So I'm in the airport, on my way to Salt Lake City for a business trip. While I am waiting in the TSA line, I am watching the other folks in a different line.
There is a young-ish (mid 20's, I'd say) guy, long hair, goatee, t-shirt, and he is arguing with the TSA lady over his tube of toothpaste. TSA "rules" say you can't have any liquids/gels over three ounces. I learned the hard way a few trips ago that if you have a five ounce tube of toothpaste, and it's half full (or half empty, if you are Piker), the TSA goes by what is stamped on the container, not on the level of contents. (Makes sense to me, but can't we entrust TSA to make a judgment call here? If the tube is 3/4 gone, then let it go, if it's too close to call, pitch it. We trust them to be able to determine what a bomb looks like in the x-ray machine, can't they estimate if the remaining amount in the tube is less than three ounces? I digress.) Anyway, the guy was pissed because he had just flown in to Denver yesterday, and whichever airport he originated from "let it slide".
The Denver TSA supervisor (who became involved, as the guy was becoming louder and more belligerent) simply said "Sir, I don't know what happened on your flight here, but the rules clearly tell us that we are required to dispose of liquids/gels in containers that are stamped more than three ounces."
I can understand the anger of the traveler-why is it one way at one airport, and a different way at another.
But his anger was directed at the wrong people. He should have been upset at the people in whatever airport he originated, not the Denver TSA. After all, Denver TSA did their job, followed procedure, and confiscated what they were supposed to.
As I was walking towards my gate, there were three TSA guys around him, and he was bellowing about his Civil Rights.
Makes me wonder what things will be like at the beginning of August around these parts.
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