TSA Prohibits Taking Discharged Electronic Devices Onto Planes

Trachman writes The US Transport Security Administration revealed on Sunday that enhanced security procedures on flights coming to the US now include not allowing uncharged cell phones and other devices onto planes. “During the security examination, officers may also ask that owners power up some devices, including cell phones. Powerless devices will not be permitted on board the aircraft. The traveler may also undergo additional screening,” TSA said in a statement.

Christmas is coming early this year

[qbast]

All those free phones, tablets, laptops, etc. - it is great to be working for TSA!

Re:That'll show 'em!

[Mr D from 63]

Its quite simple in fact. If you have an explosive device, you must prove that you can turn it on in order to bring it aboard the plane.

oblig.

[StripedCow]

http://xkcd.com/651/ [xkcd.com]

Re:Incoming international flights

[bickerdyke]

Or do so if you want to save on disposal fees....

And Your Vibrator

[Greyfox]

If you have a vibrator in your luggage you'll have a better-than-average chance of being asked to turn that on, too. If you pack the biggest one you can find in your carry-on right next to your cell phone, they might not even notice your cell phone.

Re:Actually makes good sense

[L4t3r4lu5]

My snark detector needs retuning.

Re:Actually makes good sense

[Zocalo]

You're just not thinking outside the box enough. *Finally* we have a way of getting rid of all all of our broken electronics without having to pay those exhorbitant recycling fees or sneaking out in the dead of night to dump it at some ad-hoc "landfill" site!

"Sorry, officer, I must have forgotten to charge that one too... here you go! Shall we try this... um..." *wipes dust off logo* ...Compaq now, or just move on to the next crate?"

Re: Land of the fee

[Eunuchswear]

Which, considering the underpants bomber, is strange.

Re:Christmas is coming early this year

[NatasRevol]

The TSA is probably thinking

LOL!

Re:Incoming international flights

[operagost]

I would totally just take a bag full of dead cell phones to the airport with me if I didn't think it would result in a cavity search.

A few days earlier

[mrops]

Employees: We demand a raise, we have to face rude passengers and put our hands at weird places.
TSA Manager: Well, there is no budget for a raise, here is what we are going to do instead.....

Re:That'll show 'em!

[ColdWetDog]

The TSA's next step:

"Thank you sir, now, would you please start Crysis for me?"

Re:Christmas is coming early this year

[nospam007]

"The TSA is probably thinking that if the battery in your gadget doesn't work, it might not actually be a battery...so, just to be on the safe side...."

Most people can show them the battery, that would be easier.
Let the power problem just be a matter for the iOS users.

Re:And Your Vibrator

[Anonymous Coward]

True story:

My wife and I went through a checkpoint with a vibrator in carry-on. We do this all the time, but on this trip, the bag was flagged for inspection. Well, first they ran it through the X-ray two more times. When they couldn't figure out what they were seeing, they had to open the bag.

The smurf pawed through everything in the bag and found the vibrator, which apparently was what caused the alarm. He held it up and said, "I don't know what this is, but it looks like a knife on the X-ray."

We were both thinking, "You don't know what that is? Your poor wife..."

The smurf then ran his bomb residue swipe over the vibrator and his gloves. As the apparatus was not fitted with chemical explosives, just explosively good vibrations, we were soon free to go.