Weapons in luggage will now bring hefty fines

USA TODAY ^ | 2/19/04 | Laura Parker

[Mr. Mojo]

if I can be fined by the government for a bad attitude, then this has gone too far.

Yep.....it's as subjective as can be. The mood of the airline employees can influence what constitutes "bad attitude" or not. And would my usual early-morning, non-smiling, grumpy demeanor be interpretted as atttitude problem worthy of a fine?

[edwords]

We wouldn't have a TSA if we had a Republican President and Congress.
Uhhhh. Oh, right. I forgot.
(Stay home in November. No vote is a vote, too.)

[mikenola]

"Attitude" is listed among the "aggravating factors" that can result in a fine.

In other words, shut the f**k up and OBEY!

[Jim Cane]

Just bow and scrape and keep your eyes down and say "Yessah Massah." "Nossah Massah."

Remember: that gum smacking illiterate rifling through your belongings is now "federalized" and therefore MORE equal than you.

[SW6906]

"I can't take it on the plane with me. I can't put it in my luggage. It certainly won't fit in my carry-on. How the hell do I get my weapons across country - Pony Express?"

Yeah, those broadswords are a bitch to pack around, aren't they? ;o)

[RicocheT]

The misguided TSA is the child of both political parties. Bush let DOT Sec. Mineta set up the silly rules and the Democrats made sure it was a federal union jobs program. Safety and dignified treatment for flying customers were way down the list.

To fine without reasonable appeal is unconstitutional taking. There should be a hearing near where you live so you don't have to again fly across country to contest a $300 fine. The idea of a fine when it was an obvious mistake (silver plated cake server and knife) is obnoxious.

[Xenalyte]

That's more a gladius, actually, but the katana is the real problem. (The Frisbee of Death will fit quite nicely in all but a small purse.)

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

("security screeners at Baltimore-Washington International Airport found a silver-plated cake serving set in her carry-on bag.")

Well I guess I see this differently. Yes I feel bad for the poor lady, and yes they should have the fine thing posted and the fine is a bit steep blah blah blah...
BUT didn't she pack her own bag? If she was in doubt she should have checked it out before she got to the airport. What would have happened if she got on the plane with it ( yes it can still happen) then wanted a candy bar out of her carry-on bag and the *knife* fell out? I can tell you what would have happened the whole plane would have gone ape Sh%t! Before she could say anything she would have been thrown to the floor and sat upon. If I were on the plane I would have been one of the people sitting on her. Then the plane would have been escorted by fighter planes to the nearest airport all because she FORGOT.

We live in a different world after 9-11 WE CAN NOT BE TOO CAREFUL no matter how much of a pain in the butt it is for us. We need to think certain things through a little better and then think it through again just to be sure.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Canada customs has been doing this for years...Came back from the UK in 82. The agents were going to seize my great gandmothers crystalwear, my mother threatened to smash it right there on the floor so that the agents wouldn't get their paws on it...It sure looks nice in the china cabinet at my parents house...

Nothing changes...they just give a new fancy PC name to it...

[jjm2111]

Are you being sarcastic?

[Henrietta]

"We wouldn't have a TSA if we had a Republican President and Congress.
Uhhhh. Oh, right. I forgot.
(Stay home in November. No vote is a vote, too.)"

Shhh, don't say that, or you will have the dogs set on you. Don't stay home; write in Tom Tancredo or Ron Paul.

[Oztrich Boy]

This ought to be qualified to say "Carry-on" luggage.

It should aslo be qualified to "Anything sharper or harder than a nerf ball in carry on luggage will now bring heavy fines"

[JerseyHighlander]

The Hare Krishnas have won the war for our airports, they might have lost the opening battles regarding unsolicited preaching and solicitation without permits, but soon we shall all wear robes and sandals, and nothing else through our airspace portals.

(Maybe if we're lucky we'll be able to wear flowers in our hair, if said flowers species passes an environmental impact study that certifies the pollen is non-allergenic to 99.% of the population, lest said species be considered a biological WMD.)

[Taipei Personality]

We live in a different world after 9-11 WE CAN NOT BE TOO CAREFUL no matter how much of a pain in the butt it is for us.

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

-Benjamin Franklin

[Double Tap]

We live in a different world after 9-11 WE CAN NOT BE TOO CAREFUL...

Same world, same threats.

Or course we can be TOO CAREFUL. This is an example of it. I say F#*@ TSA and the airlines. Let 'em rot.

[freeeee]

"Attitude" is listed among the "aggravating factors" that can result in a fine.

Don't be sassy with your masters, or you'll feel the sting of the whip.

[hocndoc]

This one goes too far.

If the bags are checked, they are not available for use.

Isn't it possible for the TSA to make a distinction between threats and non-threats? A bomb in a checked bag is a threat. There's some very small chance that matches could be a threat in suitcases that are checked (the checker asked me whether there were matches in my suitcase on my last flight. I told her I didn't know, there might be some from past trips, since I colllect them as souvenirs.) But, there's no way that a checked silver plated cake knife is a threat.

[hocndoc]

Whoops, I think I misunderstood. Was the woman fined for carrying her cake knife in her carry-on, or for putting it in her checked luggage?


Nevertheless, if she did not get on board with the knife, how is this deserving of a fine?

Will fines be assessed on every man who forgets to leave his penknife at home and every gramma who carries a crochet hook in her purse (or, how about me, who used to carry my cardiac caliper - a compass-like tool with 2 sharp retractable medal needles - in my purse),

[joesnuffy]

The title says WEAPONS found in luggage...on Drudge the title reads "Banned Items Found In Luggage Bring TSA Fines"

Interesting how wedding silverware brings a fine as a "weapon"

TSA is not about transportation security.....They Refuse to Arm Cargo Pilots ...after the FBI told them that Muslims terrorists are still planning to hijack commercial and cargo planes....

Now they fine citizens for totally innocuous items?

This is just one more government shakedown.....employing arrogant affirmative action ch#mps

I wont fly anymore....this is ridiculous....

Meanwhile the border is still wide open and even more illegal aliens..terrorists..drug smugglers et al infiltrate at will......

They need to fill America with every kind of terrorist and criminal....its what the police state requires...masses of criminals...so the sheep will beg to trade freedom for security.....

Machiavelli would be proud.... thanks ne'ooze cons

[B4Ranch]

""Attitude" is listed among the "aggravating factors" that can result in a fine. Other criteria include the type of item, evidence of a passenger's intent and history of previous violations. Civil penalties now range from $250 to $10,000. "

From the way this is written, $250 is the minimum fine for looking crossword at one of these poorly educated non English speaking idiots who can say I'm a federal employee and you're not.

If you don't kiss my ass and bow down I will fine you because your government did not give me a free ticket to US citizenship.