Confiscated by TSA. Ever happen to you?

redman2006 · Dec 25, 2014

Never mind. You can find the foi info yourself. You defend them as if you were one.

redman2006 · Dec 25, 2014

Alnamvet68, understood

dejard · Dec 25, 2014

@redman2006

I'm not the one moving the goal posts here.

dejard said:
MSgt said:

Not confiscated, but a high chance of being stolen as they ransack your baggage looking for contraband [see my above post about wife's NFL jersey].

Click to expand...

No offense MSgt, but how do you know that? You need more than anecdotal accounts to make such claims.

In short, there is no evidence for this claim. In fact, just the opposite.

Apparently challenging someone to back up an outrageous claim with facts and evidence is considered trolling here on BladeForums. I get it, Calling out someone on any forum is not a popular thing to do, but I'll take my lumps as a result.

Stand Straight · Dec 25, 2014

KELAMA said:
I appreciate your civility, in response to my rather harsh observation. Please understand, that it wasn't as much the mistake that your son made; rather, it was his actions in response to the confiscation, that warranted my strongly worded reply:
"My son very loudly wished the airport staff a Merry Christmas which nearly made them miss their flight."

^^^
THAT, is what really bothered me! He tried to take a Zero Tolerance knife, on a commercial flight, & then got loud with the agents, who like it or not, were just doing their jobs! Your sons action's, precipitated this entire situation, & if he really needed to take his frustrations out on anyone, all he had to do was to look in the mirror.

What bothered you is exactly what bothered my son. He said he was embarrassed for his outburst and regretted his behavior

. I told him that the majority of posters here saw him as the catalyst for the confiscation. He agreed with that assessment.
He is having a new knife mailed to me via the retailer.

davek14 · Dec 25, 2014

dejard said:
quoted
******************

We estimate that for every TSA employee that touches a bag, six to ten airline or airport employees and contractors touch the same bag out of the view of passengers.
******************

Still waiting on the facts that show the vast majority of air travelers in the US who check their baggage are at risk of having items stolen from their luggage by the TSA, or "a high chance of being stolen" as MSgt claims.

No one said "by the TSA". One article I read said that the percentage of thefts which were TSA were way down due to cameras and sting operations (which were initiated for some reason). I don't want anyone at the airport stealing my stuff.

'Course there have been many videos of TSA agents rifling luggage and pilfering items and when someone in that position of authority, someone who can arrest you, does that it's even more disgusting.

Most people just avoid valuables in checked baggage carrying them on if at all possible. If this turns into a urination match I will withdraw as well.

jc57 · Dec 25, 2014

No, that has never happened to me. Before I travel, I read up on the current state of the regulations on the Internet. Since my carryon bags are used for other purposes, I always completely dump out all of their content and repack prior to flying. Any tools or knives I want to take with me go into checked luggage. As a result, I have never had any problems.

davek14 · Dec 25, 2014

"http://www.budgettravel.com/blog/theft-from-baggage-the-tsa-reponds-to-our-readers,9834/"

Wow, just went looking to read that whole article "the tsa responds to our readers".

KELAMA · Dec 25, 2014

Stand Straight said:
What bothered you is exactly what bothered my son. He said he was embarrassed for his outburst and regretted his behavior . I told him that the majority of posters here saw him as the catalyst for the confiscation. He agreed with that assessment.
He is having a new knife mailed to me via the retailer.

We all make stupid mistakes..."live & learn!" You can always replace material item's, it's family, that matter the most in life; it's nice to know that you & your son are able to spend the Holiday's with each other. :thumbup:

I can absolutely relate to your sons, outburst. Right after 9/11, as I was crossing the Tijuana border, back into the U.S., a custom's agent stopped me & made me pass through a metal detector. He confiscated a knife I was carrying, that at the time, I thought was expensive (about $40). I was pissed off to say the least. Had I acted the way I did in an airport today, there is no doubt, that I would be arrested on the spot!

Anyway...I was given a number to call, by one of the Homeland Security agents, with instructions on how to get my knife back. To make a long story short, approximately 50+ calls later (never an answer), so I gave up.

I often wondered after that incident, where all of these item's valued at million's of dollar's end up...
My feelings are, that it's one of the perk's Federal employee's get while working under the shield of impunity that is often given working for certain Federal Agencies?

The main focal point of the argument's here, isn't so much about the laws in place, but the lack of accountability for the people who enforce them. I would really like to know, who exactly ended up with YOUR, Christmas present!!!

Zemapeli · Dec 25, 2014

I heard that it was okay to take "kit" knives in luggage (Disassembled completely) Is this true?

shaving sharp · Dec 25, 2014

Zemapeli said:
I heard that it was okay to take "kit" knives in luggage (Disassembled completely) Is this true?

Not if there is a blade in the"kit".

jstrange · Dec 25, 2014

KELAMA said:
We all make stupid mistakes..."live & learn!" You can always replace material item's, it's family, that matter the most in life; it's nice to know that you & your son are able to spend the Holiday's with each other. :thumbup:

I can absolutely relate to your sons, outburst. Right after 9/11, as I was crossing the Tijuana border, back into the U.S., a custom's agent stopped me & made me pass through a metal detector. He confiscated a knife I was carrying, that at the time, I thought was expensive (about $40). I was pissed off to say the least. Had I acted the way I did in an airport today, there is no doubt, that I would be arrested on the spot!

Anyway...I was given a number to call, by one of the Homeland Security agents, with instructions on how to get my knife back. To make a long story short, approximately 50+ calls later (never an answer), so I gave up.

I often wondered after that incident, where all of these item's valued at million's of dollar's end up...
My feelings are, that it's one of the perk's Federal employee's get while working under the shield of impunity that is often given working for certain Federal Agencies?

The main focal point of the argument's here, isn't so much about the laws in place, but the lack of accountability for the people who enforce them. I would really like to know, who exactly ended up with YOUR, Christmas present!!! :jerk it:

That is exactly what troubles me about the whole thing, and why I was arguing for transparency and documentation.

I remember listening to Neal Boortz when he was still on the air. He told a story about watching TSA agent steal his I-pod or I-phone (cant remember which), while his bag was away from him, but he could still see it. Long story short, the agent was able to hide it and despite being accused by an eyewitness he got away with it. I believe this happened in Atlanta.

KELAMA · Dec 25, 2014

jstrange said:
That is exactly what troubles me about the whole thing, and why I was arguing for transparency and documentation.

I remember listening to Neal Boortz when he was still on the air. He told a story about watching TSA agent steal his I-pod or I-phone (cant remember which), while his bag was away from him, but he could still see it. Long story short, the agent was able to hide it and despite being accused by an eyewitness he got away with it. I believe this happened in Atlanta.

Transparency+Government= Oxymoron
"WE CANNOT CONFIRM, NOR DENY, AGENT ROBINSON NOW HAS A BRAND NEW ZT KNIFE!

SaintlyBrees · Dec 25, 2014

KELAMA said:
...I often wondered after that incident, where all of these item's valued at million's of dollar's end up...
My feelings are, that it's one of the perk's Federal employee's get while working under the shield of impunity that is often given working for certain Federal Agencies...

Places like this one in Austin:

The first room contains items that have been confiscated at Texas airports large bins of pocketknives, corkscrews, and blunt objects that airline passengers neglected to clear from their carry-ons. One cant help but feel a bit sympathetic for whoevers bone-handled, engraved silver pocketknife is now being offered for sale here for $300. Surely that must have been an uncomfortable exchange to watch in the airport.

Or this:

Not all states have a program thats large enough to accept all the items left at airports, said Troy Thompson, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of General Services. But we do. And we receive pallets of items from New Yorks JFK and LaGuardia airports and from some airports in Ohio and Maryland.

Thompson said all the items Pennsylvania gathers end up at a warehouse, where its sorted.

We get a lot of pocketknives, scissors and corkscrews, said Thompson, but also frying pans and other cookware, and tools such as drills, saws, hatchets and machetes. Some of it makes you scratch your head and wonder how people thought theyd get those things on the plane.

A sampling of the items are put out in a store at the state warehouse in Harrisburg, [PA] but most of the items get sold in lots, by weight, online at auction. Since 2004, Pennsylvania has earned about $700,000 from auctions held for many years on eBay and, soon, on govdeals.com.

I used to fly at least twice a week for work. Until I caught on to the issue of theft from check-in baggage, I lost quite a lot of stuff - everything from cameras, to knives, to jewelry. I learned better. My philosophy now is to only "carry on" and ship items that I am concerned about ahead of me.

As far as carry on, it is really pretty easy to know what one should not bring on board. As far as the OP, it sounds like his son figured it out after the fact. I suspect that he'll know better next time.

Stand Straight · Dec 25, 2014

KELAMA said:
Transparency+Government= Oxymoron
"WE CANNOT CONFIRM, NOR DENY, AGENT ROBINSON NOW HAS A BRAND NEW ZT KNIFE!

That cracks me up big time.
Another one: Civil servant+Government official= Oxymoron

BOHAWG · Dec 25, 2014

vanslem6 said:
The TSA is a pathetic joke that is nothing more than a facade to make fools feel safe. They shouldn't be taking anything that belongs to you, ever. Theatrics and theft.

I totally agree!!!
Its funny to me how so many members have changed this unfortunate story into some preposterous defense of TSA rules and the TSA.... Fake safety at its finest! I know I can't take a knife on a plane so I always carry a tactical pen which IMHO is just as formidable as a pocket knife!.... Never once has one of them been looked at>>>>

And for everyone defending the GREAT TSA RULES..... Do any of you remember 2008, when Knife-Maker Ken Onion had his knives stolen from his checked luggage????? Ya'll keep right on believing in the GREAT TSA RULES!!!!

billym · Dec 25, 2014

afishhunter said:
What lockers? After 9-11-01 all U.S. airports removed the lockers, fearing bombs or something like biologicals would be left in them.

He could have checked his one "carry-on bag". EVERYONE knows you cannot take anything that can be used as a weapon (excluding some styles of women's shoes while being worn by a woman) or any tools on a commercial aircraft, in your pockets or in your carry-on luggage. Heck, they don't allow you to bring on deodorant or more than two or three bottles of formula - IF you have a baby with you to drink the formula! (or any beverage - water, soda, etc) over 16 ounces ...)
Having the knife shipped/mailed to your destination when purchased is another good option, as is mailing it yourself before you leave.
He is lucky he was not arrested, and/or given the body cavity search.

As far as I know, the only ones allowed to bring a weapon on an aircraft are the U.S. Air Marshals. Not even the pilots and flight crew can bring a knife or firearm onboard.

That is plain wrong. There are many tools allowed in carry on bags. Check the TSA guidelines. So much misinformation in this thread.

Alnamvet68 · Dec 25, 2014

billym said:
That is plain wrong. There are many tools allowed in carry on bags. Check the TSA guidelines. So much misinformation in this thread.

Mind telling us what exactly is wrong? I see a quick and dirty summation of some of these TSA rules. Name all the "tools" one can carry.

PURPLEDC · Dec 25, 2014

Honestly I am not surprised. And I would have shipped it. I feel it was just TSA following regulations. And lets face it, there isnt a ZT that wouldnt look intimidating to a sheeple.

billym · Dec 25, 2014

Alnamvet68 said:
Mind telling us what exactly is wrong? I see a quick and dirty summation of some of these TSA rules. Name all the "tools" one can carry.

Any screwdriver, wrench or pliers under 7 inches. The website has all this info. Why not go there and figure out what the real rules are. I carry a Lestherman PS Style with no blade. Even got a thumbs up from the agent. All the info is easy to find and understand if you actually read it.

Roadracer_Al · Dec 25, 2014

OK, I just can't read all five pages of this on Xmas day, I'm just in too good a mood.

BUT...

Anyone down with a class action suit to force TSA or airports to provide a means to mail prohibited items home? In this day and age, the technology could be totally automated and cheap to own and operate.