Been there, done that.
The TSA fine thing, that is.
Wife PLANNED to pack a present for her mother - a paring knife - in the CHECKED luggage, where it would not be a problem. For space reasons, she foolishly put the fully gift-wrapped little knife in our carry-on luggage.
Flash-forward to the security line. TSA guards ask us if there is any contraband, yadda yadda yadda. We say "No."
Guard REPEATS question, very specifically asking if there are any weapons, "anything that could harm us," etc. Again, we say no.
Party begins. Bag is opened, gift-wrapped box taken out, we are asked about the contents thereof. Wife has an "Aha! - Oh NO!" moment.
Now all the Defender of the Airways had to do was peel off one taped-down end of the gift wrap, but no, she has to put on a Demonstration of Seizing Dangerous Contraband. Confetti rains down as she shreds the gift wrap, opens the Pampered Chef box and triumphantly reveals the deadly 3" paring knife.
Now Wife is interrogated about the knife, state cop demands her SS# (which I told her he did not need, she did not have to provide, and which she did anyway.). She's taken off for questionning, ALL our luggage - which had already been opened when we checked it - is pulled, and the fun continues.
In all fairness, I must state that the TSA people were pretty nice about what was clearly OUR error. The TSA guard knew how much Pampered Chef stuff costs and let us KEEP the knife. Hence, pulling our checked bags off was useful, as Wife could put the Killer Blade therein, allowing it to still be given as a Mothers' Day gift AND become a Family Legend.
About 2 months later, we get a letter from the TSA, demanding a $300 (might have been $500) fine IF WE PAY IMMEDIATELY. The letter further advises that there is a right to appeal, BUT doing so would make us liable for the FULL penalty of $5,000 if convicted. In other words, you can plead out for very short money, or roll the dice for serious stakes - your choice.
We decide a mere call to the TSA attorney will not be deemed a rejection of the offer and will, therefore, be worth a shot. Wife calls and speaks briefly to a very nice woman, the local TSA attorney. They make an appointment for her to call Wife back, after the attorney can pull the file and review the complaint.
At the stroke of the appointed hour, the TSA attorney calls back. Now understand that this is a slam-dunk case. We:
1. Had a weapon in our carry-on luggage;
2. Denied its existence when asked; and
3. STILL denied its existence when given a SECOND opportunity to declare it.
How do YOU spell "stupid?" They had us cold.
Notwithstanding our collective anal-cranial inversion, the TSA attorney REDUCED the fine significantly. I could not write the check fast enough.
As for the TSA creeps groping woman, doing public strip-searches and filming these molestations - no quarter should be given. But fair is fair, and the TSA treated us surprisingly well for our clueless error.