Guilty of Having a Paper Clip in My Pocket
By Val
@valmnz (17099)
New Zealand
November 23, 2015 1:09am CST
I've just been reading a post by @jaboUK about being frisked at the airport and it reminded me of a time, many years ago, when I too was frisked.
My husband and I were travelling across the Tasman, from New Zealand to Australia. I'd been at work, teaching, until lunchtime, then rushed home to grab my bag and my husband before departing for the airport. We had to check in by 2 pm, so there was no time to change clothes.
As we went through security I set the bells a ringing. I was quite mystified, and so was the security person who frisked me. Eventually we found the culprit. I had a tiny paper clip from school nestled in the bottom seam of my pocket. These days I guess even that could be interpreted as a dangerous weapon, but this was about 20 years ago.
Have you ever triggered off the security alarms at the airport?
26 people like this
25 responses
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
23 Nov 15
Not so long before 9/11 I tended to always carry a pen knife and to forget it was in my bag. One airport stopped me and asked if I had a knife and when I realised I did, they still just waved me through. Times have certainly changed.
3 people like this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
24 Nov 15
It is interesting to read that paper clip could sounded an alarm at airport. In my case, sometimes coins in my back pocket sound an alarm and I need to pull out and show them that these are coins, nothing else.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
24 Nov 15
i bet that 'twas quite perplexin'! yepperz, i'm sure they'd be confiscatin' such these days 'n puttin' ya on a 'watch list' these days. i don't fly :)
1 person likes this
@maggs224 (2320)
• Alicante, Spain
24 Nov 15
@crazyhorseladycx I think the next big project for the UK to work on is a tunnel like the channel tunnel so we don't have to fly to the USA lol...
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
25 Nov 15
@crazyhorseladycx that could indeed be a problem for you with flying
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
24 Nov 15
@maggs224 yes ma'am, wouldn't that jest be grand?? i've only flown 3 times'n my life 'n all were horrific 'n that 'twas years 'n years 'go. i'd much rather drive! that'n i'm prone to haulin' back tons'f schtuff with me 'pon my return home, lol.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Nov 15
I have set off the alarms at the airport most times that I have flown. I still have no idea why it is always me, but these days I expect it and feel surprised if the bells do not go off. A security guard did tell me that they sometimes go off randomly to select a few people, but somehow those machines really do not like me.
My best occasion was in Russia when I actually forgot to take my keys out of my pocket.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130067)
• India
23 Nov 15
The bra hook normally makes that sound. That does not bother them. I wonder why (lol) I have not travelled in the recent past and so would not know if that would be a matter for further examination.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79557)
• United States
23 Nov 15
I haven't traveled in many, many years but hopefully I'd never set off alarms and have to be frisked. That paper clip probably would be considered a weapon these days
1 person likes this
@BethieAnnie (818)
• Dayton, Ohio
24 Nov 15
I was just telling Jabo about the time the airport caught me with a long screw in my pocket! I forgot I had it in there from putting the kids beds together.
@GardenGerty (157462)
• United States
23 Nov 15
Hubby did. He has to practically undress. Belt buckle, keys, change and just plain junk in his pocket.
@snowy22315 (169549)
• United States
23 Nov 15
haha that is pretty funny. One time security, I think it was in London, chased my then husband around for having a fountain pen in his pocket. If they only knew...he would probably be the least likely terrorist in the whole airport lol.
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Nov 15
My purse has, carrying my hubby's tank for his vape. lol