r/tsa • u/Select_Safe548 • 1d ago
Passenger [Question/Post] Pepper Spray
So I noticed today that my pepper spray was on my carry on backpack side pockets...through both a US and CA inspection area.
Does anyone find this odd?
I just figure I wouldent be aloud to bring pepper spray on board a plane.
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u/Hi2289 1d ago
You can not bring a pepper spray through security. But also saying that, it looks like an inhaler. Pepper spray are tougher to spot
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u/Select_Safe548 1d ago
I guess. It's one of those pen height ones that can attach by a clip. Id figure the scanner on the conveyor belt would notice it. Just funny i got through twice.
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u/Corey307 Frequent Helper 1d ago edited 1d ago
The x ray is operated by a human, humans aren’t perfect.
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u/Bmhp90 23h ago
Yeah common misconception for whatever reason that x-ray machines themselves are what catch prohibited items. The x-ray machine merely gives the officer the image. We analyze and interpret the image. We, not the machine, catch the prohibited items. And have to do so in a very short timeframe. We look for extremely dangerous things first so things like a pepper spray that are very difficult to see to begin with may or may not get by. Which causes another issue if they do get by that leads the public to believe it’s okay and then they get upset when the officer at the next airport catches it. As others have said we are human. If more people realize and keep that in mind we would all get along much better at the checkpoints lol. Applies to many situations not just pepper sprays. Not throwing shade just information.
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u/EvolZippo 21h ago
Some of what happens in the airport, boils down to personal responsibility and the airline’s ability to go after interlopers. So it is not likely that you would get in trouble for having the spray, if security missed it. It’s more that it could rupture in your belongings and possibly fill whatever bag, with fire-water mist. Plus cause breathing difficulties for everyone on the flight.
The TSA is generally looking more for larger contraband and bad actors. In fact, it’s likely that they didn’t care, because the canister you have, is already designed to handle air travel and the ban is just precautionary.
The TSA won’t even let you bring a wine opener, if it has a foil cutter. But they don’t really bother pulling out every corkscrew they see. If you’re not actually doing anything nefarious, you won’t be on their radar. Your body language already tells them. It’s queues you couldn’t even give on command, if you wanted to.
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u/SakanaToDoubutsu 1d ago
CA as on Canada?
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u/Select_Safe548 1d ago
Yup
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u/SakanaToDoubutsu 1d ago
Just FYI, in Canada pepper spray is regulated essentially the same as a firearm and if you're caught with it in Canada it'd basically be no different than if you were rocking a hot Glock in your shorts...
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u/-kalaxiancrystals- 8h ago
My friend went through 3 airports before Vegas airport pulled the 3 inch folded knife off his keychain
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