Re: Illegal property seizures

Nomen Nescio wrote:
Here is an article on how to prevent illegal searches at airports.

oops, sorry forgot url: http://groups.google.com/group/rec.travel.usa-canada/browse_thread/thread/f91244c8e9ed2050/20657be38646174d?lnk=st&q=cash+seized+police+advice+u.s.+travel+guide&rnum=1#20657be38646174d

This article is quite old. What has changed? What can citizens do if they choose
to carry alot of cash with them to prevent illegal seizures, other than what
is recommended in this article?

I may have occasion to use the airlines with a good deal of cash with me, but
under the 10K limit. I don't want to have my vacation plans interrupted to
deal with some jackass who thinks he can steal my money under the color of
law.

Thanks for any non-flame, intelligent answers.


That article is dated 1997. What's changed since then is that things have gotten worse. The TSA, a federal agency, replaced private airport screeners after 9/11. The TSA has been routinely stealing from passengers' luggage. As government employees, TSA agents have sovereign immunity from lawsuits no matter how arbitrary their decisions and how much they steal.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2004-08-12-screeners-theft_x.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A45823-2003Jun28?language=printer
"In New York, law enforcement fields a dozen complaints every month from passengers who believe TSA workers picked their pockets."
In Philadelphia, a TSA screener was charged with stealing a passengers cash.
In Baton Rouge, nine TSA workers arrested for allegedly stealing from luggage.
In Fort Lauderdale, four TSA screeners were charged for the same thing."

As far as avoiding theft by the TSA or other government goons, if the amount of money you are carrying is not too great (in volume), you might be able to conceal it in your clothing. Good protection from general theft also. It's worked so far for me, but I don't travel that often.


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Cash at airport-current state of the law
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  • Re: Illegal property seizures
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  • Re: Cash at airport-current state of the law
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