Yes, I realize the TSA claims they do not confiscate anything, but that passengers voluntarily surrender the items. That may be, but I had an odd situation happen a few days ago that I'm wondering about.

Long story short, for reasons that aren't really relevant to my question, I had packed a number of aviation navigation charts in my carry-on before departing DFW on Friday. Got to the checkpoint (PreCheck, no less), and the following ensued:

TSO: we need to check your bag
Me: Ok....
TSO (digs through, finds charts, starts waving them around): What are these?
Me (confused, but seeing an opportunity): Looks like a low altitude enroute chart and approach plates to me
TSO: Why do you have these?
Me: Why do you want to know?
TSO: Are you a pilot?
Me: Why do you want to know?
TSO: You're going to have to show me ID
Me (flashing GE card I already had out): Here you go
TSO: Pilot ID.
Me: Who says I'm a pilot?
TSO (looking suspicious): I'm going to have to throw these out
(tosses them in garbage can)
Me (grabbing bag and walking off): Thanks for costing me $15, jackass.

So my questions are:
1. Why does the TSA claim they do not confiscate items when they clearly do?
2. Can they confiscate items that are clearly not weapons? Yes, I realize liquids aren't weapons, but at least they're listed as such. Paper isn't, as far as I know.
3. Would playing nice have changed anything?

PS - I still don't know what they saw on the x-ray that caused the bag search to begin with. I'm guessing they got sidetracked by my chart contraband.

File a complaint right away. This is so wrong You would not want to know what I would've told them & no they wouldn't taken a thing from me. You did nothing wrong.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...ted-items.shtm
I wonder what that particular clerk thought the resale value was of those charts.

While I'd love to nail them for interfering with a flight crew member (since yes, that even applies to GA pilots), I know it'll never happen.

Like I said - I know most things they consider weapons aren't actually. I just wondered if they were "allowed" to confiscate and if anyone has experienced them confiscating items that aren't on the prohibited item list. I know I phrased it badly the first time around.

File a complaint. Press the issue.

This is the number I have for the DFW TSA CSM.

Chuck Sloan

Customer Service Manager

Transportation Security Administration

DFW International Airport

O. 469.948.1828

C. 817.233.0432

F. 972.745.4369

Also notify the ACLU. They shouldn't even be looking through papers once they've determined that they are papers.

Why would the ACLU care? They haven't done much with the TSA yet, as far as I know.

And to be fair, him didn't open them and shuffle through. I think the FAA logo on the front probably set him off - it's pretty obvious that they are aviation navigation charts.

So? They're still just paper.

I know. And hence my question - can they confiscate items that aren't on their prohibited item list. Seems like the answer is so.

I'm sure they will claim they were confiscated because they are a security risk, but I mean, wouldn't the fact I had charts to land an airplane prove I didn't have nefarious intent?

I am a GA pilot and regularly fly commmercial in the US with headset, radio and charts in my carryon and have only ever had CBP make any comment. Even that was to agree that I was telling the truth about my plans [though I am a US citizen and have no responsibility to prove my travel plans to enter the country]. TSA have never said anything but I am not sure if they have ever searched my bag when I had charts in them.

You definately need to complain. Yes, we all know it will end up with a "has been retrained" toilet paper supplement, but please complain.

TSA cannot confiscate, at least not legally. Your charts were stolen nothing less.

Yes, they can confiscate items not on their list but they need to be security threats. Throwing away paper charts that I also have on my kindle, my pc and maybe even my portable aviation GPS or Electronic flightbag is just plain right up TSA's alley....useless.

This

Yes, please complain. Consider contacting AOPA if you are a member, even if you are not, this is an issue they would be very interested in. They most definitely should be aware of this incident. I know plenty of pilots traveling with charts. The idea that TSA would confiscate navigational charts is absurd!

No TSA cannot confiscate items. At least not legally.

TSA must give the traveler a choice to give the item to someone else, check it in checked luggage, return it to their car, or mail it to themselves.

The OP had his/her property stolen by a TSA employee. That TSA employee should be charged for theft and tried in a court of law. There can be no tolerance for TSA abuse of the public and it will not stop until these TSA criminals are taken to task.