Greg Brooks tried to take a miniature camera past TSA at the airport, but the supervisor said the brushed metal case, which looks like a Zippo lighter, was too much of a security risk, and wouldn't allow him to take it on the plane.

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/05/12...allow_zip.html

It's not about security, it's about the appearance of security.

Our tax dollars at work.

Funny that they have "screener discretion" for the shoe carnival, but not the smarts to use that discretion (if it's even needed) for something that clearly doesn't violate any ban.

This story is unbelievable - more evidence of kabuki security.

If the screening is truly effective, then this camera case would be identifiable as only a camera case. Moreover, even if it were a lighter, how could it harm the plane, since the passenger would not have explosives on him because he passed through TSA screening?

"World Class Security" my a**!

Probably saved him an interview with a FAM after a twitchy FA or spooked fellow-passenger turned him in for having a lighter (gasp).

Boy, am I glad this is my last year.

I think you just coined a new term.

Gee, they don't cost too much. What if this became a popular item?

[QUOTE=Wally Bird]Probably saved him an interview with a FAM after a twitchy FA or spooked fellow-passenger turned him in for having a lighter (gasp).


Nah, the Federal Air Marshalls will only intervene if you offer the
Flight Attendants a tootsie pop!

What totally sucks here is the lack of any reasonable appeal process -- follow the orders of an idiot (in this case supervisor) or miss your flight. Make a scene and politely ask for higher authorities? Yeah right. No way the FSD will overrule a supervisor on this -- even if they guy was an idiot. Let the police show up? What can they do, except say "Sir calm down! Leave the area.. stop making a scene etc." It is lose-lose. The guy was lucky he had the fed ex option. He could have lost his camera.

The better option -- put it in your bag and say nothing. Chances are they won't find it. If they do then make a scene.

In the spirit of Public Enemy...

TSA is a Joke.

In mid-shoe carnival (oops...watch out for those Tevas) yesterday at IND, the TSA screener didn't really appreciate my comment to the guy in line behind me (who was shaking his head at the stupidity of it all) that if airport screeners had been doing their job on the morning of 9/11 and prior, we wouldn't be dealing with this crap now.

Of course, it's heartening to see the same level of common sense being displayed regardless of the date. 9/11/01...knives are bad, boxcutters are fine (serious lack of common sense). 5/13/05...lighters are bad, 4 books of matches are fine. Give 'em high marks for consistency...

*EDIT*

What sucks worse than anything is that I want to support the government and the TSA and get better security. But anyone with a brain can see that's just not happening.

When will this crap end?

If I was in this guy's shoes, I certainly would have caused a scene. I would have requested the TSA Screening Manager; if that didn't work, I would either consult with the airport police for potential assistance and speak with the security liason with the carrier I am flying.

If this means a missed flight (providing I am not in a hurry), so be it. A camera is not a weapon and for them to not allow the camera or the camera case through because it looks like a "zippo" means common sense does not exist. As it is, zippos and bic lighters get through security checkpoints and into the sterile area of on a daily basis anyhow.

At least he had the FedEx option, but this makes no excuse for the stupid decisions these fools are making.

If absolutely necessary, I would have just burried it in my luggage somewhere and cleared security at another checkpoint; considering the TSA can't catch GUNS at some checkpoints including SDF/Louisville recently, I would think a 100% legal camera would get through at another checkpoint. It's not like I'm advocating using another checkpoint to get a weapon or prohibited item through, just a bloody camera and case of all things.

When sh!t like this happens one can only shake their head in disbelief at what a joke this agency has become. I appreciate the good TSA folks out there who use common sense and apply policy properly, but they really seem to be lacking at many airports.

SDF_Traveler

I have to be honest, I did not coin this term. FWAAA should receive the credit for this perfectly descriptive term. This link http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ghlight=kabuki
should connect to the thread, regarding a terminal dump at PDX, in which FWAAA introduced the term in November 2004. If we could popularize this phrase, so that the media picks up on the concept, we would have performed a great service for our country, from the perspectives of fiscal sanity, actual security, and most importantly our freedoms to travel and be secure in our persons against unreasonable searches (4th Amendment).

100% Correct!

This is factually incorrect. Screening did NOT fail on 9/11. The items used to commandeer the planes were ALLOWED at the time.

All that needed to change post 9/11 was the prohibited items list. We did NOT need 150,000 more federal employees.

It never will change. The TSA is not about security, it is about giving the illusion of security. There is nobody in the TSA, from the very top on down who knows a damn thing about security.

OK, ya got me...from a purely factual standpoint, I guess the screeners were doing their jobs on the morning of 9/11. My objection is whether or not they were doing their job effectively (still a good question today). I don't want a bunch of stooges who sit there and mindlessly enforce directives handed down by people who've not been out from behind a desk in 20 years. The job title isn't "directive enforcer"...it's "security screener"...provide me with some actual security please.

So...on the morning of 9/11...no knives, but boxcutters are fine. That's frickin' stupid, and it doesn't take hindsight to see that. What ticks me off is that the same level of stupidity is on display 3.5 years later, with the "no lighters, but 4 packs of matches are OK" rule. Similar to the prohibition against screwdrivers/tools in carry-on (I'm a field service engineer), but pens are fine. What does TSA think I'm going to do...disassemble the plane in-flight? There's nothing I can do with a screwdriver (from an assault standpoint) that I can't do with a pen.

And there's always the amusing inconsistencies from airport to airport.

W/respect to the TSA, I've almost reached the same point with them that I have with the people behind the counter at McDonald's. Periodically your food order will get screwed up...but why get mad at the counter people? If they had a brain, ambition, etc. they probably wouldn't be working at McDonald's in the first place. It is what it is...a cruddy fast food joint. Same thing with TSA...it is what it is...by all outward appearances a government bureaucracy staffed mainly by people that couldn't get a better gig.

The majority in this forum are critical of current security, but I think it's important to keep our facts straight. Otherwise we're no better than the media and the sheep in perpetuatuing myths and (d/)misinformation.

On the morning of 9/11, knives with a blade length 4 inches or less were not prohibited, in fact they were explicitly allowed. (9/11 report - section 3.3)