full body scanners

[muppet]

so i was at mccarran the other day and they had 2 of those full body scanners operating at the security checkpoint.

they told me to empty my pockets (which i didn't have to do with metal detectors). i'm guessing this effectively makes it impossible to carry a large sum of cash on you? will a money belt be visible on the scan?

which begs the question..what's the most $ you can carry going through a airport security checkpoint for a domestic (US) flight, without getting thoroughly questioned (assuming the see the money on you)?

 

[21forme]

I was at LAS last week and didn't have to go thru a body scanner, just the usual metal detector. I was wearing cargo pants with envelopes in the pockets, as well as a money belt. The full body scanner will see the money belt.

For domestic you can carry any amount you desire. Questioning is up to the individual agent. I would think that going to/from Vegas with a lot of cash isn't viewed as unusual.

 

[bigplayer]

Traveling With money

so i was at mccarran the other day and they had 2 of those full body scanners operating at the security checkpoint.

they told me to empty my pockets (which i didn't have to do with metal detectors). i'm guessing this effectively makes it impossible to carry a large sum of cash on you? will a money belt be visible on the scan?

which begs the question..what's the most $ you can carry going through a airport security checkpoint for a domestic (US) flight, without getting thoroughly questioned (assuming the see the money on you)?

we've been driving a whole lot more cross country. (Highly inflated rental car prices was another reason).

You can request a standard wand search instead of the body scanner.

 

[Dyepaintball12]

I was just wondering this exact same thing after seeing all the new scanning technology being revealed at airports.

I've always read about Players taping money to themselves or whatever, but come to think of it you only have to declare money if you're going through customs.

Do you try to hide it if you're trying to avoid IRS implications or "where did that all come from" questions or what?

 

[muppet]

hmm ok so i just called mccarran and tsa, and it looks like bp is right that you can request a manual search. it seems like they may pat you down for that though in addition to a hand-held metal detector.

mccarran says that some days they may only have lanes with the full body scanners if the threat level is high.

bp- driving cross country is a waste of time !

 

[Solo player]

Carrying cash

With security and scaners at the airports these days I see no way to be able to hide money going thru airports. I just place it in my carry on and let TSA see it. I figure its safer to let them see, than holding it in your hands as you go thru the body scanners and letting everyone in the general area see what you have.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

With security and scaners at the airports these days I see no way to be able to hide money going thru airports. I just place it in my carry on and let TSA see it. I figure its safer to let them see, than holding it in your hands as you go thru the body scanners and letting everyone in the general area see what you have.

I don't agree. TSA is full of criminals, they know they are above the law, and they will steal your money if you let them. Be very emphatic with them that the cash is not leaving your hand.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Does this answer your question?

Sorry, ladies...

 

[The Chaperone]

I've flown with large amounts of cash so many times I can't count them. Usually 5 figures, a couple times 6 figures. Only twice have I been 'caught' with the cash:

-one was at McCarran flying home the day after the Super Bowl. I had 50k in my cargo pants and they could see the bulge (this was long before the current contraptions). They did want to thumb through each 5k pack, but were very apologetic. They offered to take me to a room, but that seemed even worse for me than doing it in front of everyone, so I declined.

-The other one is more recent and it's a long story so I'll copy and paste a post I made at another forum:

I was in a hurry while packing the other day and did not take my usual precautions. I simply put all my cash (35k) in a white plastic bag and then put a small ziploc bag with casino chips in the same bag and put them in my computer bag. I was flying out of Denver when my bag was pulled aside as they wanted to see the chips. The guy opened the bags and saw the chips, but then also immediately saw the cash. This low level TSA agent did not care at all about the chips but was *very* interested in the cash. He immediately asked how much it was. I think I just said 'a lot,' to which he again asked 'how much?' I asked if it mattered, and he said 'yes it matters.' I then asked why it mattered to which he had no answer.

He then called over a young mid-level supervisor. I got lucky with this guy as he was very easy going and laid back about the situation. I decided it wasn't in my best interest to be a sarcastic prick at this point and tried to act as non-chalant as possible while still being firm. I told him I was a US citizen on a domestic flight and I have the right to carry cash with me. He agreed. I even lied and said that I called ahead to be sure it was okay and they told me there was no restriction for carrying cash on domestic flights. He agreed. He then very politely said they had to go through the 5k bundles and he wanted to do it in a private room for my safety. At this point I was very tempted to ask if he thought the cash might explode at some point during the flight and bring the plane down, but again I decided not to be my usual sarcastic prick self. I could have protested but since he was being generally agreeable, I decided to comply, although I did inform him that I was late for my flight (wasn't that late, but I wanted to get the impression across that I didn't want to be there long). He said the 'room' was 10 seconds away and it would not take long.

The room was actually just a partition. I guess there may have been a door, but it was never closed which I preferred. I put my shoes on as they went through each 5k bundle. I asked that they keep them organized. When they were done I asked if I could put them back in my bag and be on my way and he said I could. I overheard the mid-level supervisor telling the low level agent that he could call so and so down, but they would just do the same thing and it would just take longer.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I still don't know why they insist on thumbing through the money. I mean if they are worried about money, why not thumb through everyone's wallets?

 

[paddywhack]

Smaller airports (no full body scanner) : bankroll on your person. Cargo pants, money belt, jeweler's pouch....

Full body scanners (McCarran, and others) : put it in your carry-on with a bunch of other "papers" so it blends in better. BUT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SIGHT OF IT AT ALL TIMES.

Never thought I'd be walking through airports with enough cash to buy a nice new car :grin:

 

[21forme]

I still don't know why they insist on thumbing through the money. I mean if they are worried about money, why not thumb through everyone's wallets?

Not long ago, I had my first body scanner experience in Houston. When they told me to empty my pockets and handed me the plastic dog food bowl, I put my keys and cell phone in it. I then took out my wallet and several bank envelopes with about 15K in them and said I'd prefer to hold them. The guy said that was fine but he would need to look through them. he did a similar thumbing through the bank envelopes as well as my wallet. Took about 5 seconds after the scan and was no big deal.

 

[Dyepaintball12]

I've been through the airport three times with $30k+, and one time TSA agents were very clear that they wanted EVERYTHING out of peoples pockets. (Usually I would wear cargo shorts and keep it in there).

I just keep the rubber-banded cash in my pocket(s) until I was about to go through the scanner and the guard said "Hey, you need to empty those pockets."

I said "It's money", and he said "You have to empty it."

So I took them out, put them in my bin, sent it through, and picked it up on the other side, no problems.

At the same time my friend had to go through the Full Body Scanner and he refused so they patted him down while about 3 guards watched and literally laughed at him for refusing it. (It was a pretty empty airport at the time)

 

[zengrifter]

Its good to have a letter in your possession from attorney or CPA 'to whom it may concern' that spells out simply that you are a professional gambler and have a need to carry certain amounts of cash to casino area. And that the CPA or lawyer is happy to receive a call if any questions arise. m

 

[kewljason]

I've been through the airport three times with $30k+, and one time TSA agents were very clear that they wanted EVERYTHING out of peoples pockets. (Usually I would wear cargo shorts and keep it in there).

I just keep the rubber-banded cash in my pocket(s) until I was about to go through the scanner and the guard said "Hey, you need to empty those pockets."

I said "It's money", and he said "You have to empty it."

So I took them out, put them in my bin, sent it through, and picked it up on the other side, no problems.

At the same time my friend had to go through the Full Body Scanner and he refused so they patted him down while about 3 guards watched and literally laughed at him for refusing it. (It was a pretty empty airport at the time)

Wow, this is just sad. And wrong! A law abiding citizen should not have to be separated from valuables like $30 grand in cash for any length of time. And while there is little risk of losing that money in that circumstance, think of the danger it puts one in. Might as well have a sign around your neck for all to see saying "hey, I am carry large sums of cash".

Yes, I know there are other procedures that you can request, but even then, they make you feel like you are doing something wrong.

I don't travel as much as I used to, but when I do, I prefer to let my financial institution move my funds for me.

 

[zengrifter]

Wow, this is just sad. And wrong! A law abiding citizen should not have to be separated from valuables like $30 grand in cash for any length of time.

See - Don't Touch My Junk! - -MUSIC VIDEO

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Wow, this is just sad. And wrong! A law abiding citizen should not have to be separated from valuables like $30 grand in cash for any length of time. And while there is little risk of losing that money in that circumstance, think of the danger it puts one in. Might as well have a sign around your neck for all to see saying "hey, I am carry large sums of cash".

Yes, I know there are other procedures that you can request, but even then, they make you feel like you are doing something wrong.

I don't travel as much as I used to, but when I do, I prefer to let my financial institution move my funds for me.

There is a risk of losing the money. If one of these clowns takes you in the room and puts $10K of your $30K in his pocket, what are you going to do about it? Once they've committed to do that, they probably have the whole story set up, about how you became belligerent and attacked one of the officers, yelling about Ron Paul and Zionist conspiracies, etc. They'll sell themselves as heroes and no one will believe a word you say because of the "nut" label they have preemptively attached to you.

 

[21forme]

There is a risk of losing the money. If one of these clowns takes you in the room and puts $10K of your $30K in his pocket, what are you going to do about it? Once they've committed to do that, they probably have the whole story set up, about how you became belligerent and attacked one of the officers, yelling about Ron Paul and Zionist conspiracies, etc. They'll sell themselves as heroes and no one will believe a word you say because of the "nut" label they have preemptively attached to you.

Anyone if there is an EITS in the private screening areas? Methinks there should be.

 

[Solo player]

Anyone if there is an EITS in the private screening areas? Methinks there should be.

I would assume any screening area in any airport would have EITS. This why I feel better leaving my cash in my computer bag instead of pulling it out and holding in my hand for anyone to view.

 

[Solo player]

I don't agree. TSA is full of criminals, they know they are above the law, and they will steal your money if you let them. Be very emphatic with them that the cash is not leaving your hand.

A quick google search shows about 1.5 million all the way up to maybe 2 million air travelers per day during busy periods. How many thefts do you think occur in a day, week ,month or even a year? I would guess that thefts would be in the .001% at the most. And probably much less than that. I think it would be much harder for T.S.A. to steal you loot than what you think.

http://www.answers.com/Q/How_many_people_travel_by_air_per_day_in_u.s