Dan,
Good for you,glad you stood your ground.Like everything else the government has their hands in.It's bonifide chaos . I still don't understand how they went back to approving a item that had been banned for so long.I think it was a small knife or something like that..?
Greg it was pocket knives they were going to allow but then a few groups (flight attendants union) screamed bloody murder and John pissy pistole decided against it. Its stupid in that there are so many examples of when a passenger stepping out of line other passengers on the flight ( not cabin crew or air marshals) taking control of the situation and neutralized the threat. TSA things pocket knives are a threat but yet my 5" fiskar surgically sharp scissors or trauma shears that cut quarters in half are perfectly fine. TSAs (lack) of logic makes my head hurt. Pocket knives are not a threat, they are a tool and a tool most people in this country have had on them everyday most of there life. Heck I know I have a pocket knife on my all the time on duty or off.
Another 911 will never happen again because of passengers stepping in and fighting back ... however you will never hear TSA admit that nor that its a waste of 8+ billion dollars a year for a theater act that actually makes us less safe. The two biggest things that improved air travel safety after 911 was installation of hardened cockpit doors and passengers nor crews cooperating with hijackers the rest has been a waste of time, money and peoples patience.
..................................I stood my ground and kept my flashlight but not before filing a complaint with Miami-Dade police.
Thanks ScubaTooth, I'll keep it in mind but also ensure that I'm polite. I plan on having documentation with me as well for what's listed on the TSA website as restricted and documents on the items I'm carrying.
Be Prepared for them to say " The website is out of date" as I have heard that lie so many times I cant help but laugh in their face. You want to see them dance even further ask them to prove or show your the regulation as they will either say its "SSI" which is not even a valid security classification in the US govt and other parts of the government laugh at TSAs use of "SSI" As to them mentioning "Adobe Acrobat" in certain documents is SSI.
Just remind them "Secret laws" in the US are illegal and they can be held liable in federal court for there actions. TSA employees are 1) not officers despite what they think or say...let alone law enforcement despite the cop like uniforms they are govt clerks and 2) they hold no security clearances.
If they cant show you in writing the regulation/rule they are making it up... plain and simple.
When Im traveling with alot of electronics I carry a folio of documentation from the manufacture on items including transportation recommendations and requirements as well as customs forms (don't remember which one as I don't have the folio with me) for high value items (lens, cameras, housings, computers, etc) that will travel out of the country and return. This is so I don't get hit with import duties and taxes going into other countries or coming back into the US.
FWIW