I was screened at main security at JFK T8 today for my connection after coming in from T7 on a BA flight.

At the checkpoint, my backpack was pulled with the standard "Bag check" from the screener and "Is this yours? Can I look in it?" from a TSA employee (who looked like he should be working at a car wash).

TSO proceeds to disassemble my bag in search of something, then gets this glimmer of "AHA" when he pulls out my travel flashlight.

TSO turns to me "What is this? Is this a tactical flashlight?'

I cringe a bit at that "tactical" word. Now, this flashlight is a Surefire G3. Although it is a very bright flashlight, it is made of plastic. It has no sharp edges. If you hit something with it, you'd break the flashlight. It is not one of these fancy metal gizmo flashlights with a machined aluminum casing and a strike bezel. This thing is bright, and well made, but innocuous as can be.

Me: "It's a flashlight. I don't know what a tactical flashlight is."

TSO: "Why do you have this? Is it for self defense?"

Me (using sarcastic mocking tone): "No, it's for darkness."

TSO studies the flashlight, fingers it, turns it on. Fingers the front lens, and even though he's wearing blue gloves, they are kind of filthy and I shudder a bit. Turns if off, turns it on, shines it on me. Swings it in his hand to feel its heft. I suffer about 45 full seconds of this TSO playing click and feel with my flashlight.

I'm cranky from my flight, and am getting exasperated with this whole exercise, but I'm dreading how it's going to go. I fear I'm going to be asked to check my flashlight. I've already checked my one bag, and can't risk having my knapsack checked. It has my laptop, medications and CPAP machine, none of which I can afford to lose.

It dawns on me that the TSO has probably calculated I won't check my backpack, and is contemplating telling me I can't take this light on board in the hopes I will toss it and he can appropriate it. (It's about $40 for this light.) His digital manipulation of the light strikes me as the kind of examination you would do when checking out the flashlight in a store before buying it.

So, choking back my smart alec response (about the similarity of this flashlight to a vibrator), I simply give the TSO my most disdainful stare, right in his eyes.

After what seems like an eternity but was probably only 10 more seconds, he shrugs his shoulders, puts it back in the bag and zips it up. He delays me 30 more seconds for an ETD on the bag, then gives it back.

I mustered up my best "harrumph" and walked off with bag in hand. These TSA searches are for the birds.

So if anyone can give me something smarter to do or say next time this happens, I'd like to hear.


PS, here is what the light looks like:

I'm familiar with the Surefire G3. This TSO is an idiot. Figures it's JFK, You handled it better than I would've.

You could tell him, "Some bulbs are bright and some bulbs are dim."

Odd. I have been traveling a couple hundred thousand miles a year for the last nearly 10 years and usually with a flashlight or two. Often Surefires. Never had anything more than a "what is this" - "Flashlight" - "oh okay". And that maybe twice, most of the time, no mention at all. I currently have both a Semi custom Fenix with a Leef body and a Streamlight in my bag and not issues. Been to Japan, Taipei and a few other places in the last couple months with no issues anywhere, including JFK.

Gadgetfreak this TSO was either an idiot like I said earlier or he really did want the light like the op thought might be possible.

Yea, it just seems like a really rare incident. I actually think everyone should carry a flashlight, I would hate for people not to because of a really rare incident.

Are you on CPF by any chance ? I never go anywhere with out a light or 3 day or night.

I used to participate heavily there but havent in the last few years. I have some nice lights like EDC, Novatac, Surefire and the like. I also like playing "Surefire Lego" and have some with custom, over-powered incandescent bulbs as well as some with LEDs. I always have a AAA Arc on my keychain and a couple lights in my briefcase. Had the great misfortune to leave a Surefire A2 Aviator in the seat back pouch of a commuter plane while flying SAN-LAX some years ago. Still makes me sad.

I carry a Coast P7 (newest model at link). Never a problem. The 9V batteries for my electronics, that is a different story.

Well, if this nonsense ever becomes a widespread problem, I'm going to have to start packing my good flashlights in my checked bags.

I don't carry a "tactical" flashlight (i.e. one designed for use as a self-defence weapon), but my hi-power flashlights have heavy aircraft aluminum bodies, and I suppose if one wrapped one's fist around one of these lights, it would be akin to punching someone with a roll of pennies in your hand.

I don't own any Surefires; mine are somewhat more pedestrian. They're Coleman Max LEDs from WalMart. I have two that use 2xAA batteries and two that use 2xCR2 batteries. They both use hi-power Cree LEDs similar to those used by Surefire and a few other companies, and they each cost me around $25-$30.

I did some searches and the best pic I could find was one posted by someone on CPF (click the pic to go to the original CPF thread, which discusses these lights in detail):



The one on the far right is the 2xAA, the one in the middle is the 2xCR2; both, unfortunately, are no longer available for purchase. The one to the left is a 3xAAA model that I don't own, but I believe is currently available at WalMart.

As you can see, these lights are fairly innocent looking. But they have an impressively solid feel in the hand, one which could spark a gleam of avarice in the eyes of some less-than-ethical TSO. Thus far, I have been fortunate enough to not have a bag check done while carrying this gear, but I suppose it's only a matter of time, even with the infrequency with which I fly. I'll be darned if I'm going to "voluntarily surrender" a $30 flashlight without an argument, though!

Flashlights are required on commercial flights I believe. They are usually on a wall mount in the galley area. I just don't think people are at all likely to have a problem. There is a thread in the technology (or possibly travel products - it predates the splitting of those forums) on travel lights. I don't recall anyone mentioning problems and lots of people were carrying lights. I have had Surefires be noticed by TSA and security in other countries but never an issue past identifying it as a flashlight.

It's reassuring to know that this seems to be an isolated incident, GF, but you never know what new policies TSA might come up with for little or no reason, or what nonsensical drivel individual TSOs might spout if they see a light they want. Technically, they are forbidden from removing items from the "surrendered items" bins, but we all suspect that it happens anyway.

Right but it is important to note that the OP was allowed to board with their flashlight. I have been asked a couple times what an object was, I think both times Surefires, and metal not plastic ones, and as soon as I said it was a flashlight it was allowed on without problem. As I said above I think having a light or two is a safety issue. I have been in hotels that lost power and such and a light is potentially important. I would really hate to see people not carry them out of what is, in my pretty extensive experience, a non-issue with screening while carrying lights.

I file online complaints using the "TSA Contact Us: Complaints" online form (link) over incidents like this.

I get the screener's last name off of his or her id badge and include that in the complaint, which will read something like this:

I hope this is just a disturbingly incompetent TSO. I travel with a Surefire metal flashlight with a clearly scalloped forward edge. In 2 years, I have never been questioned about it, but if I am, my response will be one of two things:

1) Where on the TSA's list of prohibited items is "flashlight" listed?
2) The scalloped leading edge is actually a means of standing the flashlight up to only show a little light through the gaps.

If they're dumb enough to ask, I hope they're dumb enough to believe the second one.