TSA orders travelers to pay $1.4 million in civil penalties for bringing guns to airports
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Travelers caught with guns at airports last year were ordered to pay approximately $1.45 million in civil penalties by the Transportation Security Administration, according to a report.
The TSA imposed the fines after filing more than 4,000 actions against gun-carrying travelers, The Washington Post reports.
TSA has the authority to assess civil penalties of up to $13,000 for travelers who bring weapons to airports. A typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $3,900.
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Violators are also subject to criminal charges.
Travelers can fly with guns in checked bags if the weapons are declared and properly secured.
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On Tuesday, TSA screeners at Reagan Airport in Washington stopped a woman with a loaded handgun.
“TSA officers caught the Arlington, Virginia, resident with a 9-mm. handgun loaded with 14 bullets, including one in the chamber, in her carry-on bag,” the TSA said in a news release.
The Post reported that nearly 1,000 of the actions were brought against travelers who had guns confiscated at six airports: Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International; Dallas-Fort Worth International; George Bush Intercontinental in Houston; Phoenix Sky Harbor International; Denver International; and Dallas Love Field.
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TSA CONFISCATED RECORD NUMBER OF GUNS FROM CARRY-ON BAGS IN 2017
Most of the actions —3,932, or 96 percent — were against travelers with guns in carry-on bags, according to the paper which obtained the numbers after filing a public records request.
The paper’s analysis of the data suggests TSA screeners confiscated two guns from flight crew members.