Bringing prohibited items through TSA security checkpoints can result in civil penalties up to $17,062 per violation, according to the agency’s website
Credit: TSA/X (2)
NEED TO KNOW
- TSA officers at Montana’s Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport found a pocket knife taped under a child’s car seat booster seat cushion
- The knife, a Yellowstone souvenir, was wrapped in an absorbent pad and secured with painter’s tape
- TSA warns carrying prohibited items in carry-ons can lead to fines up to $17,062 per violation
A traveler passing through a TSA security checkpoint at a Montana airport thought they had a clever hiding spot for their souvenir pocket knife before officers found it.
“Knives belong in checked bags, not taped to a child’s seat being carried onto a plane,” TSA wrote on X on Tuesday, July 28. “The passenger thought they had a sharp hiding spot. Our officers at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport quickly put an end to this dull idea.”
The TSA included four photos that provided additional insight into how the passenger at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport attempted to hide the weapon. Underneath the cushion of the backless booster car seat, the tool appeared wrapped in an absorbent pad before being secured with two pieces of blue painter’s tape.
After ripping into the pseudo packaging, officers revealed a multi-tool pocket knife that reads “Yellowstone” along the side. The airport is located about two hours by car from Yellowstone National Park.
A spokesperson for the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport tells PEOPLE that this is another example of local TSA officers’ professionalism at the airport.
“We are proud to have them as partners with our Airport Law Enforcement in working to keep the aviation system safe and secure in southwest Montana,” the spokesperson added.
PEOPLE has reached out to the TSA for more information on the incident.
Credit: Shelby Tauber/Bloomberg via Getty
The TSA’s official guidance on pocket knives directs travelers to pack them inside checked baggage only, as passengers are prohibited from traveling with sharp objects in carry-on luggage. However, the final decision rests with TSA officers to decide if an item can be allowed through the checkpoint.
Larger knives in checked bags should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.
The TSA says carrying prohibited items through security may not only cause delays, but can lead to fines and sometimes even arrests. The agency says on its website that it can impose civil penalties of up to $17,062 per violation per person, with repeat violations resulting in even higher penalties.
Those carrying “knives with blades that open automatically (e.g., switchblades)” or “knives with blades that open via gravity (e.g., butterfly knives)” are given a warning notice on their first violation. Subsequent violations will result in a penalty between $450 and $2,570.
Elsewhere, at the Gulf Shores International Airport in Alabama, lead TSA officer Justin Dupress was surprised to find five Civil War-era cannonballs stolen from Fort Morgan, a National Historic Landmark that played a pivotal role in the conflict.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
While the cannonballs were later determined not to be explosive or have any active components, they were still not allowed on the planes as they are considered artillery munitions.
A police investigation confirmed the cannonballs were, in fact, stolen, and they were later returned to the historic site.
Read the full article here
