How should I give the TSA its property back?

NoHeat

NoHeat

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What would be an appropriate and maybe satisfying way to return a cheap plastic ruler to its owner, the TSA?

Here's the story. I dropped my plane off at a service center for its annual inspection, cleaned out my things from the plane, stuffed it all into a duffel bag, and then headed to the airline terminal to go home. At airport security my duffel bag was pulled aside, and after puzzling over the rats-nest of cables emanating from my Garmin handheld with its XM receiver, my tools were found! A ruler was produced to measure their length, and it was found that my stubby screwdriver was okay, but my Craftsman wrench and Harbor Freight pliers had a frightful problem -- they were eight inches long, which is one inch longer than the limit. Heavens no, I didn't want to threaten the flying public with my 3/8-inch box-end wrench, not to mention the cheap made-in-China pliers, so I left the terminal and went to the curb. The FBO very graciously sent a line guy to my rescue to pick up the two tools and stash them in my plane (thank you Monaco Air of Duluth!). I then went through security again without trouble and enjoyed my trip home. And that's where I found the ruler. The TSA had left it in my duffel bag.

Now I don't want to possess the TSA's property, or dispose of it, even if it is only a cheap plastic ruler, the kind that costs $0.20 at Walmart at a back-to-school sale. So I'd like to give it back.

Any interesting ideas for how I should present it to them?
 
How. Many tools got by because you have their ruler.No easy way to return something to the govt.you will probably be accused of petty theft.good luck
 
NoHeat said:
What would be an appropriate and maybe satisfying way to return a cheap plastic ruler to its owner, the TSA?

Here's the story. I dropped my plane off at a service center for its annual inspection, cleaned out my things from the plane, stuffed it all into a duffel bag, and then headed to the airline terminal to go home. At airport security my duffel bag was pulled aside, and after puzzling over the rats-nest of cables emanating from my Garmin handheld with its XM receiver, my tools were found! A ruler was produced to measure their length, and it was found that my stubby screwdriver was okay, but my Craftsman wrench and Harbor Freight pliers had a frightful problem -- they were eight inches long, which is one inch longer than the limit. Heavens no, I didn't want to threaten the flying public with my 3/8-inch box-end wrench, not to mention the cheap made-in-China pliers, so I left the terminal and went to the curb. The FBO very graciously sent a line guy to my rescue to pick up the two tools and stash them in my plane (thank you Monaco Air of Duluth!). I then went through security again without trouble and enjoyed my trip home. And that's where I found the ruler. The TSA had left it in my duffel bag.

Now I don't want to possess the TSA's property, or dispose of it, even if it is only a cheap plastic ruler, the kind that costs $0.20 at Walmart at a back-to-school sale. So I'd like to give it back.

Any interesting ideas for how I should present it to them?
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heck............. This is easy............

Stick it to them like they will stick it to you.....

Call , mail, email or even better, send a certified letter to the regional office of the TSA and inform them of a suspected item left in your bag after a search by their agents...

Ask them to do a complete inventory of ALL their investigative tools and the name of the agent who was issued that ruler.... Ask them to do a COMPLETE background check of that suspected agent and confirm they are not part of some terrorist group...:D:D:eek:
 
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Better yet, send it to your Congress critter with the above explanation and demand an investigation as to how the incompetence of the person who searched your bag has jeopardized the nation airspace system.
 
It's a long story but I once spent an entire week in LA County jail because of a failure to appear warrant generated by a fix-it ticket for not having a rear view mirror on my motorcycle. What I learned from that experience was that if you have an issue of ANY sort involving the law enforcement, justice or any other governmental department or agency you should call or write or ship them a package but whatever you do - DO NOT GO THERE IN PERSON !

I cannot emphasize this more :nono:
 
NoHeat said:
What would be an appropriate and maybe satisfying way to return a cheap plastic ruler to its owner, the TSA?

Here's the story. I dropped my plane off at a service center for its annual inspection, cleaned out my things from the plane, stuffed it all into a duffel bag, and then headed to the airline terminal to go home. At airport security my duffel bag was pulled aside, and after puzzling over the rats-nest of cables emanating from my Garmin handheld with its XM receiver, my tools were found! A ruler was produced to measure their length, and it was found that my stubby screwdriver was okay, but my Craftsman wrench and Harbor Freight pliers had a frightful problem -- they were eight inches long, which is one inch longer than the limit. Heavens no, I didn't want to threaten the flying public with my 3/8-inch box-end wrench, not to mention the cheap made-in-China pliers, so I left the terminal and went to the curb. The FBO very graciously sent a line guy to my rescue to pick up the two tools and stash them in my plane (thank you Monaco Air of Duluth!). I then went through security again without trouble and enjoyed my trip home. And that's where I found the ruler. The TSA had left it in my duffel bag.

Now I don't want to possess the TSA's property, or dispose of it, even if it is only a cheap plastic ruler, the kind that costs $0.20 at Walmart at a back-to-school sale. So I'd like to give it back.

Any interesting ideas for how I should present it to them?
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Put it in an envelope with a note attached that you found it in your bag, it didn't belong to you and you wanted them to have it back. Put a stamp on the envelope and use the address of the airport, or the address of the TSA in Washington. Sign it if you like, or send it anonymously if you don't.
 
If it was longer than the tools you were forced to leave behind, you probably are guilty of a felony. I'd delete any identifying remarks regarding the ruler least the NSA be monitoring us and forwarding comments to the TSA.
 
My last experience with TSA was fine. I had a backpack *full* of prototype electronic equipment and they gave me no hassle whatsoever. So just keep your ruler and be done with it.
 
send it back with a note saying "my tool's bigger than yours is!"
 
Pull up the lyrics to Kenny Rogers song about the Gambler and follow the advice.
 
The funniest part of this whole thing is just having the line guy take the tools to the plane. High secur-I-tahhh!
 
Could send it on a world tour like those gnomes... Send the TSA photos of its travels.
 
Hell, keep it. Thing probably cost us $20,000.
 
OMG! You're lucky you weren't arrested!

That TSA ruler is LONGER than the 4 inches that's allowed!
 
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A cabinet level, investigation is required, including the heads of at least three gov't agencies, to determine if the ruler is actually a TSA issued ruler, where said ruler emanated from, who manufactured it, if the manufacturing of said ruler resulted in any inconvenience to snail darters in Africa, and if some hiccup in the manufacturing process resulted in a likelihood of liability, security violations at some future date, intent to violate security regulations and if "the system worked."

Once liability/culpability, or intent/no intent is determined, there needs to be creation of a blue ribbon panel, chuck full of donors and bundles, who will meet in tropical paradises, during all of January and February, complete with five star golf courses, where obama can come for at least four golf outings, to "oversee" the investigative nature of the blue ribbon committee.

After eight weeks of intense meetings there will be a "consensus" but only of where and when to reconvene, to meet and determine the goals and direction of the blue ribbon panel and to schedule further meetings, with a complete report to be delivered on January 22, 2016.
 
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This is terrible, how are they going to tell a safe wrench from a dangerous wrench if you have their ruler?
 
kontiki said:
This is terrible, how are they going to tell a safe wrench from a dangerous wrench if you have their ruler?
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You're right. This is urgent that I find the right way to return this important instrument. And to think that the TSA could not go shopping for a new ruler over the holiday weekend! Leisure travelers across America have been flying through our skies completely unaware that the TSA misplaced a crucial ruler that is vital for keeping 8-inch wrenches out of our airliners.

OTOH, what if a terrorist thought of this:
fulton_db1820_6216_wrench_halfmoon_bt_f_cropped.jpg
 
I think you should make a replica on someone's 3D printer only stretch the scale about 20% (i.e. the "inch" marks would be 1.2 inches apart) then send it back to the TSA so they can use it to measure the traveling public's knives and screwdrivers.
 
NoHeat said:
You're right. This is urgent that I find the right way to return this important instrument. And to think that the TSA could not go shopping for a new ruler over the holiday weekend! Leisure travelers across America have been flying through our skies completely unaware that the TSA misplaced a crucial ruler that is vital for keeping 8-inch wrenches out of our airliners.

OTOH, what if a terrorist thought of this:
fulton_db1820_6216_wrench_halfmoon_bt_f_cropped.jpg
Click to expand...


Oh the HUMANITY............:eek::hairraise::yikes:...
 
Actually, you should keep it for evidence, and sue them for mental anguish of the threat their error may have posed.
 
gismo said:
I think you should make a replica on someone's 3D printer only stretch the scale about 20% (i.e. the "inch" marks would be 1.2 inches apart) then send it back to the TSA so they can use it to measure the traveling public's knives and screwdrivers.
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AND you could hope that Johnny Notlaw uses it to show the GF that he does have 8 inches!
 
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gismo said:
I think you should make a replica on someone's 3D printer only stretch the scale about 20% (i.e. the "inch" marks would be 1.2 inches apart) then send it back to the TSA so they can use it to measure the traveling public's knives and screwdrivers.
Click to expand...

We have a winner! :rofl:
 
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