Originally Posted by
tmspa
Second, no prohibited item is ever "seized", "confiscated", or otherwise taken from it's owner unless a LEO is called and removes illegal contraband (drugs, guns...)
Each time a prohibited item is found the passenger has the opportunity to exit the checkpoint and return to public area to do with the item as they wish. Examples include:
Please don't use this PR drivel that is spewed by TSA leadership. The vast majority of the times a checkpoint discovers a harmless but prohibited item (liquid, cosmetics, food, tiny pen knive whatever), it is in fact
confiscated. 1) Most times it is unrealistic for the pax to do anything with the item--parked car is 20 minutes away, bag is already checked, etc. 2) There are multiple reports on FT of screeners refusing to return non-dangerous-weapon prohibited items to passengers.
The fact that TSA refuses to use the actual terms that describe it's activities--seizure and confiscation--is yet another indication of the problems with this agency.