My kid loves airplanes, but he’s only 13 months old, so explaining the vagaries of Das Homelandsekuritydirektorate are a little complex. I want to take him down to the airport road, park somewhere unobtrusive, and watch the planes land, but I’d rather not have to call my wife and have her bail us out of some sort of Federal holding cell. Is there somewhere I can park that I won’t be in danger of some jackbooted rent-a-cop deciding that my toddler is a threat to National 9-11 Security? Better yet: is there somewhere I can park that I will be in the jurisdiction of actual police who are likely to know the law, instead of in the jurisdiction of airport security or DHS? I know my basic rights (1st, 4th, 5th) and my intent is to move along if accosted, but I’m wary of someone Tasing/Cuffing first and asking questions later.
'Scuse the tone… the 9-11 anniversary has me a little bitter.
I doubt there’s any TSA issue; it’s more likely to be a parking issue. The police may enforce parking regulations and, if they see a need (i.e., they suspect you were doing more than just parking), they’d call the TSA in. They’d probably tell you to move along, or give you a parking ticket if you’re in a no parking area.
But there’s clearly no blanket rule forbidding it. Our local airport has a parking lot just outside the airport fence set aside for people to watch planes take off and land. There even is a sign to help identify the different models of plane.
It’s a great example of "If you can’t beat 'em . . . " People always used to park in that spot to watch the planes, so when they rebuilt the airport, they added a parking lot. This was Pre-9/11, but the lot was never closed, even immediately after the attacks.
If you’re that paranoid, why not just rent a videotape?
Your location gives no clue to your whereabouts so we don’t know if you’re trying to view the Area 51 or some other super-secret facility.
Based on my real-life experience, most airports are surrounded by a perimeter fence. On the other side of the road of said fence many times there were businesses with parking lots. In Yuma AZ (a joint-use military and civilian airport where my father was stationed and later was the airport manager) sits the County Fairgrounds parking lot. When I was lived in Las Vegas NV (4 years ago) there were observation parking lots on Sunset Road. The San Diego airport, except for the bay side, is surrounded by commercial establishments (I recall a parking garage right in the flight path, the top floor of which would be a wonderful observation platform) and down the road MCAS Miramar that’s observable from the freeway and offramp businesses. Or perhaps you could, ya know, drive around the nearby airport and see where others are observing from, it’s a somewhat common pastime (don’t bother the kids there who are making out).
Basically anywhere near the airport that you’re legally allowed to be and park your car should be fine, just don’t let them catch you sighting in a Stinger shoulder-fired missile.
All this is null & void if those evil, nasty wicked Republicans manage to steal the White House again. :eek:
'Scuse the tone… it just sounded to me like an opportunity to rant against how the “powers that be” might find a way to stick it to you. Also, I have to wonder how your 13 month old could learn to love airplanes if you have already been able to expose him to them in a way without your ending up behind bars. And don’t worry, I haven’t forwarded your post to TSA
The tone is definitely inappropriate for GQ. Please read the GQ Rules sticky at the top of this page; extraneous political commentary should be avoided.
I’m closing this thread. If you wish more information than has already been provided, you may open another thread without the political commentary. If you want to rant about the DHS, you can open a thread in the PIt.
