TSA: Radar Detectors
 

When I travel, I'd like to start bringing my radar detector for use in the rental car. Does anyone know whether this would be a problem if it's in my carry-on thru security?

Edit to add: It's non-battery (plugs into the cig-lighter), so you can't turn it on at all. Anyone with experience or otherwise?

Not a problem at all.

Thanks, TSAJohn - appreciated. I ask because of the following article: http://www.roadandtravel.com/yougogi...ravelrules.htm

Scroll down 5-6 paragraphs, under "Switches" where they mentioned confiscation?

I've never had any problems with it either. Just sat in my carry on and never got a second look.

I would advise you to be careful if you travel to DC or VA, though, as they're illegal there and are subject to fines and/or confiscation.

Never had a problem
 

I've been bringing mine in my carry on for years and it's never gotten a second look. Being a Jersey driver, it's saved me a few tickets on the road.

There isn't a publication date on the article that you reference, but the information seems to be several years old.

I checked the creation date on the web page and it is Jan 2006. I don't know where they are getting the information from. We don't require that electronic devices be turned on if they are battery powered. Can you imagine what a slow down that be to the line. Some people have many battery operated items in their bags. We cant stop them all and make them show us that they all work. This article is probably hinting at having the components of an IED with you.

Am I understanding that your policy is: If someone has the components of a battery operated IED, your policy is to have them show you that it works? :D

I can imagine how much more interesting it could be with the sex toys you guys find. :)

Reading the article - it seems like it may be a Canadian TSA policy to test battery-operated devices, but I travel YYC often and no one has really paid attention any devices. On another note, for those of you TSA employed, if you were to confiscate something, do you offer a shipping option or is the item just taken and never given back?

Maybe they do but I certainly don't!!! :D

I second superguy. I travel btw. OH & DC and always carry my radar detector with me in my carry-on and, no one has even raised an eyebrow or confiscate it so far!

These are illegal in VA/DC and you will be fined only if you use it. Am not sure what they will do if I carry it along wherever I go, but not use it!

Yes, Canada does seem to have such a policy. One time I traveled through Toronto with a discharged cell-phone. It wasn't broken; I had simply used all of its battery power and didn't have my charger with me. This caused no end of trouble for me. An extremely hostile young woman ordered me to turn on the phone and then told me that if the phone couldn't be turned on, it would have to be checked. I had not checked any luggage and really didn't have time to go back and do that. Finally, a supervisor stepped in and got enough of a rise out of my dead phone to allow it through. What a nightmare experience that was! By the way, the phone itself is so small that it couldn't do significant damage, even if it were loaded with C4. The whole thing was so silly.

Bruce

Line would not be slow, line would stop.

I just counted my normal battery powered travel stash: NC headphone, camera, 3 flashlights(penlights if you must know, no Five D cell maglights :D ), 2 alarm clocks, cell phone, battery powered cell phone charger, watch = 10 battery devices IF I leave the laptop and CD player at home.

The average traveler must have about 5 BP devices with them.

Turn them all on? Gridlock at the checkpoint.

I bet your watch has a battery, too. Mine does.

Bruce