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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Hand Inspection In LA
Mark Goldman, Photographer
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Silver Spring | MD | USA | Posted: 11:43 AM on 11.10.03 |
| ->> When I was leaving the Luau (which was a blast), the TSA guys in LA refused to Hand inspect my belly bag with my geat in it. I asked to see a supervisor who told me that only 800ISO film and above had to be hand inspected and it was their discretion whether to inspect or not. I told him that that we incorrect and he told me to check my gear if I did not like it. He then wrote me up on an incident report. First time I have EVER been refused a hand inspect. Anyone recall the TSA reg. that says they have to hand inspect? I will print it out and keep it with me from now on. |
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Justin Sullivan, Photographer
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Neal Vaughan, Photographer
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St. Joseph | MI | USA | Posted: 11:55 AM on 11.10.03 |
| ->> LAX has to be the worst airport I've ever travelled through. Not only was it dirty and nasty but the people working there were rude too. I'm not suprised they did that. |
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David Rabian, Photographer
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Wilmington | DE | USA | Posted: 12:06 PM on 11.10.03 |
->> LAX was the ONLY place Les and I experienced an unpleasant person in CA. Even the folks at Philly Int'l were nicer.
No matter, I was Luau-loopy and too tired to care. :-)
Sorry about your deal there Mark. The Philly lines had the hand inspection rule printed up on signs before you got to the x-ray machines. It was the first time I'd ever seen them and they didn't mention any little loop hole about 'discretion'. |
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Matt Hevezi, Photographer
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Oceanside | CA | USA | Posted: 12:09 PM on 11.10.03 |
| ->> When I have carry on that I know I'm going to need hand inspect, I always ask the rep at the airline counter to escort me through TSA shakedown point. Never have had a problem doing it that way. And the airlines are always happy to provide that service. Give it a try. |
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Robert E. Hudson Jr, Photographer
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Costa Mesa | CA | USA | Posted: 12:14 PM on 11.10.03 |
->> Incident report? Oh geeze. Are you going to pursue it with the TSA? My concern would be the future reprocussions of that "incident report". I mean - their screw up may have put you on the radar for future flights.
The link Justin provided is a good one. Anyone who travels with film on a regular basis should print it out and keep it with them.
Neal is right - LAX is pretty crappy. I avoid that airport at most costs. |
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Jeff Frings, Photographer
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Milwaukee | WI | USA | Posted: 12:50 PM on 11.10.03 |
->> If you go to the link listed above, and click on the law and policy link on the top of the page, you can read the actual statutes. they are pretty clear that photo gear must be hand inspected upon request. the only thing that I could see that is up to the discetion of the TSA employees is what items can be taken on the plane, not whether to hand inspect. it seems this person was the one breaking the law.
jeff |
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Robert Longhitano, Photographer
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North Wales | PA | USA | Posted: 1:43 PM on 11.10.03 |
->> In this thread I see references to "photo gear" if Mark had film he wanted hand inspected they should of granted his request. The TSA reg is pretty explicit. But if you wanted a hand inspection just because you had camera equipment in your bag your out of luck unless they want to do a secondary screening.
Hey Matt: I like your tip, I'll have to give it a try.
rob |
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Chris Bergin, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Muncie | IN | USA | Posted: 1:44 PM on 11.10.03 |
| ->> Someone I was with at LAX wanted a hand check and got it no problem. There was a sign by the xray system that said you can recieve one if you want one. |
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Byron Hetzler, Photographer
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Granby | CO | USA | Posted: 1:48 PM on 11.10.03 |
->> I had a similar experience flying out of Denver earlier this year. It was early on a Sunday morning (around 6:00 a.m.), nobody else in the line I was in and the TSA "supervisor" gave me just about the same speech that Mark had. I even told this guy that the TSA seb site says my film can be hand inspected and he had the nerve to tell me that was old information and was going to be changed to a policy of ALL film would go through, no hand inspections at all.
I passed my experience on to ASMP who had a contact at TSA that they are working with on photographer's issues and I did received an apology from the contact. Now whenever I am traveling with film, I make sure I have a copy of the TSA regulations and the ASMP memo outlining the TSA regulations. |
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Byron Hetzler, Photographer
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Granby | CO | USA | Posted: 1:55 PM on 11.10.03 |
| ->> And speaking of experiences at LAX on Sunday, the cluster at the Delta terminal was ridiculous. Check in was a breeze, but then the lines to give your bag to the TSA workers for x-ray was unbelievable and then they sent us outside to another line to hold us before going up to the actual screening station. It's a good thing I arrived early. |
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Matt Hevezi, Photographer
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Oceanside | CA | USA | Posted: 2:09 PM on 11.10.03 |
->> Yeah Robert it just got way too ridiculous for me. At San Diego, some months ago, this TSA guy must have been having "one of those days."
After I explained to them it was really important to not have any of my film sent through the oven, the guy passed some super insulting comments to me and began TOTALLY staring me down when I asked to deal with the TSA supervisor for that gate.
Here I was talking to his boss and he was glaring at me like he wanted to throw down or something. His boss apologized, got me through. But it was very uncool. So I went to the airline customer service agent and she actually suggested having one of their people walk through with me when I have film with me.
So that's my SOP now when I need my stuff hand inspected and don't want to gamble on whether or not the TSA people working the gate know or respect the regs.
It's worked like a breeze on several occasions since then. |
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Kevin Novak, Photographer, Assistant
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Bel Air | MD | USA | Posted: 2:23 PM on 11.10.03 |
->> My most recent fun with the TSA:
My wife and I were at BWI, heading to the Luau when something she was wearing set off the magnetometer. No big, unusual deal, so she had to get wanded. Again, no big, unusual deal.
The problem was, they left all her personal property (purse with ID/cash/etc., and her computer) sitting, unsecured, on the end of the belt. I was able to keep an eye on it, while also checking to see if they were going to secure it. They did not. I then retrieved the items, no questions asked.
When I pointed this problem out to one of their employees, she was dumbfounded, thinking that her personal property would have been brought to her in the glass-enclosed area--NOT!
So, weary and wary travellers the lesson learned is to insist/demand that your personal property be brought to you when you are being wanded. |
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Robert Longhitano, Photographer
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North Wales | PA | USA | Posted: 2:36 PM on 11.10.03 |
->> Kevin,
That is a real problem. I remember seeing a news report about a scam with two people working together. The fist one got through and the second one purposely had something in his pocket to hold up the line were the first one can take whatever items he wanted. Hopefully they will come up with something to prevent this from happing.
rob |
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Zack Podell, Photographer, Assistant
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 5:52 PM on 11.10.03 |
->> I have yet to encounter a problem at LAX(knocking on wood!). If need be, I just lie to the TSA people, and tell them that there is alot more of 800 (& up) ISO film. They have gladly checked like 75-100 rolls of film by hand! I do not elaborate as to the amounts of film that are/ are not above 800. As for equipment, they will typically just put my gear through the x-ray, and sometimes they will ask for a hand inspection.....not always. This is just for carry-on!
Most TSA people, like most in SoCal, do not respond well if they are treated without the utmost respect. They have a power trip, and I just swollow my ego/ pride, and kiss their ass from the beginning! |
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Ian Buchanan, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Berkeley | CA | USA | Posted: 7:03 PM on 11.10.03 |
->> The TSA is required to hand search all photographic equipment under Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 6, Part 1544, Subsection 211, item "e," number 4, which states "If requested by individuals, their photographic equipment and film packages must be inspected without exposure to an X-ray system. "
Here is the link to the full section
http://ecfr1.access.gpo.gov/otcgi/cfr/otfilter.cgi?DB=1&ACTION=View&QUERY=1...
~Ian |
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Mark Goldman, Photographer
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Silver Spring | MD | USA | Posted: 7:57 PM on 11.10.03 |
| ->> Fellow sports shooters: Thanks so much for the support and especially the link to the TSA rules. I cannot tell you how pissed off I was, explaining that NIKON will not warranty camera damaged by X-Ray. The supervisor basically told me tough sh*t and to check the gear if I did not like it. I told him that checking it was not an option, since all bags are X-Ray'd as well. I have the guys name and will file a complaint with TSA. Thanks again Ian, for posting the regulation. |
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Chris Coduto, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Tucson | AZ | USA | Posted: 8:21 PM on 11.10.03 |
->> That doesn't surprise me. I used to go through it all the time at LAX. I told the TSA lady once that it was "infared film" and that it was very sensitive to x-ray, therefore, it had to be hand checked. She grumbled, but agreed. It has worked ever since.
You also might want to buy a couple of those lead film bags. |
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Jeff Frings, Photographer
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Milwaukee | WI | USA | Posted: 9:05 PM on 11.10.03 |
->> Ian,
Thanks for the link, I used to have it somewhere, but couldn't find it and could not get back to it for some reason. It's a good piece of knowledge to have if you ever have to fly with equipment.
Jeff |
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Ronnie Montgomery, Photographer
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Houston | TX | USA | Posted: 9:09 PM on 11.10.03 |
->> In fairness to the TSA I don't think they are all bad. On a recent trip to Orlando, I requested and was granted hand inspection of my film in both Houston Hobby and Orlando. It was time consuming but they didn't give me any grief and were very professional about it.
It's ironic what happend to Mark. While waiting for my plane at LAX, I was telling a stranger how much more professional TSA treated photographers than before we had the TSA. |
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Mike Isler, Photographer
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Santa Barbara | CA | US | Posted: 9:12 PM on 11.10.03 |
->> I flew out of LAX about 3 weeks ago, and had 325 rolls of film hand-checked. Nobody even complained about me asking for a hand-check, nor about the sheer amount of film being checked. The TSA agent was very polite and friendly, and only took about 20 minutes for all of the film.
I also sprinkle my film case with some ISO 1600 film (some old Provia 1600, etc). I keep a printout of the TSA regulations in my bag all the time, as well.
I've never had an issue at all with TSA hand-checks, and I've done about 30 flights across the country this year. I keep a separate case with film in it, with all of the film either in ziplocks or in original packaging. I've also travelled with infrared film as well as 4x5 sheet film, and haven't had an issue asking them not to open the film containers for those. |
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Rick Rowell, Photographer
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Canoga Park | CA | Usa | Posted: 9:36 PM on 11.10.03 |
| ->> A few years ago while taking a flight to New O'leans from L.A. I requested a hand check of my film and was refused. I asked to talked to the supervisor and he came over. I explained the situation and that I didn't trust any xray machine no matter the speed of the film. He was good enough to check it himself and that problem was solved and the super walked away. But when she asked to check my camera bag that's when the S#$%t hit the fan. The same person who refused to check my film started digging in my camera bag and pulling out lenses as if they were lead pipes and setting them rather roughly onto the table. I asked her (nicely) to please stop handling my camera equipment so roughly. She acted as if she didn't hear me. She then reached in and pulled out my 80-200 zoom and set it on the table upright. A second later she bumped the table and I was ready to catch the lens before it dropped to the floor. She turned to look at me and told me to back away from the table while she searched my bag. I told her to stop and called the supervisor over again. As the supervisor was coming over she said I didn't have the right to stop her from searching my bag. I told her she was out of her F%#*ing mind. The super came over and offered to do the search himself and that I could hand him each piece of equipment to look at then he would place it back in the bag were I would instruct him too. At that same time the she told her super that I was rude to her and she wanted to call the airport police to write up a report on me. I said bring 'em on, knowing full well the airport police don't like to write reports on small matters such as this one. If you call the airport police, their had better be a very good reason for it. The super at that moment turned to her and said " If there's any report to be writtin. It will be my report on your attitude and actions towards this man." YES! I thought, one of these idiots is finally going to be staighten out on what their job is. If your going to have your equipment inspected then stand near by and make sure they don't mishandle a lens or body. remeber 99.9% of these people have no idea how to handle professional camera equipment. Be carefull out there, know your rights and insist that they be honered. If they damage your equipment you will never be able to recover the loss. A friend of mine tried to recover the cost of a camera body that an inspecter dropped on the floor. After a year and a mountain of paper work he was never offered the full replacement value of the camera. He decided to settle for less rather than fight for another year with the insurance company. |
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Jason Redmond, Photographer
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Ventura | CA | USA | Posted: 10:10 PM on 11.10.03 |
| ->> For those who want to avoid LAX --and they fly to your area-- you might consider taking Jet Blue to the Long Beach Airport for next years workshop. It's a little farther down the 405, but the airport is very small and very easy to get in and out of. I've had good experiences with Jet Blue and they have some good deals on airfare. |
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Andrew Sullivan, Photographer
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Kissimmee | FL | USA | Posted: 12:19 AM on 11.11.03 |
| ->> Mike is right, always throw in some 'dummy' 1600 rolls just so they don't have any choice. By the way Mike, thanks again for helping out at the championships... the shots from the boat were awesome once you took the manuevering responsibilities away from 'Skipper'! You ever update your page with the Hawaii shots? |
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Jeffrey Haderthauer, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Norman | OK | USA | Posted: 12:36 AM on 11.11.03 |
->> Jason-
nice icon! Obviously, you're not a golfer. |
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