# So how did YOU violate security this holiday season? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 30, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811 "2003-12-30T18:46:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/1 "2003-12-30T18:46:24Z")
Yes, many of us travelled this week, didn’t we? The Chances headed for glorious Chicago for a few days to see the folks (and to announce [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=232138)). But, as always, I consider airport security, despite all the foofarah that the Department of Homeland Security will make us safe and taking off our shoes will keep the terrorists down I found myself getting through security… At Dulles International Airport (just outside Washington, DC) they literally made EVERY single person (and my three year old) take off their shoes (Baby Kate was crying that they can’t HAVE her shoes because they’re her BARBIE shoes!) and their winter coats. Well enough though I have no illusions that this actively makes me safer. But I’m carrying a didjeridoo. No fooling. Her birthday is the 24th and that’s what I got her. It was in a soft fabric case and had dimensions of 3.5 feet by about 3 inches in diameter. Security Guy: What’s that? Me: A didjeridoo. SG: A _What_? Me: A didjeridoo. SG: What’s that? Me: A musical instrument. Wanna see it? SG: No, go on ahead. So I got through security with a closed package big enough for all manner of nastiness. And nary a challenge. I did go through the metal detector with it. But I find that fairly unreassuring as one could do some badness with no metal at all. Top it off there was a woman on the flight with metal knitting needles. And yet more…at Chicago O’Hare on the return the security guy at the metal detectors said, “OK, we’re supposed to check everyone’s shoes…how’s everyone’s shoes? Comfortable?” to the crowd. Though they DID make Lady Chance unpack her backpack at O’Hare because one of Baby Kate’s plush toys had a speaker. ---
**Author:** ![mlerose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@mlerose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlerose)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/2 "2003-12-30T18:59:32Z")
I heard the FAA approved knitting needles. I was going to bring some on but decided I’d rather sleep. I packed them all in my checked stuff. I did, however, bring a Suspicious Item on my flight out to CA, and had it put through the xray machine twice (it was a fossil for my dad). They wouldn’t tell me what they THOUGHT it was. On the way back yesterday morning, I checked the sewing machine I had gotten for christmas, and got selected for SSSS (extra security screening). Guess only terrorists check sewing machines? I still remember the time I flew to CO just after September 11 (I think it was a week after they started flying again) and wore my faux kilt, complete with kilt pin. They didn’t even blink at it. I think I could have (theoretically) done a LOT more damage with my huge metal pin than I could ever do with my crochet hook that they WOULDN’T let me on with. _shrug_ ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/3 "2003-12-30T21:02:46Z")
I left the front door of my parents’ home unlocked two nights in a row so I could slip off to a bar. I know it’s not quite what you meant but it’s the best I could do since I didn’t fly. Oh, and I drove 80 in 55 zones the whole way. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/4 "2003-12-30T21:09:48Z")
I got an almanac as a gift, does that count? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/5 "2003-12-30T23:31:03Z")
We were permitted INTO Mexico with nail clippers, but not OUT OF Mexico with aforementioned clippers in our carry-on. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/6 "2003-12-30T23:53:54Z")
I didn’t go anywhere over the holidays. However, a few years ago (before 9/11), I was flying and didn’t realize until the plane was already in the air that my carry-on bag had _emergency road-flares_ in it. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/7 "2003-12-31T02:03:44Z")
I got beep-beeped in the metal detector in O’Hare airport 2 years ago for my compact with a mirror in it. And I hate taking my shoes off - I wear boots and it takes me several minutes to take them off/put them on. No real “secuity risk” complaints, tho. I usually drive anywhere I travel. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/8 "2003-12-31T03:39:40Z")
I went to that terrorist hotbed of Phuket Thailand. White beaches, sunny skies, 85 degree weather - it was worth the risk 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/9 "2003-12-31T07:23:17Z")
There’s a place in Thailand called “Phuket”? Imagine the jokes! ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/10 "2003-12-31T08:20:23Z")
Wow! Just… wow! Your “Homeland Security” guys are even crazier than **our** security! :eek: (Almost makes me glad I haven’t been in the US since 1996. No, actually I miss it…). (If you don’t think that’s saying much, turn your head 5°s left and look at my “Location” field…) Dani ---
**Author:** ![Tortuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@Tortuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tortuga)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/11 "2003-12-31T09:26:25Z")
If we hadn’t been selected for a handsearch by the agent at the ticket counter, we would have passed onto the plane with a loaded handgun in a carry-on bag. Yep, passed right through the x-ray machine without a peep from the “security guard.” ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/12 "2003-12-31T11:07:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tortuga \* > \*\*If we hadn’t been selected for a handsearch by the agent at the ticket counter, we would have passed onto the plane with a loaded handgun in a carry-on bag. Yep, passed right through the x-ray machine without a peep from the “security guard.” \*\* As you do, right? Uh… you actually tried to board a flight with a loaded gun? Not being judgemental here, but the US sure does weird me out sometimes. It seems cool and all, it just weirds me out. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/13 "2003-12-31T13:08:31Z")
While I was in Egypt I took an internal flight. I put my bag through the x-ray machine and the security guy saw something he didn’t like. He looked through my bag buy couldn’t find anything. He made me put my bag through the x-ray again. STILL saw something he didn’t like and checked my bag again. He gave up and let me go. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/14 "2003-12-31T13:13:00Z")
Not an airport but still security. About a month ago I went to sit in court. I had to go through security to get into the building. I gave the guy my bag and coat (which he didn’t look through). I then went through the metal detector which I set off. Guy - “Do you have any metal on you?” Me - “Yeah. A belly button bar.” \*Lifts up top slightly. Guy - _Handing back coat and bag_ “Erm… okay, you can go in.” I could have been carrying anything! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/15 "2003-12-31T13:56:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Noone Special \* > \*\*Wow! Just… wow! Your “Homeland Security” guys are even crazier than **our** security! :eek: (Almost makes me glad I haven’t been in the US since 1996. No, actually I miss it…). > > (If you don’t think that’s saying much, turn your head 5°s left and look at my “Location” field…) > > Dani \*\* Honestly, the fiercest security I’ve **ever** gone through was El Al in (I think) 1988. I was travelling to Israel on what amounted to a spring break pilgrimage to Jerusalem. I was going (with my mom) for just over a week. And I was travelling with a backpack and another larger carry on. And they grilled me eight ways from Sunday. The first screener, her boss and HIS boss all met with me privately before I even got through the process. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/16 "2003-12-31T16:36:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*Honestly, the fiercest security I’ve **ever** gone through was El Al in (I think) 1988. I was travelling to Israel on what amounted to a spring break pilgrimage to Jerusalem. > > I was going (with my mom) for just over a week. And I was travelling with a backpack and another larger carry on. > > And they grilled me eight ways from Sunday. The first screener, her boss and HIS boss all met with me privately before I even got through the process. \*\* well, yes - that’s exactly my point! That security **outside** of Israel seems to be more strict than **inside** it. You describe extremely harsh measures applied **outside of Israel** to someone trying to go to Israel. I don’t see those… I’m already here! Guess once you’re in, you’re considered “safe” or something 😛 Dani ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/17 "2003-12-31T16:45:21Z")
True enough. Lotsa folks on the streets with rifles…but not a lot of intrusive security outside of that. ---
**Author:** ![Intent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5e9695/32.png) [@Intent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intent)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/18 "2003-12-31T18:38:59Z")
When I was flying back from San Jose last july, the zipper on my bag got stuck. I tried and tried, but I could not get it closed, so I gave up and duct taped my suit case together. Obviously, this looked a bit suspicious, and my bag was selected for search. In doing so, they were able to fix my zipper! Such nice airport security guys. ---
**Author:** ![viking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@viking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/viking)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/19 "2003-12-31T18:50:44Z")
not me personally, but how silly is this one: [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/03362/255283.stm](http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/03362/255283.stm) ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/20 "2003-12-31T18:53:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tortuga \* > \*\*If we hadn’t been selected for a handsearch by the agent at the ticket counter, we would have passed onto the plane with a loaded handgun in a carry-on bag. Yep, passed right through the x-ray machine without a peep from the “security guard.” \*\* And the rest of the story is … ? Handgun confiscated? Arrested? Whut? We travelled over the Thanksgiving holiday. In a bum bag I sent through Security it contained some prescription sunglasses and a mini-flashlight. Problem was the X-ray superimposed the wire frames of the glasses over the flashlight, which is made of titanium. After _eight_ TSA staff and supervisors checked the X-ray, they finally decided to ask me about it. Still, they couldn’t open the bag and wouldn’t allow me to open it so they called the airport police. Airport police asked the right questions, opened the bag and gave me the okey-dokey. They were very professional and apologetic that the search held me up. I was grateful they were thorough. Apparently, too many going through Security act like assholes when stopped and the Police suffer the brunt of the abuse. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811.md?page=2)