TSA explosive sniffing

[RedAlert]

I'm unaware of this "sniffing" procedure. Are you talking about dogs? If so, please provide a source.

The article was a "snippet" in Janes newletters. It did not refer to trained service dogs, rather to "equipment."

For the record a year ago, while in Midway Airport, Chicago, the TSA gents came by and placed a sniffer probe over the open cup of coffee I was drinking. Did this to all open containers in the waiting area. No arrests observed.

 

[acdodd]

TSA has never found a real explosive device that I have heard about.
The sniffers they are talking about are organic compound trace element detectors.
Ever wonder why the 4th of July doesn't cause big problems at the airports?
I know but won't I won't tell.

 

[ChaoSS]

The TSA has failed to stop anything from happening. It's about control and the death of our liberties.

 

[Big_E]

Several years ago, my dads bag was flagged I don't remember if it was his clothes or something but he just showed his badge and they let him through. After a short checking of the contents he was clear.

The TSA agent (actually a friendly and informative guy, 1:1,000,000 i guess) also said that if beef jerky was in the bag it will set off detectors because of the salts or something.

I will only fly as a last resort now, and will never fly through San Fran, because they really mucked up my return trip home. This whole airport security thing is a conspiracy IMHO. Just a way for gov't officials to give their buddies who start these businesses money, while appearing to the sheeple they are concerned about us. Okay, I will get off my soap box now.

 

[hirundo82]

I've never had problems with powder residue when they swab for explosives.

TSA at both Dulles and IAH do a full hand search plus explosives swab of your luggage if you are checking guns. I've had TSA swab the outside of a Pelican case containing several guns without triggering the detector.

 

[Chemistry Guy]

The TSA agent (actually a friendly and informative guy, 1:1,000,000 i guess) also said that if beef jerky was in the bag it will set off detectors because of the salts or something.

For a while, Homeland security thought the biggest threat was ammonium nitrate used as a homemade explosive. It is cheap, available, and can be made into an explosive without any significant chemistry background or laboratory. Salted meats often contain nitrate salts (like hotdogs, but I guess the casing keeps them immobile in that case). Despite this, I doubt beef jerky would set off the sensor. Sounds like someone making excuses for technology that is nowhere near as effective as the people selling it would have you believe.

 

[bdgackle]

I flew with a rifle in checked baggage a while back... They swabbed the rifle. It came up positive... So they swabbed again, tested again, and it came up negative. They proceeded to send it off for boarding. The story more than makes up for the hassle.

I for one wonder about the special TSA lines for first class passengers... I can understand paying for better service, but for a government mandated check? To me, sounds like putting a special line in at the DMV for Mercedes drivers.

 

[RedAlert]

Well, I spoke with my Sister-in-law, who is a lawyer with the DHS. She pointed me to the following press release on the TSA site:

http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2010/0217.shtm

Sounds like an enhanced program of a currently used system. I know that I've been "swabbed" at Reagan Int. Airport in the past.

Ralph