# Have you ever slipped something by the TSA?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 10, 2014, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950 "2014-10-10T10:49:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/1 "2014-10-10T10:49:13Z")
As a spinoff of the “[Can I pack this in my carryon?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736864)” thread, I was reminded of my last trip across California. I flew out of several airports, including LAX, and I forgot to leave my [pocket knife](http://www.moontrail.com/details/leatherman/e304x-e305x/ltgknives-e304x-e.jpg) at home. I just threw it into my backpack, along with a computer mouse and some USB cables and the like, and the screeners never saw it. Upon arrival I forgot to mail it back home, so I did the same thing on my return flight and they didn’t catch it either.
I always believed the TSA was security theater, but didn’t have firsthand experience with their uselessness before then. I’m even more disappointed now. All that unnecessary wait time for security that doesn’t work in the least.
Have you ever slipped a dangerous object past the TSA, accidentally or otherwise?
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### Author:  [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/2 "2014-10-10T12:02:34Z")
Dangerous? No.
I travel a lot for extended periods, so always check a bag.
The past few times flying for vacation with only a carry on, I have completely forgotten about my gels and liquids.
They never say anything.
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### Author:  [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/3 "2014-10-10T12:04:12Z")
Same here. About seven years ago we went to Hawaii and had a long layover at LAX. I smoked at the time, so made several trips outside to smoke, so passed through security quite a few times. Got to our destination and realised that my Swiss army knife had been at the bottom of my purse the entire time. WTF.
Also I used to have a pair of earrings that were actually tiny, functional penknives. For years those were my go-to earrings every time I travelled.
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### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/4 "2014-10-10T12:26:23Z")
There’s an article called “the Things He Carried” which is about how a journalist stocked his luggage over a period of months with super-suspicious items – jihadist literature, hotel receipts from Beirut, images of Khomeni, “death to America” type signs – as well as various liquids, lighters, and weapons including a box cutter. Nothing raised an eyebrow, except once they confiscated some nail clippers.
Yaaaaay.
Here in NYC, the TSA and NYPD have joint pointless-bag-check stations. Whatever problems the NYPD may have – and they are myriad – it’s pretty obvious the TSA goons aren’t fit to lick their boots.
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### Author:  [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/5 "2014-10-10T12:31:14Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#):
>
> There’s an article called “the Things He Carried” which is about how a journalist stocked his luggage over a period of months with super-suspicious items – jihadist literature, hotel receipts from Beirut, images of Khomeni, “death to America” type signs – as well as various liquids, lighters, and weapons including a box cutter. Nothing raised an eyebrow, except once they confiscated some nail clippers.
>
> Yaaaaay.
>
> Here in NYC, the TSA and NYPD have joint pointless-bag-check stations. Whatever problems the NYPD may have – and they are myriad – it’s pretty obvious the TSA goons aren’t fit to lick their boots.
For a while (and for reasons that escape me now) I had a toy plastic hammer, about three inches long, on my keychain. It was confiscated by TSA.
Seriously?
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### Author:  [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/6 "2014-10-10T13:07:04Z")
Twice I’ve accidentally “smuggled” a forbidden item out of O’Hare only to have it confiscated on the return trip at another airport (Boston, Wash. DC). Once was a metal Zippo lighter I found in the parking lot, the other time was a small pocket knife. Both times I declined to have it mailed to me or move it to checked baggage and just let them keep it. Anyway, bang-up security job from O’Hare.
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### Author:  [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/7 "2014-10-10T13:07:19Z")
I’ve forgotten and carried liquids through a few times. Sometimes I get through on the journey out, then they get my liquids on the way home. Hardly seems worth the touble of looking up what is allowed or not allowed. I always carried nail clippers in my toiletries bag (take them if you want TSA) and they never say anything.
I know someone who always carried a handgun in his backpack and forgot to take it out before flying one time. Not found by TSA.
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### Author:  [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/8 "2014-10-10T13:10:09Z")
I’ve carried on a sleeve of razor blades before.
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### Author:  [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/9 "2014-10-10T13:16:07Z")
I’m sure that, by accident, I may possibly have.
I don’t really remember doing so, but if I did, I’m sorry.
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### Author:  [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/10 "2014-10-10T13:17:49Z")
Wow yes!
I had 6 canisters of mace in my laptop bag I completely forgot about them till I had travelled from Manila via Dubai and Charles de Gaulle to Libreville then Port Gentil.
Wow the thought of being banged up in an African gaol scares the crap out me. Can’t believe I did that
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/11 "2014-10-10T13:30:23Z")
> [@chiroptera](#):
>
> Also I used to have a pair of earrings that were actually tiny, functional penknives. For years those were my go-to earrings every time I travelled.
Now that’s being dressed to kill.
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### Author:  [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/12 "2014-10-10T13:53:30Z")
My last trp to Paris, I found an all-metal boxcutter in my carry-on backpack after arrival. I had been wondering where it had gotten to.
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### Author:  [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/13 "2014-10-10T13:58:55Z")
I’ve brought a swiss army knife in my carry a number of times. I’ve forgotten it’s in there and then the scanner thing doesn’t pick it up.
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### Author:  [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/14 "2014-10-10T14:07:43Z")
A couple of weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, I flew from Denver to Detroit with a [multi-plier](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/3028441619_38e3c71925.jpg), which has a pocketknife-like blade, in my carry-on bag. (I didn’t realize it was in there until I got to Detroit.)
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### Author:  [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/15 "2014-10-10T14:11:14Z")
Gah, and here’s me getting a grilling from the Manchester (UK) Airport security guys because I forgot to take my body spray out of my handbag…
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### Author:  [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/16 "2014-10-10T14:24:29Z")
Oh yeah.
A set of nail clippers and a nearly empty tube of toothpaste that was over the 3 Oz. limit when full. Both of those got caught on the return trips (separate trips). They took the toothpaste, but for the nail clippers they just broke off the 1 inch nail file.
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### Author:  [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/17 "2014-10-10T14:25:38Z")
What was the supposed rationale for confiscating nail clippers?
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/18 "2014-10-10T14:27:48Z")
> [@Reply](#):
>
> As a spinoff of the “[Can I pack this in my carryon?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736864)” thread, I was reminded of my last trip across California. I flew out of several airports, including LAX, and I forgot to leave my [pocket knife](http://www.moontrail.com/details/leatherman/e304x-e305x/ltgknives-e304x-e.jpg) at home. I just threw it into my backpack, along with a computer mouse and some USB cables and the like, and the screeners never saw it. Upon arrival I forgot to mail it back home, so I did the same thing on my return flight and they didn’t catch it either.
>
> I always believed the TSA was security theater, but didn’t have firsthand experience with their uselessness before then. I’m even more disappointed now. All that unnecessary wait time for security that doesn’t work in the least.
>
> Have you ever slipped a dangerous object past the TSA, accidentally or otherwise?
For over a year (2011-2012), and approximately 12 round-trip flights, I had a steak knife in my computer case which was never found until I decided to give the case a good cleaning.
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### Author:  [@StrangerThanFiction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrangerThanFiction)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/19 "2014-10-10T14:37:09Z")
I accidentally knocked my 3" steel blade Kershaw off a table and into a backpack. It fell in a small internal pocket and I didn’t notice it.
[ ](https://toolguyd.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Kershaw-Leek-Onion-Knife-Ergonomics.jpg)
Over the course of two months I carried it through TSA checkpoints at LGA, JFK, ORD, MDW, HPN and PHL. I had very little respect for the TSA beforehand. Now I have zero respect. Zero.
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### Author:  [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2014, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-slipped-something-by-the-tsa/700950/20 "2014-10-10T14:41:56Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#):
>
> What was the supposed rationale for confiscating nail clippers?
Yeah, I thought those were allowed now.
I always have a set in my carry-on.
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