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Confiscated Liquids

January 5, 2010 | RSS | EMAIL | PRINT | 3 COMMENTS

I know everyone has read plenty about how awful and stupid aiport security policies are, but this post from the New York Times Jet Lagged blog (which I didn't know existed) includes a point I hadn't considered:

The three-ounce container rule is silly enough -- after all, what's to stop somebody from carrying several small bottles each full of the same substance -- but consider for a moment the hypocrisy of T.S.A.'s confiscation policy. At every concourse checkpoint you'll see a bin or barrel brimming with contraband containers taken from passengers for having exceeded the volume limit. Now, the assumption has to be that the materials in those containers are potentially hazardous. If not, why were they seized in the first place? But if so, why are they dumped unceremoniously into the trash? They are not quarantined or handed over to the bomb squad; they are simply thrown away. The agency seems to be saying that it knows these things are harmless. But it's going to steal them anyway, and either you accept it or you don't fly.

Yeah, that's pretty dumb.

Tags: airports, security, travel


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COMMENTS

1Dan Thornton

Once you accept that 99% of airport security measures are in place to give us the illusion of increased safety from a terrorist threat, rather than doing anything to actually reduce the risk, it makes a lot more sense.

January 5, 2010

2Harris

The security screening choke point is worse than anything else in air travel.

The same amount of people as would be on an airplane, in one place, before any screenings have been done. It is the perfect place for an explosive, chemical or biological attack. There would be no need to sneak a small device through security, you are expected to have large suitcases with you.

The airport security community is setting itself up for an event from which they may not be able to recover; an attack on the airport itself.

Done correctly security is a thankless job. You don't know what threats have been prevented or averted. Security is only really noticed when something goes wrong.

People don't need to be safe. People need to feel safe. The big displays of security make people feel safe.

Security Theatre isn't to stop any threats, it's to ease the Fear.

January 6, 2010

3denise lee yohn

agreed -- dumb.
my reaction to the christmas day would-be terrorist: you mean, for years now i've been throwing away valuable liquids, exposing my feet to foot fungus, and almost having my pants fall down because i had to take off my belt every time i've gone through security for nothing?!!

January 8, 2010