I was at LAX earlier this morning as I planned to go hiking I brought my bag with me that included a Personal Locator Beacon.

A PLB is a device that is a subset of emergency transponders found on boats and aircraft. Usually, they emit an emergency homing signal (that I assume is monitored by airports) with GPS coordinates being transmitted to search and rescue.

This leads to my time at LAX, when I was going through security in TBIT at LAX a TSA agent examined the PLB that I have put in the bin along with my laptop. She seemed puzzled by the device and took it aside for inspection at a rear station as I was still being scanned. It was then that I saw her begin the three stage process to activate the device.

By the time I was out she was at the final step as she had unfurled the antenna, and removed the safety cover.

I very sternly told her not to touch the PLB as her finger was on the activation button.

Really? Did she think it was a bomb? Perhaps some plastic explosive? How could she have missed the big RED letters saying "USE ONLY IN SITUATIONS OF GRAVE DANGER"

So my "outburst" (as the supervisor put it) got me a nice visit by the police officer at the line and a TSA supervisor which lasted around 10 minutes.

I hope you can understand my frustration. If she had activated the device the homing beacon would most likely signaled that airport that a plane had crashed or some similar catastrophe.

Anyways the cop and supervisor talked to me, I was "advised" to use a nicer tone, and sent on my way.

Thoughts?