We are making a difference and forcing change at TSA. If it were not for contributors to this forum and other like us around the country, columnists, individuals negatively commenting on TSA policy in their local newspapers and on the blog and a myriad of others, TSA would never have made the changes that have apparently been made, i.e., currency, "ice" and perhaps even the removal of WBI machines at certain airports.

Let's work on stopping the removal of shoes next.

perhaps we should start a list of changes we'd most like to see at TSA.

Ending the shoe carnival, no strip search machines, and refocusing TSA's procedures to focus on real threats would be my top 3.

Getting out the word to share check point experiences on the web would help.
I do agree that the FlyerTalk community has made a difference.

...and, rumor has it that cash is no longer contriband...

Strict adherence to the Disabilities Act might be another.

New shoe screening ^
WBI/Strip Search Machines: Meh, I am in favor of moving exclusively to these at some point in the future. I would like a completely transparent security point where you walked through a hallway without ever pausing and were screened through a combination of millimeter wave technology walls and advanced ion scanning explosives detectors. Something like "Total Recall". Bring it on. ^

Refocusing TSA's efforts on real threats: That is just political mumbo jumbo that can mean anything.

As much as I agree that the kind of activity that goes on here helps, I do not think we were behind the new ice policy. That was totally Britney�s doing.

I say we use the momentum and refute the liquids thing as a whole. I mean, if we can now take frozen shampoo, spare us the trouble and wasted energy and let us take it at room temperature.

The handling/disposal of liquids issue could be a useful opening to making the policy less noxious: TSA's own treatment of liquids proves that they don't actually pose the threat they claim. And they may well be in violation of federal and local environmental laws if they just pour stuff they claim is dangerous down the drain as if it were as harmless as milk a day past its sell-by date.

<cough, cough>

The liquid restriction is just another shortcoming of the TSA that every passenger has to account for. In addition to the shoe nonsense and the laptop removal.

What the TSA doesn't understand is that their lives would be much, MUCH easier if those issues were addressed by buying the proper equipment and not requiring people to account for their shortcomings.

Think about it, if the TSA purchased the equipment to properly scan those items, 90% of the arguments against them would go away.

Not to mention. most importantly, actually improving security.

Yet the TSA finds it more important to purchase police-imitation uniforms and thoses silly "Engage" programs that is wholly putting lipstick on a pig.

I'm hoping Erroll Southers will understand that.

This is actually convenient now. I have taken to turning my hazmat into TSA. I just hand over my mercury filled thermostats and such as I renovate my house to the agent and they throw it into their bucket. Saves me the $10 dump fee with hazmat abatement. Not sure what the TSA does with it.

I stopped changing my own motor oil in 1980 because of disposal issues. I guess I can start changing it again.

Maybe to you, but since I've seen the actual threat briefs and know how TSA is ignoring them in favor of continuing their Kabuki theatre, I'm still partial to the idea of TSA addressing the real threats, instead of making it look like they are doing something - when in reality, they are going through the motions.

It's been a few years since I had to deal with storage and disposal of hazardous waste but if I remember correctly it doesn't matter what the material actually is that sets the hazardous flag but the possibility that it may be hazardous that requires compliance with EPA standards.

TSA requires surrender of liquids because they believe they could be hazardous in nature. In my mind these containers must under law be treated as hazardous unless proven otherwise by chemical testing. And again going on some old memory, these items must be treated as a worst case materials until proven to be something else.

No choice!

If TSA disposes these containers into common trash then I believe they are in direct violation of EPA regulations and that the FSD at that facility is personally (his wallet) responsible for any fines EPA may impose.

Any EPA types reading this blog?