Security "taking" discarded products

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Check out this slide show from the Richmond newspaper's website. Specifically, photo #6. The caption says An airport spokesman, Troy Bell, said that the Transportation Security Administration will dispose of everything as hazardous waste. If that's the case, I would think those TSA agents on the news would be in a ton of trouble.

Laurajean, forget 1/2 bottles of stuff. I see what looks like nail polish still in a blister pack on a card unopened and a bottle of Scope with the safety seal intact.

 

[dzorn]

And where exactly are they going to hold there new found freebies?Somewhere on the other side of the security check? Not to mention people waiting in lines when these folks should be helping to check the bags not looking for goodies.Getting folks on to the planes in a timely manner should be what they are doing.

Denise

 

[pjtsdb]

I saw the news on channel 6 and it was NOT TSA picking the items out. Outside of the checkpoint an airport company is asking for all items that are on the list. So please do not say it is TSA. PEOPLE HAVE FORGETTEN WHY TSA IS HERE. I think ALL CARRYON LUGGAGE SHOULD HAVE TO BE CHECKED.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I see what looks like nail polish still in a blister pack on a card unopened and a bottle of Scope with the safety seal intact.

Oh, yeah. These items will be on ebay!

 

[Keokagal]

Next time I fly, I'm going to put Nair in an expensive shampoo bottle. Let's see who picks that one.

wouldn't they look funny.
Can't believe you thought of this. You must be a prankster from way back!

 

[mickeyfan2]

I would rather someone use it than send it to the landfill. If you don't want something take by somebody else, please put it in your checked luggage.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Besides, now a potential terrorist could target TSA agents.

<<sarcasm on>>
Now that would be a real shame.
<<sarcasm off>>

I kid, I kid.

Anyway I think it's gross to use someone else's beauty products. YUCK.

 

[nuke]

Doesn't surprise me in the least from what I've witnessed at the Philly TSA security stations.

 

[jcemom]

Maybe they were only taking the unopened items? I'm sure many of us purchase travel sizes specifically to take on a trip...I know I do. I can't imagine picking out used health and beauty items for my personal use or my family's use...eeewwww! Definitely tacky, IMO, not to mention totally gross.

 

[sk!mom]

A better solution might be to set up tables convenient to arriving passengers - who can then 'shop' free to replace the items they had to discard before they got through Security at their departure airports...

No because then we'll have lawsuits when someone becomes ill from something they took. I don't see a problem with security people taking the stuff if they want it. I wouldn't want used things but it's better that it be used then dumped if someone wants it.

We typically have carried on wine and other alcohol. Just a few weeks ago we flew to Vegas with a bottle of wine and a bottle of premixed Magaritas. These bottles were still sealed and it would have been fine with me if someone took them home rather than waste them. No more doing that for a while, I guess.

 

[bicker]

Who would care? If you can no longer use the item due to airport restrictions, why not let someone else use them? For the time being, I think it's okay.

Next time I fly, I'm going to put Nair in an expensive shampoo bottle. Let's see who picks that one.

Laurajean: Does that answer your question, about "Who would care?" That comment, even though meant in jest, makes it clear why they cannot "let someone else use them". Though JudicialTyranny meant it as a joke, someone else may not, and this would become yet-another means anarchists and terrorists can use to apply their havoc.

 

[bicker]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see these items as being tossed in the trash but rather being confiscated by TSA. That being the case, the argument could be made that it's evidence and these agents are essentially rummaging through the evidence.

The argument can be made, but it wouldn't hold water. These employees were instructed to dispose of the materials in the trash bin. That effectively ends any "chain of custody" considerations. At that point, it's unequivocally refuse.

Besides, now a potential terrorist could target TSA agents. Put some harmful chemicals in the items that would be tossed before the flight, and count on the agents to rummage through the pile for stuff to use on their own. How difficult would it be to add a poison to something like toothpaste??

Absolutely correct. Those rumming through that trash would be idiots, not criminals.

 

[safetymom]

I saw the news on channel 6 and it was NOT TSA picking the items out. Outside of the checkpoint an airport company is asking for all items that are on the list. So please do not say it is TSA. PEOPLE HAVE FORGETTEN WHY TSA IS HERE. I think ALL CARRYON LUGGAGE SHOULD HAVE TO BE CHECKED.

So remind me again what the TSA is for? I have seen too many of them not doing their jobs to have much respect for them.

I don't think all carry on luggage needs to be checked. If I couldn't take my laptop and digital camera on board I won't be flying. It is my work tools, no laptop or camera and I don't work.

 

[ducklite]

I hope they get a rash and hives that last for a week.

I fly in and out of Philly a lot and those are some of the lasziest, nastiest, most "entitled" TSA agents I've ever run into. Sometimes I wish they'd just park their fat butts back in front of the TV all day and go back to collecting their welfare checks. (And that's where a LOT of them in PHilly came from)

Anne

 

[RickinNYC]

I hope they get a rash and hives that last for a week.

I fly in and out of Philly a lot and those are some of the lasziest, nastiest, most "entitled" TSA agents I've ever run into. Sometimes I wish they'd just park their fat butts back in front of the TV all day and go back to collecting their welfare checks. (And that's where a LOT of them in PHilly came from)

Anne

WOW!

I have my opinions of TSA's and most of them aren't too positive, but I don't think those comments were particiularly necessary

 

[nuke]

I completely agree with Ducklite. Rick you must not have flown through Philly or if you have and didn't see what I've seen, you must have caught them on a good day.

 

[CarolA]

I agree that way to many of the TSA agents have a sense of "entitlement" They know that most of us are in a hurry and won't stop to deal with their "attitude". I am thier worst nightmare, I will stop and complain..... you should see the look of horror when I ask for a supervisor and then refuse to take thier excuse of "that will take too long and you will miss your flight" Maybe I will, but that isn't thier concern

And if you want to see the airlines stock take a NOSE dive, ban laptops and cell phones on board. Business travelers are the lifeblood of the airlines. They aren't making money off your $59 each way to MCO, it's off of my full fare flights to BNA, TPA etc. And if folks liek me quit flying and therefore "financiing" you can expect YOUR airfare to MCO to go up and up and up!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't think it is right for the TSA employees to be taking home the things they confiscated. If this were allowed whats to stop them from "confiscating" anything they want?

Yep. This morning as I was leaving the house, that commercial with Kathy Griffin - where she's saying "beep" as she wands in the area of the passenger's soda - came on...

I would rather someone use it than send it to the landfill. If you don't want something take by somebody else, please put it in your checked luggage

That's fine - today, and going forward for the ideally short time these restrictions are in place, but yesterday morning, NOBODY knew until they got to the airport that all such items were being banned in carry-on luggage

 

[LIFERBABE]

I have to fly twice to MCO in the next 2 months.

It is illegal for those agents to take anything. They are government employees, and once confiscated, those items become government property, it is illegal for any goverment employee to take government property even after it has hit the dumpster or the landfill.

Government employees are in a position of public trust. Using their position for private gain is expressly prohibited and could result in their termination.
If their position requires them to take out the trash, then taking items from that trash is an abuse of their position.

I know someone very close to me, that was terminated from their government position for taking government trash valued at less than $100. I am also a government employee and that is one thing they are very strict about.

Beyond Reproach and Public Trust are key words for Government Employees. In our ethics training they tell us "If you wouldnt want it on the front page of the newspaper then you are most likely in violation of Government Ethics.

Obviously these employees missed that training.

 

[seashoreCM]

Originally Posted by JudicialTyranny
Next time I fly, I'm going to put Nair in an expensive shampoo bottle. Let's see who picks that one.

You are just mean. A lot of the stuff is going to go to the poor and homeless. Or is the stuff not going to the poor and homeless and instead going to take up space in landfills because of people like you?

Then there was the TWA (remember that airline?) F/A who was fired for salvaging some little milk containers from the airplane trash.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm