digital projector
Feb 21, 2011 | 9:09 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 1,439
How can we be expected to abide by rules we cannot read?
FaustsAccountant, confusion like that which you described is precisely why I suggested seeking TSA's publication of the rules they require passengers to follow. The OP shouldn't have to deal with such vagueness. We are a nation of laws, not of men. We shouldn't have to throw ourselves at the mercy of whatever security guard happens to be on duty when we get to the airport; we should be able to read the rules and know that we are in compliance with them. Unfortunately, TSA refuse to publish the rules we're required to follow in order to get around our own country. That's not the way government is supposed to work in the United States, but people seem to forget this when dealing with TSA.
When an airport security guard stops us to question us, and demands to search our belongings, our response should, I think, be, "By what authority?" When he or she says that we cannot enter our airport terminals while carrying water bottles or digital projectors, I think we should ask, "By what authority? Show me the law." As long as we don't lead them to believe we're in violation of the law, they should leave us alone.
If the answer to, "What are the current security rules about taking PowerPoint type projectors in carry-on luggage?" is "There are no such rules," then the OP should feel confident carrying his or her projector onto a flight, and he or she should know that any security guard who tries to prevent him from doing so is either mistaken or lying about the rules. We should not have to follow rules that airport security guards make up on-the-fly in order to travel from one state to another via commercial airline.
When an airport security guard stops us to question us, and demands to search our belongings, our response should, I think, be, "By what authority?" When he or she says that we cannot enter our airport terminals while carrying water bottles or digital projectors, I think we should ask, "By what authority? Show me the law." As long as we don't lead them to believe we're in violation of the law, they should leave us alone.
If the answer to, "What are the current security rules about taking PowerPoint type projectors in carry-on luggage?" is "There are no such rules," then the OP should feel confident carrying his or her projector onto a flight, and he or she should know that any security guard who tries to prevent him from doing so is either mistaken or lying about the rules. We should not have to follow rules that airport security guards make up on-the-fly in order to travel from one state to another via commercial airline.
Feb 21, 2011 | 9:31 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 189
FaustsAccountant, confusion like that which you described is precisely why I suggested seeking TSA's publication of the rules they require passengers to follow. The OP shouldn't have to deal with such vagueness. We are a nation of laws, not of men. We shouldn't have to throw ourselves at the mercy of whatever security guard happens to be on duty when we get to the airport; we should be able to read the rules and know that we are in compliance with them. Unfortunately, TSA refuse to publish the rules we're required to follow in order to get around our own country. That's not the way government is supposed to work in the United States, but people seem to forget this when dealing with TSA.
When an airport security guard stops us to question us, and demands to search our belongings, our response should, I think, be, "By what authority?" When he or she says that we cannot enter our airport terminals while carrying water bottles or digital projectors, I think we should ask, "By what authority? Show me the law." As long as we don't lead them to believe we're in violation of the law, they should leave us alone.
If the answer to, "What are the current security rules about taking PowerPoint type projectors in carry-on luggage?" is "There are no such rules," then the OP should feel confident carrying his or her projector onto a flight, and he or she should know that any security guard who tries to prevent him from doing so is either mistaken or lying about the rules. We should not have to follow rules that airport security guards make up on-the-fly in order to travel from one state to another via commercial airline.
When an airport security guard stops us to question us, and demands to search our belongings, our response should, I think, be, "By what authority?" When he or she says that we cannot enter our airport terminals while carrying water bottles or digital projectors, I think we should ask, "By what authority? Show me the law." As long as we don't lead them to believe we're in violation of the law, they should leave us alone.
If the answer to, "What are the current security rules about taking PowerPoint type projectors in carry-on luggage?" is "There are no such rules," then the OP should feel confident carrying his or her projector onto a flight, and he or she should know that any security guard who tries to prevent him from doing so is either mistaken or lying about the rules. We should not have to follow rules that airport security guards make up on-the-fly in order to travel from one state to another via commercial airline.
I agree, that's how things should work!
But the distance between that and reality right now is so large. And there is also a certain amount of logic in these procedures that are being lost constantly with each new roll-out.
And it seems that those of us who assert ourselves are subject to retaliation. So how do we fix this?
Dealing with a group/agency who hide behind "SSI," fear tactics and vague 'inconsistency to keep 'em off track' gets into circular arguments. It seems to me that TSA and DHS is an undefined and limitless group, and that's where the real danger lies.
My sister remarked after our trip a few months ago, she feels very deterred from flying. She also commented (away from the checkpoint) 'who watches the watchers?'