I'm surprised this isn't on the TSA permitted/prohibited items list. FT to the rescue.

Laser pointers are fine. Nobody will probably even bother to ask to look at it unless it's a new TSO on x-ray who hasn't seen one before or doesn't recognize it.

Yeah, see now wer'e in bizarro world again. I can't take a bottle of water through the checkpoint, but I take a device that I could use to burn a hole through the retina of a crewmember or fellow passenger.

..........

Not in Australia. We recently received official guidance from a colleague who was detained:

Dear X:
Thank you for taking the time to register your enquiry via Z Airport�s website feedback form on 7 August 2008.

In response to your query, please note that red laser pointers are defined as a controlled weapon under the Weapons Act and there is a requirement for Z Airport to report these articles to airport police.

The police would then make an assessment as to the validity of the use of the laser. To avoid this being an issue it is suggested that laser pointers be stored in checked through luggage.

Thank you for contacting Z Airport.

Either TSA is slacking off on supervision or they changed the policy as I just had two brand new laser pointers surreptitiously, ahem, 'confiscated' from my checked on luggage flying Hawaiian Airlines from Las Vegas to Maui via Honolulu. No notes, obvious TSA ransacking, forced open and broke my very durable digital underwater camera waterproof case also. It's getting so you can't take ANYTHING with you anymore. You can't carry EVERYTHING and their policy basically denies ALL claims (except 'broken' clothing... to a very limited extent). It's enough to make one just stay home!

Never pack anything of value in checked-on luggage, and that applies particularly to electronics. TSA may have stolen your laser pointers, or baggage handlers may have. Either way, theft from luggage is epidemic.

Before TSA it was a lot less endemic.

My wife attended a conference today during which the speaker asked to borrow a pen to use as a pointer. TSA confiscated his laser pointer. I think she said he came from Philly.

Ironically, a sturdy pen could produce a nasty, and perhaps fatal wound if used maliciously.

I've not had my laser pointed confiscated, but I didn't travel with it recently.

I did have a pen-sized mini LED flashlight in my bag that evidently was very, very fascinating. They scanned my bag back & forth a couple of times and finally asked me about it. They accepted my explanation without verification. It could have just as easily been a laser pointer I guess it was a good distraction because I left a bottle of water in the bag that they didn't notice at all (not that they are consistent on noticing liquids anyway).

I just had a run in with the security at Melbourne Airport over my green laser pointer. But they were very civilized especially when I told them I had given an invited lecture and that I take it with me all over the world for such purposes.
When I give plenary talks they are often in very large auditoriums or hotel ballrooms and the ordinary laser pointers don't work so well I need something really bright. They brought in the police who questioned me and then asked me if they could either take it or its batteries. I gladly handed over 4 AAA batteries (2 from the pointer and two spare) and got to keep the laser pointer. I was en route back to LAX at the time so they seemed OK with me taking it out of the country straight away provided it was inoperable on the flight. They told me next time I come in I should put it in my checked luggage. I've not had any problems with it in the US no one ever even asks about it I usually have it in my briefcase along with the rest of my work. The Melbourne security people and the Melbourne police were very nice about it especially when they found out I was an American who had been invited to Australia to give a lecture and was now en route back to Los Angeles. I was also very civilized to them telling them I did not know it was a problem, it was not listed as an item I had to report upon entering the country on the customs form, and that I had traveled the world with it giving lectures. I also told them I knew I had to abide by their laws and I was simply ignorant of any issue with this particular item. They also told me that the law is not a federal law in Australia but rather a regional one and it depends which state you are in - some allow them and some do not. They said this was why it was not discussed on the customs form because that is in regards to federal regulations not state ones. That said, the laser pointer had gone through several scanners for domestic flights in Australia (between Melbourne and Adelaide) before it was "discovered" by the security people at the international terminal Melbourne upon departure from the country.
Overall I found the Australian security to be quite efficient and very polite to me - ditto for the police.

Only when a traveler prints out the pages and holds them directly in front of the screeners face.

And then the screener will usually claim that the website is "outdated."

It's been my experience that when passing through environments where pilferage is high or confiscation is a risk, disassembling expensive electronics and separating the parts largely protects them from theft and/or confiscation.

It turns out a remarkably large percentage of the population can't recognize components of common electronic items. Further, many people can't re-assemble such things and find it bewildering that anyone else can or would. They might think you're a bit of an odd duck for hauling around "broken" things, but they won't try to take such "junk".

Took my high powered green laser through DEN in January. Not a peep from the clerks.. There were no batteries in it, so maybe that helped?