The only time we should even be worried about children is if you think you have the subject of an Amber alert on hand (and your response should be to relay the info to LEO so they can make a proper assessment and square it away). I can understand the thought process behind making certain that a child is with a parent or is not under duress - but that is not our job (with the aforementioned caveat of the Amber Alert deal). Some folks could get fairly offended if you are questioning a kid about the parent with them, some children have a sense of humor (not unlike mine) and might say something like "No idea who this lug is, he said something about hard candy and a free ride on a yak in Burma if I just get into his windowless van for a bit". That can be a no win situation for all involved, so stick to the Amber alert watching and let it go. We have not been given the ability to confiscate Ipods, she must have us confused with someone else on that statement.
Yeah but a few of your kind have been charged with stealing such items from travelers along witha Looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong list of other crimes. Amber Alert is a whole other ballgame, for which TSA doesnt need to be dragnetting among alot of things that TSA does WAAAAAAAAAAY outside of its charter, and its people should tread lightly as they may find themeselves on the recieving end of some nasty liabilities they are opening themselves up to. Personally my nieces and nephews wont talk to strangers, and no the difference between real LEO and the BS TSA portrays. Then considering there upbringing a TSA employee might end up being on the recieving end of a wicked come back /smack in the chops as my nieces and nephews have a wicked/twisted sense of humor. Which isnt a surprise considering there fathers are retired military.
TSA employees will try to confiscate anything they think they can get away with - and that they think they need or can sell for a bit of extra cash. (I do note that the response didn't bother to state that a TSA employee isn't actually empowered to confiscate anything at all, but only "accept the voluntary surrender" of items. That technicality hasn't stopped them.)
This voluntary surrender BS is nothing more then theft by coercion renamed. I haven't been placed in this situation but if pressed a smurf going to be under duress and question from a real cops pdq. Not gonna mention what or post pics but what I've gotten past TSA would make there weekly round up puppy post look like a drop in the bucket.
Maybe not yet, but if ACTA passes then Customs will have that ability and I'm sure it won't be long after that before the TSA wants that ability as well. And this is probably what the blogger is referring to. Great essay!
I believe the original rumor was in regard to CBP, but once TSA catches wind of a another way to suck up to law enforcement & win brownie points in the media (at least on their blog), don't be surprise if they start asking what's on your Ipod just as soon as they've established that your children really are yours.
...and after they have determined how much cash you are carrying, and what types of ailments are treated by the medication you are carrying....well, gee...the list goes on, and on!
Geez zoo petes, you know society has gone to (expletive deleted) when you have to password protect your ipod. This is getting stupid Deaf Blonde - Thats one thing I wont allow at all is for them to open the bag that has all of my meds. This is a absolute No Go as I will be calling for Law Enforcement PDQ as what Im on is protected information, and TSA is sure as (expletive deleted) not have anything to do with my health and wellbeing . Then not to mention the fact that the known criminal element in TSA that would steal meds (especially pain killers, benzos and sedatives) for personal use or blackmarket sales. If TSA wants to play that game I hope the smurfs have good personal lawyers as thats a lot of liability to open on self up to.
