What Authority Does TSA Have Beyond The Security Checkpoint??
Jul 28, 2005 | 10:36 pm
#1
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What Authority Does TSA Have Beyond The Security Checkpoint??
I witnessed something today that didn't seem quite Kosher but maybe it was within the scope of the TSA.
A dude lit up a cigarette in the smoking room in Terminal C at LAS today. And he lit it with a lighter rather than a book of matches.
Two TSA folks were burning cig's in the smoking room when this happened and observed the lighter. One of the TSA folks stood up and, in the loudest LEO-esque voice he could muster, said "SIR, I MUST CONFISCATE THAT LIGHTER IMMEDIATELY"
The guy turned over the lighter sheepishly but it made me wonder where the TSA authority at an airport starts and stops.
Once you pass the checkpoint and proceed toward the gate, does the TSA still have the authority to confiscate anything they may have missed at the checkpoint? Or does that then become a LEO issue?
I'm asking this as I truly don't know and don't remember ever hearing about the physical boundaries of the TSA authority at an airport.
A dude lit up a cigarette in the smoking room in Terminal C at LAS today. And he lit it with a lighter rather than a book of matches.
Two TSA folks were burning cig's in the smoking room when this happened and observed the lighter. One of the TSA folks stood up and, in the loudest LEO-esque voice he could muster, said "SIR, I MUST CONFISCATE THAT LIGHTER IMMEDIATELY"
The guy turned over the lighter sheepishly but it made me wonder where the TSA authority at an airport starts and stops.
Once you pass the checkpoint and proceed toward the gate, does the TSA still have the authority to confiscate anything they may have missed at the checkpoint? Or does that then become a LEO issue?
I'm asking this as I truly don't know and don't remember ever hearing about the physical boundaries of the TSA authority at an airport.
Jul 29, 2005 | 2:02 am
#2
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49 C.F.R. 1542.5(c):
"TSA may enter and be present within secured areas, AOA's, and SIDA's without access media or identification media issued or approved by an airport operator or aircraft operator, in order to inspect or test compliance, or perform other such duties as TSA may direct."
"TSA may enter and be present within secured areas, AOA's, and SIDA's without access media or identification media issued or approved by an airport operator or aircraft operator, in order to inspect or test compliance, or perform other such duties as TSA may direct."
Jul 29, 2005 | 6:26 am
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Anyway, what's the point of refusing? These TSA "patriots" would follow you through the terminal screaming for a law-enforcement officer, who no doubt would treat the lighter as the Federal offense that it is! 
Bruce
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Jul 29, 2005 | 6:38 am
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Originally Posted by Cholula
I witnessed something today that didn't seem quite Kosher but maybe it was within the scope of the TSA.
A dude lit up a cigarette in the smoking room in Terminal C at LAS today. And he lit it with a lighter rather than a book of matches.
Two TSA folks were burning cig's in the smoking room when this happened and observed the lighter. One of the TSA folks stood up and, in the loudest LEO-esque voice he could muster, said "SIR, I MUST CONFISCATE THAT LIGHTER IMMEDIATELY"
A dude lit up a cigarette in the smoking room in Terminal C at LAS today. And he lit it with a lighter rather than a book of matches.
Two TSA folks were burning cig's in the smoking room when this happened and observed the lighter. One of the TSA folks stood up and, in the loudest LEO-esque voice he could muster, said "SIR, I MUST CONFISCATE THAT LIGHTER IMMEDIATELY"
Jul 29, 2005 | 7:12 am
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Originally Posted by whirledtraveler
How does this work? People can have matches in the secured area?!
Jul 29, 2005 | 8:45 am
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Originally Posted by mizzou65201
49 C.F.R. 1542.5(c):
"TSA may enter and be present within secured areas, AOA's, and SIDA's without access media or identification media issued or approved by an airport operator or aircraft operator, in order to inspect or test compliance, or perform other such duties as TSA may direct."
"TSA may enter and be present within secured areas, AOA's, and SIDA's without access media or identification media issued or approved by an airport operator or aircraft operator, in order to inspect or test compliance, or perform other such duties as TSA may direct."
Jul 29, 2005 | 9:02 am
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can this whole thing get any more ridiculous....
does the government think that terrorists need a lighter to 'light a bomb fuse', and they could not do the same thing with matches? Does the government think that a terrorists needs 5 books of matches to cause havoc, but would be unable to do so with 4?
I don't understand the (il)logic behind all of this
does the government think that terrorists need a lighter to 'light a bomb fuse', and they could not do the same thing with matches? Does the government think that a terrorists needs 5 books of matches to cause havoc, but would be unable to do so with 4?
I don't understand the (il)logic behind all of this
Jul 29, 2005 | 9:19 am
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Originally Posted by Cholula
One of the TSA folks stood up and, in the loudest LEO-esque voice he could muster, said "SIR, I MUST CONFISCATE THAT LIGHTER IMMEDIATELY" ....... does the TSA still have the authority to confiscate anything they may have missed at the checkpoint?
Jul 29, 2005 | 9:37 am
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Create A Criminal Division
Originally Posted by xyzzy
Yes, up to four books. Five would be dangerous, you know!
Jul 29, 2005 | 10:53 am
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Originally Posted by Cholula
I witnessed something today that didn't seem quite Kosher but maybe it was within the scope of the TSA.
A dude lit up a cigarette in the smoking room in Terminal C at LAS today. And he lit it with a lighter rather than a book of matches.
Two TSA folks were burning cig's in the smoking room when this happened and observed the lighter. One of the TSA folks stood up and, in the loudest LEO-esque voice he could muster, said "SIR, I MUST CONFISCATE THAT LIGHTER IMMEDIATELY"
The guy turned over the lighter sheepishly but it made me wonder where the TSA authority at an airport starts and stops.
A dude lit up a cigarette in the smoking room in Terminal C at LAS today. And he lit it with a lighter rather than a book of matches.
Two TSA folks were burning cig's in the smoking room when this happened and observed the lighter. One of the TSA folks stood up and, in the loudest LEO-esque voice he could muster, said "SIR, I MUST CONFISCATE THAT LIGHTER IMMEDIATELY"
The guy turned over the lighter sheepishly but it made me wonder where the TSA authority at an airport starts and stops.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showp...9&postcount=13
Two weeks ago, I was thrown out of T-9 at JFK (American Airlines) at 2:30 am after arriving on a very late flight - I had a connecting flight at 6:00 am and had a BP for it and had decided to simply sit and wait for my connecting flight.
Nevertheless, the TSA employee yelled at me, telling me that it was a "Sterile Concourse" and that unless I was departing on one of the delayed European flights (that had yet to depart), I had to leave the concourse immediately.