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What is the most silly thing you have seen at a check point??

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What is the most silly thing you have seen at a check point??

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Old Jul 22, 2005, 8:32 pm
  #121  
 
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Originally Posted by eyecue
Umbrellas are pain in the butt to screen! IF you look at the signs that are posted at check-in some still say that umbrellas have to come out of the bags.
Some signs still say that umbrellas have to come out? I thought that TSA was supposed to standardize security.
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Old Jul 22, 2005, 9:40 pm
  #122  
 
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Originally Posted by Gargoyle
Most of the listed examples make sense, but confiscation a 10-speed Osterizer blender? Just confiscate the cutting blades, leave the rest. Confiscating c-clamps? they are no more a weapon than the latest Harry Potter book (which is a pretty heafty club). A caulking gun? The handle from a rollaboard is more of a weapon.
Oh, I don't know....

"FLY THIS PLANE TO ELBONIA OR I CALK YOU ALL!" <said while wildly brandishing calk gun>

or

"DON'T MAKE ME SET THIS THING TO FRAPPE - I'LL DO IT!" <uttered by a desperate member of the Smoothie Martyr Brigade>

Well, it could happen
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Old Jul 22, 2005, 10:30 pm
  #123  
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Originally Posted by red456
But I'll bet they didn't make him take off his shoes 'cause he was just a kid.
They always make my children remove their shoes!
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Old Jul 23, 2005, 5:36 am
  #124  
 
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Originally Posted by PatrickHenry1775
I thought that TSA was supposed to standardize security.
Hahaha.. Good one. ROFLMAO.
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Old Jul 23, 2005, 10:10 am
  #125  
 
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Originally Posted by PatrickHenry1775
Some signs still say that umbrellas have to come out? I thought that TSA was supposed to standardize security.
These signs are at the ticket counter and curb side check in. I believe they go back to the FAA days. TSA doesnt specify anything about umbrellas but each checkpoint/airport can ask additional requirements of passengers if it is not outlined in the SOP.
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Old Jul 23, 2005, 10:13 am
  #126  
 
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Originally Posted by Gargoyle
Article today on the "arsenal" the TSA collects every day at ORD. About 1,300 items per day. They've only made $33,000 in two years selling that stuff on line, so they clearly are pretty bad at marketing (or the best items are going elsewhere?).

ORD collecting "arsenal"

Most of the listed examples make sense, but confiscation a 10-speed Osterizer blender? Just confiscate the cutting blades, leave the rest. Confiscating c-clamps? they are no more a weapon than the latest Harry Potter book (which is a pretty heafty club). A caulking gun? The handle from a rollaboard is more of a weapon.
NO TOOLS are allowed. THere is not a distinction between c-clamps ,caulking guns or fastener removers.
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Old Jul 23, 2005, 11:54 am
  #127  
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Originally Posted by eyecue
NO TOOLS are allowed. THere is not a distinction between c-clamps ,caulking guns or fastener removers.
That's right, because we all know c-clamps can be used to hijack or damage an airplane
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Old Jul 23, 2005, 12:54 pm
  #128  
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Originally Posted by eyecue
NO TOOLS are allowed. There is not a distinction between c-clamps ,caulking guns or fastener removers.
Not exactly. The rule is NO TOOLS which are used by blue collar workers, artisans, service workers or craftspeople. TOOLS used by white collar workers, consultants, politicians, bureaucrats, etc. are allowed.
Tools used by scientists are allowed if they only use their fingers on the tools (iPods, calculators, pda's, etc.) but not if they use their entire hand (measuring tools, specimin gathering equipment, etc.).
Tools used by salespeople are allowed, but product samples are subject to the inspectors whim, er, I mean discretion.
Yardsticks are allowed, but tape measures are prohibited?

Do I sense a socio-economic discrimination/ economic profiling going on here?


Seriously, you make it sound like a simple, clear cut rule, but it isn't. It's all up to the individual inspector, and there is a huge grey area.
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Old Jul 23, 2005, 7:49 pm
  #129  
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I could have won $10K on Americas Stupidist Home Videos

Went through an airport, got to be one of the smallest to have pax service. About the size of the bus station in town. One gate, one security line, which opens 15 min. before boarding time. About 25 feet total from ID check to end of single file security down a straight hallway, so many family and friends wait at the rope by the ID check and give their final wave goodbye as the pax exits security.

On the other hand, if someone trips the MD it tends to hold up the whole line while the few screeners sort it out.

One of the first in line was an 18 year old girl who tripped the MD. Jeans and t shirt type, not a business FF type. Might have been her first flight. Rest of the RJ pax wait while they wand and wand her and finally figure it out and release her. The girl turns to face all of us in line behind her, and her four friends waiting at the rope, points an index finger directly to the center of each breast, and silently mouths the word "piercings" to her friends with a great big grin.

How I wish I had a video camera rolling. . .
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Old Jul 23, 2005, 7:55 pm
  #130  
 
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Originally Posted by Flaflyer
One of the first in line was an 18 year old girl who tripped the MD. Jeans and t shirt type, not a business FF type. Might have been her first flight. Rest of the RJ pax wait while they wand and wand her and finally figure it out and release her. The girl turns to face all of us in line behind her, and her four friends waiting at the rope, points an index finger directly to the center of each breast, and silently mouths the word "piercings" to her friends with a great big grin.

How I wish I had a video camera rolling. . .
The following detail will likely only matter to the men on this forum, but as it was in the "Uninvited Guests" thread, so it is here. The guys here are wondering if this 18 year old was good looking Or, to ask more crudely, was she hot?
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Old Jul 24, 2005, 7:56 am
  #131  
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Originally Posted by Gargoyle
Not exactly. The rule is NO TOOLS which are used by blue collar workers, artisans, service workers or craftspeople. TOOLS used by white collar workers, consultants, politicians, bureaucrats, etc. are allowed.
Tools used by scientists are allowed if they only use their fingers on the tools (iPods, calculators, pda's, etc.) but not if they use their entire hand (measuring tools, specimin gathering equipment, etc.).
Tools used by salespeople are allowed, but product samples are subject to the inspectors whim, er, I mean discretion.
Yardsticks are allowed, but tape measures are prohibited?

Do I sense a socio-economic discrimination/ economic profiling going on here?


Seriously, you make it sound like a simple, clear cut rule, but it isn't. It's all up to the individual inspector, and there is a huge grey area.

There is no gray area. Tools aren't allowed if carried by a scientist, accountant or computer repairperson. If it can be used to cut, snip, screw, bolt, hammer, fasten, slice, solder, melt, pry, strip or disassemble, it ain't going in your carry-on.

Tape measures are not prohibited nor are electronic calibrators, sensors, and measurement devices. These are not considered tools.

The only profiling going on here is against those items which would allow someone to configure a bomb in flight. Is the list perfect? No. Is it complete? No. Does it address every single contingency? No. Is there some discretion allowed? Yes, but not in the way you describe it.
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Old Jul 24, 2005, 8:03 am
  #132  
 
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Originally Posted by eyecue
NO TOOLS are allowed. THere is not a distinction between c-clamps ,caulking guns or fastener removers.
From what I have seen, a lot of tools are at TSA checkpoints.
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Old Jul 24, 2005, 6:33 pm
  #133  
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Originally Posted by Bart
There is no gray area. Tools aren't allowed if carried by a scientist, accountant or computer repairperson. If it can be used to cut, snip, screw, bolt, hammer, fasten, slice, solder, melt, pry, strip or disassemble, it ain't going in your carry-on.
Sad to say, early in my career I used to carry all of those for computer and software installations. I got used to just checking them. But that was way back when. If the rules are consistent I can live with it.

Back then we were allowed to carry retractable knives to open boxes. I mean if you had told someone you were going to hijack a plane with that they would have laughed at you. Times have changed.
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Old Jul 24, 2005, 7:32 pm
  #134  
 
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Originally Posted by Cholula
I could almost buy this “computers out“ farce if a few planes had been brought down with a laptop.
I have a colleague who was asked by a FA "Excuse me Sir, you're making other passengers uncomfetable, can I ask you to turn off your laptop" during a BNE-SYD flight.

He was flying the flight on MS Flight Sim in real time.

Not really actioned by a TSA, but still quite an amusing responce to "terror".
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Old Jul 24, 2005, 7:37 pm
  #135  
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Originally Posted by SirFlysALot
Sad to say, early in my career I used to carry all of those for computer and software installations.
Pre 9/11 I would never check my tools. When I have to go on-site to work or oversee an installation, I need a variety of chisels and hammers. Most of my good chisels are between 40 and 110 years old, hand forged, and are not replacable. Losing them is not an option. I would always find the airline supervisor, explain what I was carrying, show photos of the work, give them a business card. They'd escort me to security, where I'd ask for a supervisor and explain things. I never had a problem.

Last time I did that was pretty funny, since I also had a 4-1/2 inch angle grinder with a diamond tipped blade and a 4 foot electrical cord. The inspector and the supervisor had no problem with my thirty sharp chisels, rasps, files, and hammers, but were really concerned about the angle grinder. I finally pointed out that the electric cord was only 4 feet long... to threaten someone I'd have to plug it in, stand there, and beg the "victim" to please come closer to me. They gave up and let me through.

Now when I need tools on site, I'll pick some of my second quality ones, not the best ones, and fedex them ahead of time.
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