Airport Security Breaks Laptop, Threatens to Arrest Owner

Despite some promises to the contrary, the TSA seems to be continuing its old power-mad tricks. The latest story out of those airport security lines is a real a doozy.

Jake (Rhymes with Cake) writes that a recent trip through Pittsburgh International Airport ended with a TSA guard picking up the tray in which his laptop was riding and, whoops, dropping it on the ground. The damage was obvious, as pieces broke off of it (you can see pictures on his blog), and the upset traveler asked how he could resolve the situation, namely how to file a damage claim. TSA's response: Get out of the security area now or we'll arrest you.

What should he have done? Stay and fight for his rights or move along quietly? The TSA has an amazing amount of power: Even though you've done nothing wrong, it can detain you for as long is it likes. And TSA knows that if it detains you, you'll almost certainly miss your flight. And it knows that you know that. And thus, you'll move along like a good little citizen.

Well, in this case, Jake probably did do the right thing, as on-the-ground guards aren't the best people to take this fight to. In the thick of it, tempers flare, and rational thought rarely rules. The solution: Consumerist notes that TSA has a claims office, reachable at (866) 289-9673 and tsaclaimsoffice@dhs.gov, which is designed to handle just such cases. Forms are available here. This office can also deal with claims of harassment by TSA agents; threatening travelers with arrest for asking about damage to their belongings simply shouldn't be allowed.