Laser pointers through security?
 

I'm giving a presentation next week and I thought I'd carry on my laser pointer. Looks like a pen. Which stupidity should I count on, the one which goes 'ah, that's a pen, it's okay" or the one which goes "it's a weapon, it's a weapon!"

Is there a policy on laser pointers?

This one has some sentimental value as it was given to me by a group of people I worked with. Any chance of confiscation?

I've got a nice compact laser pointer on my keychain. It's gone through "security" at many different airports in the last 2 years without problem. To date, on only a single occasion did anyone bother looking at my keys (which also have a USB fob and some random other things other than keys on the keyring).

Travel with my pen-sized laser pointer every week.

During summer travel with a key-chain sized pointed on those keys.

NEVER had any TSA issues. Never even been questioned about it .. tho I do carry a lot of pens ..they never have taken the pointer out and looked at it.

Also do a fair amount of international travel and again never had a proplem there. FRA security in November was the most grueling I have ever seen and they did not even notice the laser pointer.

Same here. No sweat. Have one that is actually shaped like a .30 cal bullet and have never been stopped or questioned about it. Oops, just jinxed myself.

They are not prohibited. I think the TSA website even specifically addresses this.

Good. Do screeners read the website, though?

Probably not. :(

How about the portable laser measurer... our company will be doing some work in Germany and not sure if it's allowed as carry-on. Says it's a Class IIIa laser... specifically a Stanley TLM 100 unit.

Any help or can you point me to any TSA literature, would be appreciated.

Several years ago, they were specifically listed as a "permitted item" in carryons, but I didn't find any mention of them this morning in a review of the site.

Definitely no problem with laser pointers, as long as they are not lightsabers. ;)

SmilingBoy.

Put it with your pens, no one will notice. I carry a portable inkwell with me every week (about half an ounce of not dangerous, but potentially messy, liquid) and have yet to take it through in a freedom baggie. Lined up next to my fountain pens, it looks like another pen. (They should make me check it; if I were to open it on a plane, I could cause extensive dry-cleaning bills within a six-foot radius. :p )

I carry a red and a green pointer in my carry on luggage every week. TSA is too interested in the size of shampoo and cologne bottles to be looking out for things that one could use to actually blind someone with.

Well, the TSA allows DVD burners, which have class IIIb lasers in them. Lots of laser pointers are class IIIa.

Burning laser pointer: http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/10/d...ag-flashlight/

Me, too
 

I carry one with me since I use it for training. I go thru security about four or five times per month for about three years now. It's always in my carryon and I've never had a problem with it.

Took one thru TPA 2 months ago. It looks like a 30-06 rifle shell. Missed this and a couple of lighters (still banned at the time) but took my deodorant!! :td: :mad:

You mean people actually still use fountain pens??? :p ;) j/k Haven't seen anyone use those in quite a while.

Safe travels

Tim