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-   -   Fun with TSOs (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/practical-travel-safety-security-issues/1047482-fun-tsos.html)

SATTSO Feb 3, 2010 11:11 pm


Originally Posted by RockyMtnScotsman (Post 13320182)
Are you qualified to distinguish between OTC nutritional supplements and narcotics? For that matter, even if it is a narcotic, are you able to mind read and determine that the holder does not have a current prescription for said items and obtained it through illicit means?

Shows you haven't read what I have post. The answer to your question is already post, though you might have to think about it for a few seconds.

SATTSO Feb 3, 2010 11:35 pm


Originally Posted by ND Sol (Post 13319966)
Would you care to show me the law that requires this of TSO's when conducting an administrative search? I'll help you out - it doesn't exist.

If you really believe this to be a requirement, what are the legal adverse consequences for failing to report something illegal? There are none and, as such, a duty to report does not exist. Let me know of one TSO that has been reprimanded for failing to report a non-WEI illegal item. If that has happened, then not only does that TSO have a valid grievance, but a defense attorney would relish that as Exhibit A in defending his client who was found with a non-WEI illegal item in an administrative search.

But how can you know they are drugs if you have had no training in detecting drugs? Based on the SOP, you should never report a substance to an LEO since you are not 100% sure it is an illegal drug.

Don't you think that if Congress and the President thought it was so important for you to find child pornography and illegal drugs, they would have authorized you to so? Instead, we have to go with the illusion of searching only for WEI so that when you come across something non-WEI illegal, it can be seized and the owner prosecuted.

My last post of the night, and my last post on this subject, as it's become sooo off topic.

I originally told TK something, and I was questioned by other regarding what I said. I answered, was asked more questions and given comments. I answered those, and so on, and here we are.

Now as to what you said: i never said there was a law requiring us to report items other than sop. But I do not want to get into an argument about due diligence. I will stop reporting obviously illegal items found (which is such a seldom event for the individual tso) when someone shows me I am not allowed to do so. Some here can not seem to recognize the difference between looking for something, and reporting what is obviously in front of you.

About your question about identifying drugs: you assume alot about me, without knowing me. TSA does not train us to identify drugs; but why assume anything else about me, my personal life, history and so on? I honestly mean no disrespect when I say this; honestly.

If you really want a discussion on these topics you asked, pm me. Other than that I wish TK the best I his trip! I hope he get the response he wants - which of course we all know is to have tso's do their job responsibly. :)

pmocek Feb 4, 2010 12:14 am


Originally Posted by SATTSO (Post 13322076)
i never said there was a law requiring us to report items other than sop.

I think this is what people took as you describing such a legal obligation:


Originally Posted by SATTSO (Post 13317792)
when I come across something illegal, but not a wei, due diligence requires me to report it to a leo, because I am a government employee.


Originally Posted by SATTSO (Post 13322076)
Some here can not seem to recognize the difference between looking for something, and reporting what is obviously in front of you.

You're not really searching for anything, are you? You're just examining someone's belongings, and alerting a supervisor of you happen to see things that look like weapons, explosives, incendiaries, drugs, drug paraphernalia, or large quantities of cash. It's not as if you think a weapon is in there and you're looking for it, and it's not as if you think there's a drug in there and are looking for it. You're just looking, and you're supposed to call a supervisor when you see something that looks like a weapon, explosive, incendiary, drug, drug paraphernalia, or large quantity of cash, right?

When you see something that seems obvious to you to be a weapon, you're supposed to react exactly the same way as if you saw something that seemed obvious to you to be drugs, aren't you?

BubbaLoop Feb 4, 2010 2:20 am


Originally Posted by Trollkiller (Post 13320441)
Prescription drugs are to be kept in their original labeled container. Having a prescription drug, even if it is prescribed to you, stored outside the original labeled container is illegal.

If that is really a law, and the container must be labeled in the American way (with the name of the patient), foreigners are in trouble. They do not sell drugs that way in the rest of the world. Pills are sold in their original, factory issued, packaging, without any label with the patients name. The American way is actually much easier to fool around with, since checking if the pills actually are what is on the container is not easy. On the other hand, pills in blisters are harder to swap around.

Take a pill bottle with a fake label on it saying nitroglycerin, full of explosive warnings, skull and crossbones. Take it out of the bag and hand it very slowly and carefully to the officer for hand screening, and warn him it is a medical necessity and cannot be shaken around.

Trollkiller Feb 4, 2010 4:04 am


Originally Posted by BubbaLoop (Post 13322493)
If that is really a law, and the container must be labeled in the American way (with the name of the patient), foreigners are in trouble. They do not sell drugs that way in the rest of the world. Pills are sold in their original, factory issued, packaging, without any label with the patients name. The American way is actually much easier to fool around with, since checking if the pills actually are what is on the container is not easy. On the other hand, pills in blisters are harder to swap around.

Take a pill bottle with a fake label on it saying nitroglycerin, full of explosive warnings, skull and crossbones. Take it out of the bag and hand it very slowly and carefully to the officer for hand screening, and warn him it is a medical necessity and cannot be shaken around.

As I understand it yes it is the law, but I did a short search for the statute last night but was unable to find it.

Boggie Dog Feb 4, 2010 5:10 am


Originally Posted by Trollkiller (Post 13322687)
As I understand it yes it is the law, but I did a short search for the statute last night but was unable to find it.

I take several medications daily. None highly controlled. If I carried all of the pill bottles around I would have a pretty big collection. It is much simpler to put the different meds in an organizer. Not saying that is legal just the way I do it and 100's of thousands of other people.

Now if TSA wants to play doctor let em at it. When we get to court the TSA employees involved will have to explain under oath what WEI comes in pill form.

wr_schwab Feb 4, 2010 6:01 am

Too bad you can't get one of these without the knife.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/ad41/

IrishDoesntFlyNow Feb 4, 2010 6:04 am


Originally Posted by Trollkiller (Post 13322687)
As I understand it yes it is the law, but I did a short search for the statute last night but was unable to find it.

TK, I believe there's a law (or maybe a regulation) about how drugs must be dispensed by a pharmacist, but I'm not aware of any attempt to dictate what individuals do with the drugs thereafter. For safety sake, we certainly recommend long-term storage in a labeled container so people who take multiple medications can tell them apart. But (as Boggie Dog notes), most people who take multiple medications repackage them into some sort of organizer for tracking purposes. Those little organizer thingies are widely sold and have no other purpose. On short trips, both hubby and I have been known just to decant our meds into an organizer and leave the original containers home.

~~ Irish

Mr. Gel-pack Feb 4, 2010 7:30 am


Originally Posted by wr_schwab (Post 13322969)
Too bad you can't get one of these without the knife.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/ad41/

You can, but it is a mod: I snapped the knife part off when I realized I had to wade through the moat on my return leg.

With the scissors remaining, it still does 80% of what it used to, and if you're used to carrying a little pocket knife, 80% is a heck of a lot better than nothing.

LostSoul Feb 4, 2010 8:40 am

Returning to the original topic of the thread:

Bring along one of these and "accidentally" activate it at appropriate moments throughout the screening process.

FliesFromCanada Feb 4, 2010 9:49 am

After removing your shoes, slowly and diligently spray the floor in front of you with disinfectant (3 oz bottle only) until you get to the point where you can put your shoes back on.

Or, wear flip flops, remove them, and loudly warn all passengers behind you to watch where they are walking as your friends call you 'Cauliflower Foot' because of all the warts and athlete's foot.

OK, I've just grossed myself out.

John Q. Public Feb 4, 2010 9:55 am


Originally Posted by SATTSO (Post 13322076)
My last post of the night, and my last post on this subject, as it's become sooo off topic.

Not to further beat down a worthless agency that should be dumped into the trash bin of history, but hasn’t the TSA become 'become sooo off topic'?

PhlyingRPh Feb 4, 2010 12:19 pm


Originally Posted by LostSoul (Post 13323777)
Returning to the original topic of the thread:

Bring along one of these and "accidentally" activate it at appropriate moments throughout the screening process.

This aligns so well with the juvenile nature of the process (and my sense of humour) that I think it is quite possibly the best piece of advice on the subject to date.

N965VJ Feb 4, 2010 1:19 pm


Originally Posted by IslandBased (Post 13319758)
If a BDO asks you any questions, pull out a Magic 8 Ball and read him the answer. ;)

Rut-roh!

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...6apg6wm4-1.jpg

IslandBased Feb 4, 2010 2:10 pm


Originally Posted by N965VJ (Post 13325856)

^:D^:D Hoist by my own petard...


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