Fireworks and security
 

I went to a family reunion in which someone set up a fireworks display, and I photographed it from about fifty feet away. I got through Rochester/Monroe County International, NY, (ROC) with my camera OK. However, at LaGuardia, they took a swab--the bomb/explosives check. The lens cap came back positive, and I had to take out all my carry-on photo equipment, and they checked everything twice with newly open swabs, checked my shoes, and gave me the evil arched eyebrow. Nothing else came up positive, but it took them about twenty extra minutes I'm glad I had to convince them I was OK (I am). My wife says it was the fireworks. Whaddya think? Will there be a few more delays this week? Has anyone thought of this, or has it happened to anyone, say, someone who went to target practice, then tried to board...?

There was a discusion earlier regarding whether or not the explosive residue used by ski patrol would set off the airport sniffers.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/006309.html

Yes, but using bleach was the only substantive suggestion. Is there any other way, since many garments don't take to bleach very well. Would a good washing do? What about unwashable items?

Among other things, certain medication can set off the explosives residue detectors. I know of someone that had a positive indication on their carry-on. They were asked if they had any medication with them, and what kind. The result was that one of the medications they were carrying was commonly known to set off the detectors. At this point, they were allowed to proceed.

This was prior to 9/11 - I would imagine that these days, even if the passenger identified such a medication, and even if that medication was actually found in their baggage, that they would still be subject to a thorough search to cover the situation of the medication being placed there as a red herring. At least I would hope that this would be the case.

As I sit here listening to fireworks, I am wondering what is going to happen tomorrow...I have asked the same question about fireworks but was told that fireworks were "different" and wouldn't set off the bomb detectors...we'll see

I am in the fireworks business, sometimes I set the "sniffers" off, sometimes I don't, doesn't seem to be related to the amount of "exposure" I have had, but does seem certain airports pick it up more. As they search my bag, they find my business cards, and that usually ends the problem for me. I plan on it and pack accordingly, so that there isn't much for them to go through. I always plan on extra time too. Just part of the biz for me. For the rest of you, unless you are up close and personal with the display, I don't think there will be enough residue to cause any problems, just shower and wash your clothes as normal.

Welcome to FT, SUBERRY! Next year, we should have a 4th of July FT DO somewhere http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

My younger brother pulled one of the most bone-headed stunts I'd seen in a long time...attempting to fly home from South Carolina with a duffle full of firecrackers, bottle rockets and other fireworks not generally available for sale in Florida (actually, they are available - you just have to know how to ask for them. But I digress.)

When I say full, I mean FULL. He very nearly missed his flight ... if he hadn't been at the airport almost 3 hours early, he would have. It's always been illegal to carry fireworks on planes, of course, but they rarely caught people before all the new technology took effect.

It's ridiculous to see fireworks these days- in most places it's illegal to set them ff. We quit buying them when we visited my parents in SC because it's illegal to set them off on the beach (for good reason) and the houses are too close in their neighborhood to do it safely. So, you can buy them all over the place- but the tourists get nailed if they try to use them locally and it's probably illegal for them to use them in their home state.

My favorite silliness is Ohio- you can buy them but you have to promise to take them out of state!



[This message has been edited by Regina Berens (edited 07-08-2002).]

woodgirl,

Your note doesn't say whether your brother succeeded in bringing home these fireworks. What's the long story of this?

There was no question of bringing them home...They are (and have been) illegal to take on planes, and even if a shipper could have been found to mail them (which I doubt) there was no time.

Bro said security personnel were clearly used to idiot tourists trying to take fireworks home, so they weren't really threatening to throw him in jail, but they made it very clear to him that jail was definitely on the list of options. Once he realized how many rules he'd broken, he accepted that he'd just done a Really Dumb Thing that cost him some money. He was mad, however, that he didn't think to ask them to empty the duffle and give THAT back. (they didn't.) I think, but am not entirely sure, that he was flying out of CAE but it might have been Myrtle Beach.

The only other "story" to tell is the strip The Bride tore out of his hide after they (finally) got on the plane. I don't think fireworks were in short supply.

Regina, In Florida, to buy anything but sparklers and fountains you have to declare that you're using them for: 1) Sporting events 2) Blasting and demolition or 3) Scaring birds away from fields or fisheries. It's amazing how badly Florida's birds start behavin' right around July 3.

edited because it's birds, not brides, you're supposed to be scaring.

[This message has been edited by wordgirl (edited 07-08-2002).]