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Ten products to avoid when passing through airport security
The Transportation Security Administration spends millions of Dollars each year trying to inform airline passengers what to leave at home, and how to safely pack things.We should all know by now that liquids come with restrictions, and that swords and other dangerous items will be taken away from you.
The TSA absolutely loves offensive T-Shirts. And by "loves", I mean hates.
Nothing is more entertaining at the airport checkpoint than a really insulting t-shirt. In fact, they love them so much, that they may have airport cops arrest you, and force you to wear a different shirt. Yes - the T-Shirt picture above is real, and there is indeed a real site where you can order it. It's just one of many really offensive shirts being sold at tshirthell.com. $19 will get you your very own very offensive shirt, and a chance at being Tasered at the airport.
Pick the blue wire
Harmless alarm clock, or surefire way to get pushed up against a wall with your legs spread. You feeling lucky enough to try and find out? (On sale at Amazon.co.jp for just under 3000 Yen). This is actually an alarm clock that requires you to disarm it by plugging the wires in using a sequence shown by lights. It is made for people who have a bit of a hard time waking up in the morning.
Make your own bomb guides
Here is one that doesn't cost anything more than a couple of pages of printouts. If your bag is being searched, and the agent comes across a stack of "make your own bomb" guides, do you think you will a) make your flight or b) not make your flight. (Hint, pick B).
Dirty bomb emergency kit
I'm sure you could come up with 20 different reasons why you are carrying a dirty bomb nuclear decontamination kit in your luggage. Sadly, none of those reasons will help get you back to the US mainland, and it is a really long swim from Gitmo. (Image from Nukepills.com, where this handy kit sells for $249.99).
Personal doomsday detonator
To you, this is just a 4 port USB Hub, to Mr. Officer, this is a bomb detonator. If they find this, don't make any sudden moves, and whatever you do, don't flip the cover open to press the detonator button. (On sale at Thinkgeek.com for $39.99)
Designed for a really explosive wakeup call
I'm not an X-Ray specialist, so I have no idea how this will show up on the TSA screens. But somehow, I don't think they'll find it as funny as we do.This is obviously a gag gift, so if you want to really piss someone off, gift wrap it, and tell them to open it once they reach their destination.
Yes sir - I'm just naturally curious about radiation and dirty bombs
Unless you have a student ID showing your related studies or an employee badge for a national lab, you'd better have a great story for the screener that finds these books. They may look like harmless reading material to you and I (and they are), but $10 says any number of these titles will get you pulled aside for some extra special screening.
The fake grenade USB memory drive
These USB hand grenades probably won't look too authentic on the X-Ray machine, but they'll sure make for a funny gag when your bag is being searched. And by funny gag, I mean pain in the ass. Security personnel don't take too kindly to fake grenades, and if you catch them on a bad day, you may end up being involved in a terminal scrub. Other things to avoid are grenade replicas or disarmed grenades.
Nothing says "strip search" faster than rubbing bomb making products on your belongings
Ever had your belongings "swabbed"? The security agent will rub your laptop or other item with a swab, then stick it in an expensive machine that says "ping".At least, in most cases it should say ping, because when that red light starts flashing, it's telling them you have bomb residue on the item. Know someone with a heart condition? Don't borrow one of their patches to rub it all over your laptop. It'll end badly for everyone involved.
Jacket + wires = fighter jet escort
It was back in 2004, back when everyone was a little more security aware than they are today. A Saudi woman was on board Delta Airlines flight 43, on its way to the US when it got flanked by fighter jets, diverted and forced to land. All because of a jacket with a couple of wires.
To the untrained eye, it looked like a suicide bomb jacket, to everyone else, it was just a winter coat with internal warming pads. Or how about airline passenger/tech student Star Simpson back in 2007 - her art project/fashion statement also combined wires, lights and batteries, and it nearly got her shot at Boston Logan airport. Of course, this idiot was also holding a piece of Playdough, so the combination really could have been a problem.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve Cattell Sep 29th 2009 10:24AM
But they welcome with open arms Molotov Cocktails designed to take out tanks (replace petrol with brandy), heavy clubs to fracture skulls (bottles of wine), jagged razer sharp weapons (broken bottles), and sharp metal weapons to take out eyes (car keys)
Scott Carmichael Sep 29th 2009 11:17AM
I think everyone was surprised she didn't get shot.
Unexpected Traveller Sep 29th 2009 11:39AM
I'm much more worried about what happens on the way in - as happened last week: http://unexpectedtraveller.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/digit-ized/
The Unexpected Traveller
thiefhunter Sep 29th 2009 1:27PM
If you do take one of these items or one of many other "dangerous" things, you can always try to social-engineer your way past TSA, as I did here: http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/05/social-engineering-vs-security-theater/
nocklebeast Sep 29th 2009 11:36PM
Actually, Star Simpson didn't try to go through a TSA checkpoint (she was waiting for the bus to leave the airport when the Boston Police found her). And while it was widely reported in the days after the incident that she was carrying play-doh, she actually wasn't carrying play-doh.
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/09/22/star-simpson-one-yea.html
In a different context, a garment that has wires, batteries and blinky lights is called a "safety vest" You can order yours at amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Cycling-Running-Reflective-Nite-Ize/dp/B0016KHTNE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1254263558&sr=8-2
John Olsen Sep 30th 2009 7:37AM
Showing the F word on AOL is also offensive!!
Emland Sep 30th 2009 3:36PM
I realize you are attempting to be humorous, but it fell short with me.
I worked for the TSA way back in 2002, when they first took over the airports. We were never trained to give any opinion on a t-shirt. I can't imagine yelling at anyone for declaring their own stupidity by wearing a shirt like the one above. I would just shake my head and let them pass.
I can remember a weekend that a band that covered Grateful Dead music was in town. We were briefed by the supervisor that we might find "stuff" that wasn't exactly legal, but unless it was a hazard to the flight to "keep on screening" and move to the next passenger.
I can tell you some stupid things people have done to slow down their travel experience:
A bridgegroom gave all his male attendants a belt with a buckle that concealed a 3 inch blade.
A passenger wanted to "test" the TSA and give his opinion of the agency by stuffing an ice skate with clay, batteries and wire along with a profanity laced letter.
A passenger traveling overseas departing Dulles had her bag sit in the CRT for hours while screeners, FBI and the bomb squad people tried to determine what was inside her bag. Note: don't wrap brown sugar in foil and stick next to your hair drier.
Don't put your luggage in the garage next to fertilizer (aka nitrates).
Here's a quick rule of thumb. TSA equipment is programmed to ping on 2 of the 4 components of a IED which are:
The charge or stuff that goes boom.
The power supply.
Detonator:
Timer.
So, if you are taking a short hop home from Aunt Martha's and decide to pack that lovely fruitcake and stick it next to your travel alarm clock and throw your Ipod on top, chances are you are going to be selected for further screening.