Originally Posted by
Mr. Elliott
Does that mean that if the TSA opens your luggage without you being present, they are violating federal regulations and could there be an investigation by the local police department if you have proof someone opened your luggage.
I personally have seen at the TSA luggage scanner in the public area in AA’s terminal in LGA the screener just glance at the screen when something alarms and that item is shown in red, they did not look carefully at the screen looking for anything else, so they just grabbed the luggage off of the machine and took to their inspection station and opened it. So if there was a weapon it the luggage, they would not have spotted it until they opened the luggage.
Mr. Elliott
Yes, they would be violating FAR 1544.293. I'm not sure if the local police would do the investigation or some other agency.
This is why you have hard sided luggage with strong hinges and strong locks... they can't "just open it". Once the check-in process has been completed and the bag has been locked, no one is allowed to unlock the bag (or even possess the key or combination) outside of your presence. I've seen evidence where they have TRIED to open my luggage, and failed.
I got the idea from this guy:
http://deviating.net/firearms/packing/ There is a lot of very good information on his site.