-
Hi Guest - Come check out all of the new CP Merch Shop! Now you can support CigarPass buy purchasing hats, apparel, and more...
Click here to visit! here...
They confiscated my favorite torch lighter!
- Thread starter Lumberg
- Start date
AVB
Jesus of Cool, I'm bad, I'm nationwide
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2003
- Messages
- 22,975
Famous Smoke Shop sent this out in one of their emails last year. It was so funny I had to save it.
** "HOW THE FEDS STOLE MY LIGHTER" - ONE MAN'S STORY **
SINCE MANY OF YOU will be traveling by air in the weeks ahead, I thought
this story about one man’s recent experience with the TSA (Transportation
Security Administration) was apropos. I did a little editing, but all the
words are those of the writer, who by request, I refer to only as "Mike"
and the TSA.
It all started with the following email:
Wed, 12 Nov 2003
Gary,
I'm a long-time fan of your newsletter, and thought that your readers
who "take to the skies" would be very interested in what happened to
me two weeks ago.
I was flying from Los Angeles to Minneapolis on November 2nd. I brought
along some of my favorite cigars as carry-on luggage, but packed my
Colibri lighter and cutter in my checked luggage to preclude any problems.
When I arrived in Minneapolis, I found out that my $35 Colibri lighter
had been confiscated back in Los Angeles.
What upsets me is that the new Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) officers confiscated my lighter, made no attempt to notify me that
they were confiscating my lighter and left no notification in my luggage
that this confiscation took place (there was simply a TSA card in my
suitcase that said the contents of the suitcase were inspected).
To date, all of my attempts to recover my lighter (a gift from my brother-
in-law) have gone ignored.
Best regards,
"Mike"
FYI: You can go to the TSA website (http://www.tsa.gov/public/) and
download a copy of their Prohibited and Permitted Items list. Go to
TSA website, go to Travelers & Consumers, then click on prohibited and
permitted items link.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sent 10 November 2003 to TSA:
TSA,
The purpose of this email message is to inquire into what TSA does with
the cigarette lighters that they confiscate from Checked Baggage?
I DID NOT KNOW that any policy was changed to prohibit cigarette lighters
in Checked Baggage. As a matter of fact, I specifically packed my lighter
in my Checked Baggage to preclude any problems.
On November 2, I flew out of LAX, at 6:55 a.m., on Northwest Airlines to
Minneapolis. My $35 Colibri Quantum Talon lighter (a gift from my brother-
in-law) was taken out of my luggage, and there was NO NOTICE of this
Confiscation. And no attempt to notify me of this confiscation at the
time of removal, or later.
I can identify my lighter if given the opportunity. However, I do not know
if these items are saved, destroyed, or given to the TSA employees to take
home. I would appreciate any information on this issue. I would like to
do whatever I can to recover my Colibri Quantum Talon Lighter.
Regards,
"Mike"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Received 12 November 2003 from TSA:
Thank you for your question about TSA disposal of items left at security
checkpoints. As a U.S. Government agency, TSA must comply with General
Services Administration rules governing the storage and disposal of items
in TSA's control. TSA also must comply with Environmental Protection
Agency rules when disposing of hazardous materials. As a general rule
items under a certain dollar value may be discarded after a set time.
All others are subject to advertisement and sale under GSA rules.
TSA Contact Center
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sent 12 November 2003 to TSA:
TSA Contact Center,
Thank you for replying to my initial email message. I am still interested
in recovering my cigarette lighter (again, a gift from my brother-in-law
and has much sentimental value).
*** Please advise me on how I can recover my lighter. ***
Regards,
"Mike"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Received 12 November 2003 from TSA:
Your e-mail has been received by the Transportation Security
Administration's Contact Center. You will receive a response promptly.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Received 13 November 2003 from TSA:
"You may attempt to contact the LAX Lost & Found at: 310-665-7382.
TSA Contact Center
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 8:48 AM
To: Gary
Subject: Confiscated Cigarette Lighter
Gary,
I wanted to give you a status on my efforts to recover my Colibri lighter
that was confiscated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
on November 2 out of the Los Angeles International Airport. The latest
reply that I received from TSA pursuant to this situation essentially
said that I may attempt to contact the Los Angeles International Airport
(LAX) Lost & Found Department. I'm not sure why TSA would direct me to
the Lost & Found Department for something they confiscated, but I will
follow up on this suggestion.
Your readers need to know that they risk having their Lighters confiscated
when they travel via air and, if confiscated, there is little chance of
recovery. My lighter cost $35, but I know that many of your readers own
lighters that range into the $100's of dollars and a loss like that can
be devastating.
Furthermore, if my recent experience is a TSA Standard of Action, then
there will be no attempt to contact them at the time of Lighter confisca-
tion, and no notice of confiscation left inside their baggage. There will
only be a 3 1/2" X 8 1/2" card titled "Notification of Baggage Inspection"
within.
Best regards,
"Mike"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Received Sun, 16 Nov 2003
From: "TSA-Contact Center"
To: "Mike"
Subject: Re: Confiscated Cigarette Lighter
For individual use non refillable liquefied gas (Bic-type) and absorbed
liquid (Zippo-type) lighters are allowed to be carried on one's person
- NOT IN CHECKED BAGGAGE.
The limit is 2 lighters or 4 books of matches per person. Lighters with
unabsorbed liquid fuel, containers of lighter fluid, lighter refills, and
matches (safety or strike-anywhere) are NOT permitted in checked or carry-
on luggage.
TORCH LIGHTERS ARE PROHIBITED IN CARRY ON AND CHECKED LUGGAGE.
There are no provisions for returning banned items. As a U.S. Government
agency, TSA must comply with General Services Administration rules
governing the storage and disposal of items in TSA's control. TSA also
must comply with Environmental Protection Agency rules when disposing of
hazardous materials. As a general rule items under a certain dollar value
may be discarded after a set time.
TSA Contact Center
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2003
From: "Mike"
To: Gary
Subject: Fwd: Re: Confiscated Cigarette Lighter
Gary,
Well I think that TSA's final email reply to me sums it up.
1) There are no provisions for returning banned items.
2) As a U.S. Government agency, TSA must comply with General Services
Administration rules governing the storage and disposal of items in
TSA's control.
3) TSA also must comply with Environmental Protection Agency rules when
disposing of hazardous materials.
4) As a general rule items under a certain dollar value may be discarded
after a set time.
"Mike"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
[I was about to put this story to bed, ending it with the above message,
until I got this late email from "Mike."]
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003
From: "Mike"
To: Gary
Subject: Fwd: Re: Confiscated Cigarette Lighter
Gary,
Here's the last word I got from the Los Angeles International Airport
Lost & Found:
"There is no way you will get your lighter back. We have thousands and
thousands of prohibited items that cannot be returned to their owners.
All of these items will be disposed of, or processed through a Government
branch out of Washington DC. Those processed items will be donated to
various organizations. We have no control over the donations of these
prohibited items."
I guess this is the end of my story... Major bummer.
"Mike" ¶
** "HOW THE FEDS STOLE MY LIGHTER" - ONE MAN'S STORY **
SINCE MANY OF YOU will be traveling by air in the weeks ahead, I thought
this story about one man’s recent experience with the TSA (Transportation
Security Administration) was apropos. I did a little editing, but all the
words are those of the writer, who by request, I refer to only as "Mike"
and the TSA.
It all started with the following email:
Wed, 12 Nov 2003
Gary,
I'm a long-time fan of your newsletter, and thought that your readers
who "take to the skies" would be very interested in what happened to
me two weeks ago.
I was flying from Los Angeles to Minneapolis on November 2nd. I brought
along some of my favorite cigars as carry-on luggage, but packed my
Colibri lighter and cutter in my checked luggage to preclude any problems.
When I arrived in Minneapolis, I found out that my $35 Colibri lighter
had been confiscated back in Los Angeles.
What upsets me is that the new Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) officers confiscated my lighter, made no attempt to notify me that
they were confiscating my lighter and left no notification in my luggage
that this confiscation took place (there was simply a TSA card in my
suitcase that said the contents of the suitcase were inspected).
To date, all of my attempts to recover my lighter (a gift from my brother-
in-law) have gone ignored.
Best regards,
"Mike"
FYI: You can go to the TSA website (http://www.tsa.gov/public/) and
download a copy of their Prohibited and Permitted Items list. Go to
TSA website, go to Travelers & Consumers, then click on prohibited and
permitted items link.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sent 10 November 2003 to TSA:
TSA,
The purpose of this email message is to inquire into what TSA does with
the cigarette lighters that they confiscate from Checked Baggage?
I DID NOT KNOW that any policy was changed to prohibit cigarette lighters
in Checked Baggage. As a matter of fact, I specifically packed my lighter
in my Checked Baggage to preclude any problems.
On November 2, I flew out of LAX, at 6:55 a.m., on Northwest Airlines to
Minneapolis. My $35 Colibri Quantum Talon lighter (a gift from my brother-
in-law) was taken out of my luggage, and there was NO NOTICE of this
Confiscation. And no attempt to notify me of this confiscation at the
time of removal, or later.
I can identify my lighter if given the opportunity. However, I do not know
if these items are saved, destroyed, or given to the TSA employees to take
home. I would appreciate any information on this issue. I would like to
do whatever I can to recover my Colibri Quantum Talon Lighter.
Regards,
"Mike"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Received 12 November 2003 from TSA:
Thank you for your question about TSA disposal of items left at security
checkpoints. As a U.S. Government agency, TSA must comply with General
Services Administration rules governing the storage and disposal of items
in TSA's control. TSA also must comply with Environmental Protection
Agency rules when disposing of hazardous materials. As a general rule
items under a certain dollar value may be discarded after a set time.
All others are subject to advertisement and sale under GSA rules.
TSA Contact Center
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sent 12 November 2003 to TSA:
TSA Contact Center,
Thank you for replying to my initial email message. I am still interested
in recovering my cigarette lighter (again, a gift from my brother-in-law
and has much sentimental value).
*** Please advise me on how I can recover my lighter. ***
Regards,
"Mike"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Received 12 November 2003 from TSA:
Your e-mail has been received by the Transportation Security
Administration's Contact Center. You will receive a response promptly.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Received 13 November 2003 from TSA:
"You may attempt to contact the LAX Lost & Found at: 310-665-7382.
TSA Contact Center
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 8:48 AM
To: Gary
Subject: Confiscated Cigarette Lighter
Gary,
I wanted to give you a status on my efforts to recover my Colibri lighter
that was confiscated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
on November 2 out of the Los Angeles International Airport. The latest
reply that I received from TSA pursuant to this situation essentially
said that I may attempt to contact the Los Angeles International Airport
(LAX) Lost & Found Department. I'm not sure why TSA would direct me to
the Lost & Found Department for something they confiscated, but I will
follow up on this suggestion.
Your readers need to know that they risk having their Lighters confiscated
when they travel via air and, if confiscated, there is little chance of
recovery. My lighter cost $35, but I know that many of your readers own
lighters that range into the $100's of dollars and a loss like that can
be devastating.
Furthermore, if my recent experience is a TSA Standard of Action, then
there will be no attempt to contact them at the time of Lighter confisca-
tion, and no notice of confiscation left inside their baggage. There will
only be a 3 1/2" X 8 1/2" card titled "Notification of Baggage Inspection"
within.
Best regards,
"Mike"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Received Sun, 16 Nov 2003
From: "TSA-Contact Center"
To: "Mike"
Subject: Re: Confiscated Cigarette Lighter
For individual use non refillable liquefied gas (Bic-type) and absorbed
liquid (Zippo-type) lighters are allowed to be carried on one's person
- NOT IN CHECKED BAGGAGE.
The limit is 2 lighters or 4 books of matches per person. Lighters with
unabsorbed liquid fuel, containers of lighter fluid, lighter refills, and
matches (safety or strike-anywhere) are NOT permitted in checked or carry-
on luggage.
TORCH LIGHTERS ARE PROHIBITED IN CARRY ON AND CHECKED LUGGAGE.
There are no provisions for returning banned items. As a U.S. Government
agency, TSA must comply with General Services Administration rules
governing the storage and disposal of items in TSA's control. TSA also
must comply with Environmental Protection Agency rules when disposing of
hazardous materials. As a general rule items under a certain dollar value
may be discarded after a set time.
TSA Contact Center
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2003
From: "Mike"
To: Gary
Subject: Fwd: Re: Confiscated Cigarette Lighter
Gary,
Well I think that TSA's final email reply to me sums it up.
1) There are no provisions for returning banned items.
2) As a U.S. Government agency, TSA must comply with General Services
Administration rules governing the storage and disposal of items in
TSA's control.
3) TSA also must comply with Environmental Protection Agency rules when
disposing of hazardous materials.
4) As a general rule items under a certain dollar value may be discarded
after a set time.
"Mike"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
[I was about to put this story to bed, ending it with the above message,
until I got this late email from "Mike."]
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003
From: "Mike"
To: Gary
Subject: Fwd: Re: Confiscated Cigarette Lighter
Gary,
Here's the last word I got from the Los Angeles International Airport
Lost & Found:
"There is no way you will get your lighter back. We have thousands and
thousands of prohibited items that cannot be returned to their owners.
All of these items will be disposed of, or processed through a Government
branch out of Washington DC. Those processed items will be donated to
various organizations. We have no control over the donations of these
prohibited items."
I guess this is the end of my story... Major bummer.
"Mike" ¶
Horse
Member 200
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2001
- Messages
- 2,981
When I flew back from El Paso recently, they stopped me because of my Secret Santa Torch as well... so I RAN to the front of the airport, mailed it an my SAK to myself, RAN to the gate, RAN down the ramp and almost had to leap from the ramp to the closing door 
It arrived a couple of days later, I got my secret santa in the mail a 2nd time
It arrived a couple of days later, I got my secret santa in the mail a 2nd time
Lumberg
Opus Lover
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2003
- Messages
- 3,700
The guy said it was no use checking it as they would confiscate it anyway.Monte said:My brother in law Jeff has had 3 or 4 taken away. He keeps forgetting to put it in his checked luggage.
The people told me flat out no you can't get your lighter back, we dispose of the prohibited items we confiscate.
I'm not mad, just disappointed. I can't fault them for their policies or the people for doing their jobs. At both BWI and Providence, RI the TSA employees were efficient, professional, and efficient.