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April 18, 2005
because reading is fundamental(ist)
The blogosphere is (justifiably) all a-twitter because Ross Mayfield was told that air passengers are only allowed a maximum of two books on flights starting April 14.
The problem isn't a matter of 2 (or 4) books, of course. That's just one silly example. The real issue is this note on the Transportation Security Administration site:
To ensure everyone's security the screener may determine that an item not on this chart is prohibited.
Note that there's no mention of how to challenge (or even report) a mistaken declaration, either at the time or after the fact. So, if the ahem well-trained and capable TSA staff decide that your knitting needles or eyeglass screwdriver are verboten (which they aren't), then you have no recourse but to give them up. (Chant with me, everyone: unreasonable... searches... and seizures...)
Posted by Chris at April 18, 2005 09:56 AMComments
Absolutely. I expected them to declare the femur a "potential weapon".
I'm just glad that we know (for sure!) that knitting needles are officially on the allowed list. Now K can knit with confidence!
Posted by: Chris at April 18, 2005 11:40 AMSounds from the rest of the comments on the site that it was books of matches, not books. The screener guy was confused.
Posted by: Deana at April 18, 2005 09:16 PMThat's my point, though. The TSA authorizes that same screener guy to make a decision like that at any time, and offers no course of action if he's wrong. That's like saying that a traffic cop can decide at any point to stop and search your vehicle, then confiscate items because he decided your activity (say, talking on a cell phone) was dangerous. Not because you're actually breaking a written law, but because the officer decided.
As we've seen both from history and from recent events at the borders, giving officers this kind of leeway often leads to harrassment. It's too much power, and that's why the Bill of Rights specifically prohibits it.
Posted by: Chris at April 19, 2005 06:44 AM
I like whatsinhisbag!
~d who loves the bill of rights and remembers when "probably cause" became "reasonable doubt"
Posted by: deb at April 18, 2005 11:35 AM