# 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:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/21 "2003-12-31T19:21:25Z")
Prior to flying here, Brother has to surrender a screwdriver from work that he forgot to remove from his carryon. No biggie. When dropping him at the airport to go back, apparently we took five second longer to say goodbye at the sidewalk than the local security guy likes (no vehicles were waiting or being obstructed by us) & he told us we had to move on. Give some putzes a badge… _sigh_ ---
**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, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/22 "2003-12-31T19:30:49Z")
The member of the party who had the gun had it in a bag he usually uses to travel and usually travels by car, so it wasn’t deliberate. Muckety-mucks were called, heads were scratched, the gun was stored, and we flew off without it. As you say, **Duckster** , being calm and polite helps. Not making fun of the agent who discovered the gun case with a puzzled expression, opened it, then looked as if the contents of his bowels and all his blood were running down into his shoes, helps. Having thirty years in law enforcement, a badge on hand, and someone to vouch for you and a reputation in the community, helps. ---
**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, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/23 "2003-12-31T21:54:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tortuga \* > As you say, **Duckster** , being calm and polite helps. Well it was the cops who were polite and apologetic for detaining us. It also helped that I didn’t raise a ruckus as so many other travellers apparently do. Then again, as they were examining the mini-flashlight I cautioned them _not_ to look at it if they turned it on because it has three blue super-bright LEDs. Of course, one of them didn’t listen and was blinded by the light (while his companions laughed at his expense). ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/24 "2003-12-31T22:17:53Z")
I borded a ship in India without my MoHA clearance. No one else on the boards will have a clue as what this means. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/25 "2003-12-31T22:51:58Z")
I thought bad things about President Bush. I know, I know, it isn’t illegal. Yet. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811/26 "2003-12-31T23:43:59Z")
I went to NYC three months after 9/11/01, while 6 months pregnant. I was given an extensive pat down search/belly rub, after which the female screener who had given me the professional massage asked me if I was wearing a belt. I looked her straight in the eye and aksed “Did you _findi_ a belt?!?” Idiot. Before 9/11, my brother ran his regular duffle through security out of habit, then realized his rather large knife was in it (special operations soldier), as well as a box of extremely illegal Cuban cigars. Neither were noticed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-violate-security-this-holiday-season/221811.md?page=1)