Airport screeners scrutinizing remote-controlled toys

[baldguy]

Airport screeners are giving additional scrutiny to remote-controlled toys because terrorists could use them to trigger explosive devices, the Transportation Security Administration said Monday.

The TSA stopped short of banning the toys in carry-on bags but suggested travelers place them in checked luggage.

"Travelers may encounter additional screening when bringing remote control devices in carry-on baggage," the TSA said. In addition, anyone carrying such toys, including children, may have to go through secondary screening.

The change was not prompted by any specific intelligence, the TSA said. Instead, it was made in response to July's National Intelligence Estimate, which concluded the United States will face "a persistent and evolving terrorist threat" in the coming years, and also by generalized threats that noted the use of remote-control toys as detonators.

more:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/10/01/tsa.toys/index.html

Shouldn't the people tasked with protecting travelers from explosive devices actually look for devices which explode?

[LisaM]

1. No one needs to take remote-controlled toys in their carry-on

Frankly, I'm shocked that it's even allowed. This is not a necessary item.

[Deja Q]

3. Seconded. Worse,

someone would doubtlessly try to make a bomb remote control look innocuous like a toy remote control.

There is no reason for vitriol aimed at Homeland Security for this scenario.

[backscatter712]

4. Jawohl!

How dare we do anything but mindlessly conform!!!

All hail the security state!

[MadHound]

5. Let's see here

You have a two hour delay with your child at an airport. Your child gets figety and fussy, bored and wanting to play. Using a bit of foresight, you packed his favorite toy, a small RC car that fits easily into your carry on. Presto, chango, your child is happy and quite, not fussy and annoying fellow passengers, who would, if he didn't have said toy, get home to their computers and post on some anonymous internet chat board what horrors small kids are, and how parents are negligent for not bringing the kid's favorite toy along.

The disconnect around here is astounding sometimes.

[RC]

6. I take it you have never been in a bigger air port?

Or a even busy air port? If I trip over some kids remote control car while trying to get to another gate, it will be junk. And depending on how you react, I might turn you over to Security. Toys like that belong at home, not in the middle of a crowd. Pack it in the checked luggage.

[LisaM]

11. I spend as much time with the kids I know as I can

Including my six nieces and nephews. I get so tired of people thinking I am against children when I love them and enjoy their company. I have taken them on road trips, to stores, babysat them, had slumber parties for them, written stories for them, helped them learn to read, etc., and I have done it all without the benefit of remote-controlled toys.

In fact, my new thing is writing little stories for them that include the pets they know, or themselves, writing them out on the computer with pictures inserted, and then giving them to them to read to me or each other (they are written at their level). They love these books, and re-read them a lot, then, best of all, write new stories back. I think it would be ideal to have a few of these ready for airport delays. If you are too busy to write them yourself, solicit your friends, or the children's aunts and uncles to do this. People will love being asked, and the kids will have a good time with them.

[LisaM]

7. No - your disconnect is astonishing.

I am tired of being labelled anti-child when I'm not. I love kids, worked with them for years, and have travelled with them to boot. I think that there are plenty of options for entertaining a child without remote-controlled toys at an airport. For one thing, where are they even supposed to be operating them during a two-hour delay, between the other passengers' feet?

[TomInTib]

10. Correct.

A remote-controlled toy would last about one-point-three seconds in a major airport.

It would be confiscated about the moment it hit the floor.

[NutmegYankee]

12. One word: Theft!

If you travel overseas, you know not to put anything worth stealing in your checked bags. Toys would make a European screener's children quite happy, while yours tear up.

[BlooInBloo]

14. No one NEEDS to take ANYTHING in their carryon. Sheesh. Fucking authoritarians.

[Solly Mack]

2. they hate us for our sex toys

[TomInTib]

8. After 9/11 and before I cut my hair, they used to go thru my carryon every time. So...

I started carrying this HUGE dildo in my bag.

Never happened again.

[Ezlivin]

9. Isn't the REAL problem the luggage itself?

No luggage means no means to hide a bomb.

No luggage means no more bag searches! No more waiting at the carousel!

Let's go "No Luggage" at all airports and wipe out terrorism!

[RC]

13. Fly nacked?

No where to hide nothin.