Any U.S. airport security screener who refuses to provide a hand search of any photographic film is, simply, wrong.
And I'd recommend that anyone traveling in the U.S. with photographic film should go to the federal government's own website laying out that fact, should print a copy of the regulations that say so, and should have them handy to show such a screener and, if you have to, their supervisor.
The relevant section of the regs, as most recently published by the feds on August 9, 2002, are at the URL:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/c...fr1544_00.html
And I'm quoting them below -- I call your attention to part (4) at the end of the excerpt:
###BEGIN EXCERPT###
49 CFR - CHAPTER XII - PART 1544
§ 1544.211 Use of X-ray systems.
(e) Signs and inspection of photographic equipment and film. (1) At locations at which an aircraft operator uses an X-ray system to inspect accessible property the aircraft operator must ensure that a sign is posted in a conspicuous place at the screening checkpoint. At locations outside the United States at which a foreign government uses an X-ray system to inspect accessible property the aircraft operator must ensure that a sign is posted in a conspicuous place at the screening checkpoint.
(2) At locations at which an aircraft operator or TSA uses an X-ray system to inspect checked baggage the aircraft operator must ensure that a sign is posted in a conspicuous place where the aircraft operator accepts checked baggage.
(3) The signs required under this paragraph (e) must notify individuals that such items are being inspected by an X-ray and advise them to remove all X-ray, scientific, and high-speed film from accessible property and checked baggage before inspection. This sign must also advise individuals that they may request that an inspection be made of their photographic equipment and film packages without exposure to an X-ray system. If the X-ray system exposes any accessible property or checked baggage to more than one milliroentgen during the inspection, the sign must advise individuals to remove film of all kinds from their articles before inspection.
(4) If requested by individuals, their photographic equipment and film packages must be inspected without exposure to an X-ray system.
###END EXCERPT###
Whenever I'd fly with photographic film -- and this is something I often had to do even before security was tightened -- I'd make it a point to have a freshly printed out copy of this section of the regulations (with the date of issuance) in the bag with my film so I could if necessary show the screener that I did have the right to a hand inspection and I did have the right to insist that my film not be sent through an x-ray machine.
Since I sometimes get paid for the photos I take, that two page printout of "49CFR Part 1544.211" has at times been the most valuable item in my carryon luggage.
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