Originally Posted by
danville 1K
This past Thursday at the SFO international terminal the TSA agent took me to the side to inspect my carry on computer bag. He proceeded to, one pocket at a time, pull every item out of the bag. He took special interest in a gate opener I've carried in my bag for 4 years. In fact he took such interest in it he kept one hand on it the entire time he was searching my bag.
After examining every item, including the wipe down of my computer, USB hard disk drive AND the gate opener, he ran the bag back through with the gate opener in a separate container.
When he returned he mentioned the reason my bag was searched was due to the gate opener with the 9 volt battery in it, adding that it was a regulation to search any bag with any item with a 9 volt battery in it.
I casually mentioned that over the past 3+ years I've taken 200 plus flights with the opener in my bag, and no screening agent had ever taken exception to it. His only comment was all the other agents were wrong and he was right, and if I didn't want my bag searched I should remove the opener.
Ok well have
Bart,
eyecue,
myrgirl or
bambi ever heard of this 9-volt "issue" that SFO takes so seriously?
myrgirl - I believe it is
possible that some larger, busier airports have a slightly higher rate of letting things go through. There's only so many times in a busy place like LGA that they can keep questioning stuff. My $.02
eyecue - I'll agree with you in the sense that I'd rather have uniform enforcement of rules, than "sometimes yes, sometimes no" in cases where it's pretty clearly a no.
BUT ... the tradeoff comes with being consistent about "non prescription" medical items (saline solution in a large bottle for contacts wearers) etc. Consistent both ways!