TSA Orders Travelers with Guns to Pay $1.4 Million in Civil Penalties

TSA Orders Travelers with Guns to Pay $1.4 Million in Civil Penalties

More than $1.41 million in civil claims were levied against air travelers who broke firearms laws at airports last year.

The Transportation Security Administration levied cicada penalties totaling $1.45 million against travelers who violated firearms regulations at airports around the country last year according to the agencies records.

TSA filed more than 4,000 actions against gun-carrying travelers in 2017, according to data obtained through a request made under the Freedom of Information Act by The Washington Post

Many of the civil claims arose from travelers bringing their guns into a handful of U.S. airports that are among the busiest hubs in the South or West. These claims are often in addition to criminal charges filed by state and local law enforcement agencies against air travelers who fail to follow firearms laws at national airports. 

Most claims— 3,932 or about 96 percent—came from guns detected in a passengers carry-on bag at the security checkpoint. Ten claims came from unlawfully packing a firearm in a checked bag. Although it is legal to fly with firearms in checked baggage, they must be packed in a specific manner and declared when the bag is checked.

A few found firearms were located in "sterile" areas - or areas after passengers have been screened at security checkpoints. Seven firearms were found at passenger boarding gates. 

For several years, the TSA has reported finding record numbers of firearms at airport checkpoints as both the number of people flying and the number of people legally carrying firearms have increased. The agency has expressed concern not only because of the potential safety threat that firearms pose inside an airport or on a place, but also because of the disruptions created at security checkpoints when a gun is found.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Maximizing Your Security Budget This Year

    7 Ways You Can Secure a High-Traffic Commercial Security Gate  

    Your commercial security gate is one of your most powerful tools to keep thieves off your property. Without a security gate, your commercial perimeter security plan is all for nothing. Read Now

  • New Report Says Vulnerability Exploitation Boom Threatens Cybersecurity

    Verizon Business recently released the findings of its 17th-annual Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), which analyzed a record-high 30,458 security incidents and 10,626 confirmed breaches in 2023—a two-fold increase over 2022. Read Now

  • In The Clouds

    Video data storage in the cloud was a novel concept when Dean Drako founded Eagle Eye Networks back in 2012. While cloud was being used for almost all other business systems at that time, the physical security industry took a cautious and measured approach to cloud adoption. Read Now

  • Surveillance Cameras Provide Peace of Mind for New Florida Homeowners

    Managing a large estate is never easy. Tack on 2 acres of property and keeping track of the comings and goings of family and visitors becomes nearly impossible. Needless to say, the new owner of a $10 million spec home in Florida was eager for a simple way to monitor and manage his 15,000-square-foot residence, 2,800-square-foot clubhouse and expansive outdoor areas. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions. 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises. 3