When you’re at a public airport, it’s pretty much well known that you’re in a building that’s under federal jurisdiction. That means you don’t get to make the rules. And if you break them, and/or not do as you’re told by those in charge, well, you may wind up like this woman.
Every country has its own rules about electronics when you’re going through whatever they’ve established as their security checkpoint. For example, in the U.S., all electronics have to be put in a bin as you go through the security checkpoint (unless you have TSA PreCheck and then they can stay in your bag – unless they tell you otherwise because reasons).
But did you know that TSA officers, and their cohorts in other countries, have the right to ask you to turn on electronics? And if you can’t, they have every right to take away your phone, computer, iPad, or whatever it is that can’t be turned on?
In the U.S., U.K., France, Germany and other countries, checking electronics was a big deal in the summer of 2014, when there was a perceived threat of al-Qaeda producing a bomb hidden on a laptop, cellphone, etc. Asking travelers to power up computers or phones let screeners make sure that explosives hadn’t been substituted for batteries or essential components.
The Dept. of Home Security even made an official statement about it:
Release Date:July 2, 2014
1 comment
“You’re in a building that’s under federal jurisdiction. That means you don’t get to make the rules” Yes and no… if you’re a US citizen you get to vote for your congresspeople, who do have influence over the laws that are passed and how federal agencies conduct their business.