# Airport security signs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 6, 2003, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-signs/153109 "2003-02-06T02:29:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-signs/153109/1 "2003-02-06T02:29:07Z")
I’ve seen these signs posted around airports for as long as I can remember – and that’s longer than I’d care to admit (considering that I’ve been hanging around airports since I was a wee’un)! > [@](#): > > WARNING - FEDERAL OFFENSE > > Damaging or disabling any aircraft located on these premises by stealing radios, navigation equipments, autopilots, engines, propellers, fuel, or any other part is, in most cases, a federal offense punishable by fines up to $10,000, imprisonment for 20 years, or even death if such a theft causes an accident resulting in loss of life. The Federal Bureau of Investigation will be notified. How accurate are these signs? They’ve been unchanged for so long, I wonder if the laws have changed over the decades. Does anyone know specifically which statute to which the sign refers? I did a google search on one of the phrases in the sign, and it returned no hits. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-signs/153109/2 "2003-02-06T02:49:23Z")
I think it’s [18 USC 32](http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/32.html), “Destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities”. It’s not as specific as the sign, but it clearly covers damaging or disabling aircraft. The 20 year penalty matches up too. The death sentence part is two sections on, in [18 USC 34](http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/34.html). ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-signs/153109/3 "2003-02-06T03:26:30Z")
Oh, and since it’s over a year in prison, it’s a federal felony. That makes the fine amount $250,000 ([18 USC 3571](http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/3571.html)). So that part is out of date. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-signs/153109/4 "2003-02-06T13:03:12Z")
I thought $10,000 sounded low.