TSA: Are "improvised electronic devices" prohibited?
Mar 13, 2008 | 9:22 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS and vicinity
Programs: Former UA 1P
Posts: 3,730
TSA: Are "improvised electronic devices" prohibited?
Apologies if this story made it to FT in September '07, but a search didn't find it. I saw the link today in an article about the MacBook Air incident:
http://vivara.net/blog/?p=61
(For the non-electronics folks: RC is resistor-capacitor (components typically found on every circuit board), and DMM is digital multimeter, a common tool to measure voltage, current, etc.)
Was this just another case of TSA harassment, or are "improvised" electronic devices actually prohibited? As an aside, if so, why are they not on the list?
Those of us in electronics-related fields may often travel with custom or modified electronics. I've flown a couple of times with modified laptops and/or home-made circuit boards, none of which have ever elicited even the ETD swab and visual inspection that I would expect. But maybe I've just been lucky.
To me, this is yet another case of TSA overstepping their bounds. If it looks suspicious, please run an ETD test and do a visual inspection. But if it's not on the prohibited items list, not a weapon, and not an explosive, let the passenger go on his way. Just because you don't know what it is doesn't mean it is banned. Anything else is ridiculous.
http://vivara.net/blog/?p=61
Yesterday I flew out of Rapid City, SD as part of some work I’m doing. I was in the security line when I heard my name paged.
This crack security staff was digging through my bag. They were concerned because I brought a microcontroller programmer:
Actually, it wasn’t just the programmer, it was the 1 ohm resistor I had spliced in series with the power lead to measure current, and the 10 second RC filter I had placed across that to give my DMM a better chance of reading the average current.
“Sir, this is an improvised electronic device. You will never be allowed to fly with this.”
I responded to many questions with information about my occupation, circuit theory up to and including Ohm’s law, and a discussion of the market for bicycle power meters. But they still would not let me fly with the programmer. I had to leave it behind.
I was finally able to fly out ten hours later, with a brand-new-in-the-box MSP430 programmer. Apparently, it’s not “improvised” if it comes in a printed box.
This crack security staff was digging through my bag. They were concerned because I brought a microcontroller programmer:
Actually, it wasn’t just the programmer, it was the 1 ohm resistor I had spliced in series with the power lead to measure current, and the 10 second RC filter I had placed across that to give my DMM a better chance of reading the average current.
“Sir, this is an improvised electronic device. You will never be allowed to fly with this.”
I responded to many questions with information about my occupation, circuit theory up to and including Ohm’s law, and a discussion of the market for bicycle power meters. But they still would not let me fly with the programmer. I had to leave it behind.
I was finally able to fly out ten hours later, with a brand-new-in-the-box MSP430 programmer. Apparently, it’s not “improvised” if it comes in a printed box.
Was this just another case of TSA harassment, or are "improvised" electronic devices actually prohibited? As an aside, if so, why are they not on the list?
Those of us in electronics-related fields may often travel with custom or modified electronics. I've flown a couple of times with modified laptops and/or home-made circuit boards, none of which have ever elicited even the ETD swab and visual inspection that I would expect. But maybe I've just been lucky.
To me, this is yet another case of TSA overstepping their bounds. If it looks suspicious, please run an ETD test and do a visual inspection. But if it's not on the prohibited items list, not a weapon, and not an explosive, let the passenger go on his way. Just because you don't know what it is doesn't mean it is banned. Anything else is ridiculous.
Mar 13, 2008 | 9:53 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 99654
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,450
This is yet another way to harass passengers.. 
If you work in the hardware research, or a student, its not easy to avoid
having things that they may consider IED and sometimes you need to travel
with them.
If you work in the hardware research, or a student, its not easy to avoid
having things that they may consider IED and sometimes you need to travel
with them.
Mar 13, 2008 | 10:57 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Omaha, NE, USA
Posts: 1,496
Well, you didn't almost get shot
The most recent IElectronicD event I remember is the college student in Boston with the LED light on her shirt. She got hauled off to jail and one of the officers involved said something to the effect of "she's lucky she didn't get shot".
There's also the recent Dental Air Compressor confiscation in Houston...
I understand being cautious and concerned when unusual items show up, but if there is an appropriate explanation available, I don't get the "confiscation is our only option" approach.
There's also the recent Dental Air Compressor confiscation in Houston...
I understand being cautious and concerned when unusual items show up, but if there is an appropriate explanation available, I don't get the "confiscation is our only option" approach.
Mar 13, 2008 | 11:12 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,684
Mike
Mar 13, 2008 | 11:41 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Somewhere near BWI
Programs: DL DM, HH Dia, SPG Gold, MR Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,654
