Precheck remove book
 

Last week at CLT in the Precheck line, an announcement was made that the new policy is to remove any books. Everything else is OK, just books. At GSO they pulled my backpack for a search and explosive test and said the reason was because I had a book in it.

Is this some new, unpublished rule?

Glad that they are telling people to remove them. My rolling bag was pulled aside for inspection on Feb 4 and it was clear that the problem was the three books inside. The person ahead of me in line (who flies in and out of CLT regularly) warned me that books seemed to be a problem and speculated that there was something wrong with the equipment. Circa 5:20-5:30 AM, one pre-check line pulled so many bags for secondary inspections that we had to wait a second time.

I am having hilarious/terrifying fantasies of a TSA "profile."

"Our profilers determined that the suspect may or may not be travelling with reading material."

"We have to stop and question any passenger who appears to know how to read, or who is travelling with books, periodicals, newspapers, computers, Kindles, and iPads."

Someone should then raise his or her hand and ask about comic books, graphic novels, and books of artwork. What about movies with subtitles? What about movie versions of books?

I remember when books were banned for the last two hours of an inbound international flights to the USA after the "Underwear Bomber." Pens, blankets, and playing cards were also forbidden.

Are we allowed to have thoughts about books, assuming the book is on the TSA-approved list?

Can I bring a book with me if it's in a re-sealable plastic bag?

What if I write a book while I'm on the plane?

Will there be large bins for people to deposit forbidden books, so that the literature can be burned later? (I suggest Fahrenheit 451.)

Last week, we traveled with several books each and had no requests to remove them, nor any additional scrutiny. At GJT, my bag did get an extra look, but simply because the screener was training on ID'ing heavy-duty photo gear and was showing the trainee how to resolve items like big glass lenses.

I had two thick guide books in the bag, and neither were even pulled out or swabbed. My wife had three paperbacks in her bag, and it didn't get any extra looks, at GJT or at IAD on the outbound, FWIW.

I suspect rogue agents rather than some kind of new policy.

Fahrenheit 451 anyone? :p (damn it, Mats made that joke already :( )

LAX, BUR ONT, and PDX no special request or screening for books. I guessing it is a regional policy since both times I was in NC.

OMG, I have 1000 books in my bag. Oh wait, their on my Kindle Paperwhite. Phew, I was worried for a moment there....