Susan Brown Campbell complains that being fined for trying to carry a steak knife through airport security has left her feeling like a criminal.
Hmmm. Let's look at that, Susan.
You attempted to do something that is illegal, e.g. a criminal act, and you got caught and punished. What part of the cycle do you not understand? The part where ignorance of the law is suddenly an excuse? The part where, when you get caught breaking the law, you are allowed to simply say, "but I didn't mean to, it was just a mistake" and then you get a free pass?
She seems to think the TSA makes you go through that screening process merely for the sake of creating a bottle-neck at the entrance to the airport. I have been through many airports, and I have yet to find one that isn't very clear about what you can and cannot take through the security checkpoint. Yes, I do believe it is possible, if unlikely, to forget that you have a four inch knife in your bag - but I don't believe that is an excuse worthy of dismissing the fine.
BTW: If the TSA is 'using the regulations to raise revenues', so what? The have a large job to do and a little help to offset the budget is OK. The police Department uses speeding tickets to raise revenues also. Unless you break the law, you don't contribute.
Or is that a little too close to a sin tax for you?
Posted by Vox at March 12, 2004 03:38 PM | politics