Government Smart Asses
So I'm flying to South Dakota for my mother's 70th birthday at the end of April. And one of the things that I want to take with me the soda can pop-tops I've been collecting for her. Mom gives them to some charity that turns them into money. Not sure how it works nor really care. She asked, I collect.But I've got a bunch of them. Enough to fill a gallon pickle jar about 1/2 way. Now it's a short trip so I had planned on carrying my luggage on. Then I started thinking about some of the bizarre stories coming out of airports around the country... You know the kind... Where the TSA has failed the common sense test.
Now I'm not really expecting a lot of help, but the TSA does have a website. After a few minutes of surfing, I figure the answer isn't there. But there is an email address. Yeah... You know where this is going...
The exchange follows. I am not making up their last reply (or lack of such) to me.
=== begin message ===
Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:16:04 -0400
From: "TSA-ContactCenter6"
Subject: Re: Question about an item for carry on. <<#184018-260662#>>
To:
--- Original Message ---
From: "Brian Cxxxxxxxxx" xxxxxxxxx@verizon.net
Received: 4/2/2008 3:49:39 PM Eastern Standard Time (GMT - 4:00 )
To: "TSA Contact Center" TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov
Subject: Re: Question about an item for carry on.
Wow... That was a total non-answer. Why do you guys even have an email address? Never mind. Don't non-answer that.
----- Original Message -----
From: TSA-ContactCenter2
To: xxxxxxxxx@verizon.net
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 10:23 AM
Subject: Re: Question about an item for carry on.
Thank you for your e-mail.
The Transportation Security Administration's current security screening procedures require all carry-on luggage and accessible property be screened before passengers take them onboard an aircraft. Regardless of whether an item is on the prohibited or permitted items list, the Transportation Security Officers (TSO's) have discretion to prohibit an individual from carrying an item through the screening checkpoint or onboard an aircraft if the item poses a security threat.
Therefore, TSA security screening personnel make the final decision on whether to permit items like this into the sterile area of the airport. Should you need additional assistance, feel free to contact us at toll free 866-289-9673.
Please visit our website at www.tsa.gov for additional information about TSA. We continue to add new information and encourage you to check the website frequently for updated information.
We hope this information is helpful.
TSA Contact Center
--- Original Message ---
From: "Brian Cxxxxxxxxx" xxxxxxxxx@verizon.net
Received: 3/31/2008 10:35:27 AM Eastern Standard Time (GMT - 4:00 )
To: "TSA Contact Center" TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov
Subject: Question about an item for carry on.
Good morning,
This may seem like a strange question.
My mother collects soda can pop-tops for a charity she is involved with. So I save pop-tops for her. I'm flying to see her in early May and have quite a few of these pop-tops for her. It's a short trip, so I had planned to just carry a small bag onto the flight.
Will the TSA security screeners have a problem with about a 1/2 gallon volume worth of these pop-tops in my luggage?
Thanks, Brian Cxxxxxxxxx
------ TCC Control Number:
------------ TCC Control Number: ----
I guess they did do what I told them to do... Not answer. And care to guess what happened when I called the phone number?
I guess I'll just check my luggage so that I don't have to mess with it. But now I wonder if I'm going to make the news when I head through security at month's end.
Labels: government arrogance, TSA stupidity
posted by The Dog @ 11:39 AM
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