[RjVA]

We'll here it goes, I am hoping someone has some feedback to relieve my stress......

About Six months ago, I went on a typicall fishing trip to a hunting cabin with the boys. When I returned, I could not find my Benchmade 3.5 inche folder. Thought for sure it was left at the cabin and I was hoping to find it when I returned for bow season in September........

Last week, I was on buisness trip for work, arrived in ohio, did my duty and was heading through TSA security on my return home and bam, "Is this your bag Sir, Yup, please go again and search....Sure enough, as the screener was going through my bag, there was my trusty folder, busted... The knife worked is way under the floor of the bag. Ugh!! Both my wife and I both checked the bag many times for other trips as well. Never knew it was there....

I was very appologetic and stated this was a complete mistake on my part. I was given to Ohio's finest, where I sat for almost an hour. Never handcuffed or searched, but, was given my rights before being asked to fill out a statement. I declined, requesting a lawyer before doing so. I was released and made my flight. As of now, this is all I know.....

Everyone involved including the officer was very casual and basically acted as though this happens all the time. I have always respected and appreciated LEO's and this is the first time I was on the "other" side of things.

After researching the TSA web site, I found that this happens every 17 minutes and I could expect a letter from TSA, issuing me a civil fine. I am praying this is all. I have never been in any type of trouble and hope that this won't effect my Virginia CHP. I have not hired an attourney yet, simply because I do not even know if I am charged with anthing. I have locked my sidearm away until I have some sence as to were I stand....

To all, please be careful. Simply mistakes such as this result in bad things happening. I'll keep everyone posted, and if you have any similiar experiences, please let me know.....

 

[mzmtg]

Well, I, for one, feel safer knowing that your terrorist plot was foiled.

 

[Redneck Repairs]

I have locked my sidearm away until I have some since as to were I stand....

IMHO no need for that since you stand the same place you did before the trip unless and until you are notified of charges ( if any ) . If you have not been served with any charges of any type your ccw rights are not affected at this point .

Check with an Attny to verify what I posted but I am reasonably certain that I have my facts right .

 

[Fargo]

I wouldn't worry about it. I can't see any reason to considered yourself "charged" without having been notified that you if you have been charged with anything. Additionally, a civil fine is not a criminal matter and does not involve "charges" but rather a claim of sorts where you can either pay it or contest it in civil court. (Most speeding tickets are civil actions of this sort rather than criminal actions. Thats why they only have to prove it "more likely than not" that you did it rather than the criminal standard of "beyond a reasonable doubt").

My wife did the same thing on our way to our honeymoon, but since it was a real small CRKT blade, we didn't even have to fill out an incident report. Like you say, this happens all the time and I highly doubt that you will ever hear anything more about it, unless the LEO's on scene told you to expect to. As the 3rd sentance of the TSA's "Information for Travelers on Prohibited Items" says itself:

TSA does not impose fines on the vast number of passengers who inadvertently carry prohibited items.

Here is a link to the document.

http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Sanction_Guidance_for_Individuals_7-15-2004.pdf

I really wouldn't worry about it.


All the best,


Joe

 

[P95Carry]

So so easy to happen. I doubt you will suffer much more than a rap on the knuckles in effect. And if knife was busted too ......

I doubt I could ever drive across border into Mexico because somewhere under my truck seat rail is a 357 round - dropped long ago when reloading after crossing back into friendly territory after a trip. Cannot reach it to remove - well not easily.

I discovered with horror on a flight earlier this year that my carry-on bag (which has seen range bag duty) contained one solitary .22lr round in a side pocket - and I too thought I had checked it empty thoroughly. I was idly fishing in there for some gum and found the sucker.

I was in the queue to go thru scanning and so just held my breath - and heavens be praised it was not seen. I disposed of it safely later.

I can imagine how you felt tho - probably like being a wanted fugitive!!

 

[AirForceShooter]

The real question is are you going on "the list"?
If you do, flying is going to be a real pain.

AFS

 

[kansas_shooter]

Anymore, I would rather drive 3 days than fly. Flying is such a hassle.

 

[RjVA]

Yes, Kansas, major hassle. Now that I will probably be on the dreaded list, I am sure it will be worse as AirForceShooter states. Thanks Fargo for the link....

 

[Brian45]

RjVA

Did you go back to claim the knife? Did TSA keep the knife or the LE officer? In many of these situations the TSA employee simply gets a new knife. Since you filled out paperwork there is proof that somebody has your knife. You should not have a problem getting your property back. Learn your rights and use them.

I personally think every passenger should be required to carry a knife. I bet if a terrorist knows everyone on the airplane has a blade he would keep his box cutter in his pocket and his mouth shut.

 

[RjVA]

I did not Brian. The officer did seem to like my $165 folder? He was trying it out in his front pocket. To be perfectly honest, I would hope the darn things disappears with the LEO.. I was not informed that it was confiscated, nor did I ask. Keep in mind, I was given my boarding pass , 10 minutes before the flight took off.....

 

[Ti Carry]

Get your knife, it's yours and you made a simple honest mistake. DO NOT let a LEO or some other TSA employee take your property just because it wedged under the floor of your bag. Make a point to get the knife back, it is not right that anyone keep it in this situation.


Ti.

 

[QKShooter]

Just my gut feeling...you should be just fine.
I would not sweat it...you were perfectly honest.
After it's all over you might want to make a few phone calls and make sure nothing is permanent (record wise)
Honest Boo~Boo.
Hey...stuff happens. It's a part of life. We all can't be perfect all the time.

 

[RjVA]

Unfortunately, "A simple mystake" does not cut it. I am responsible for being ignorant as to what was in my bag. Hey, if a piece of evidence would disappear, that could only help me if things go bad.. Ti, I understand your point, but, I was truly in the wrong here...

 

[Ti Carry]

Unfortunately, "A simple mystake" does not cut it. I am responsible for being ignorant as to what was in my bag. Hey, if a piece of evidence would disappear, that could only help me if things go bad.. Ti, I understand your point, but, I was truly in the wrong here...

Yes, but honestly in the wrong, there is a difference.

My girlfriend is a flight attendent and passes through TSA security 4 or 5 times a day, she see's things like this all the time with people that didn't know it was in there bag and or didn't know it was illegal to bring it on such as a simple pair of nose sizzors. She said with things like this they do check them out ofcouse but before releasing them they give them an envelope, postage paid by the passenger to send it to themselves.

She didn't know about the fines and or if they enforced them or not. She did say if it has been 6 months now or better and you were not charged your are good to go.

Start packing again also, this is not that big of a deal. The big deal would be if found on a plane with it.


Ti.

 

[randytulsa2]

Like Mzmtg, I now feel a LOT safer knowing that you weren't in the air with that knife.

And, like everyone else here says, I wouldn't sweat it.

If you'd been on Flight 93 with your carry piece, or had any of us been on any of the doomed 9/11 flights, armed as we SHOULD have the right to be, that day would have turned out a bit differently.

And there would't BE any friggin' TSA.

Off-topic. Sorry. I rant sometimes.

 

[xercise2nd]

First time post...

Interesting event. A friend of mine can relate to it. He's a missionary in Brazil who lives in a really tough neighborhood...really tough. People are getting killed, robbed, mugged, kidnapped on a frequency our cities would be jealous of. So his story goes like this. He figures he could be easily a target of a kidnap. For what ever reason, he doesn't carry (tough to preach to one on who you have a bead). But, he takes a old pair of shoes and rigs a dummy heal into which he places a razor blade. I guess he was planning on cutting his way to freedom.

Instead it got him into trouble. Unthinking, he grabs the pair of shoes to wear for a flight back to the US of A and gets picked up coming through in Miami. Mind you, this was not that long after the shoe-bomber incident. Like you, he was all asweat. In the end he did have to make an appearance back in Miami and pay a fine. Not sure why he could not have simply sent in a check. The end. No biggie.

 

[Rock and Glock]

I agree with RR - although not an attorney, there is no "Final Adjudication" of the matter therefor no change in your status as a CCW license holder.

 

[SIGguy229]

RjVA....
I did the same thing a couple of weeks ago flying out of KC, MO--except--after I checked my firearm (much to the chagrin of my wife), we walked through the metal detectors--took off shoes, belt, removed, wallet, keys, etc... <beep>

double checked my front/back pockets...no dog tags...<beep>

I was asked to sit down for TSA to wand my (bare) feet...<no beep>

Then they wanded down my right side <beep> <beep>
-- and found my Kershaw Ken Onion knife on my outside pocket (!!--I forgot I put it there--was more concerned about checking my weapon)

I obviously forgot it was there...and said many times "I sure did like that knife"....my wife starts laughing at me saying she can't take me anywhere, my boys are asking my wife if I'm going to jail for Fathers' Day...and my flight leaves in 40 minutes.

Short ending--I got to keep the knife...I was escorted out of the gate area where I was handed back my knife...took one of the carry-on bags and put the knife in it and checked it....lesson learned

Mike in VA

 

[RjVA]

Thanks all for responding. I believe I am in a little more trouble than Sig, because the blade was over 3.5inches. Regardless, I'll keep you all updated on the progress, hopefully there will be nothing exciting to report...

 

[Jungle Work]

The above situation is one of the many reasons I don't fly anymore, nor do I cross the border into Mexico. Never lost anything in either place.

Jungle Work