bag and being powerless to do anything about it.