I was just thinking....

[cyrano]

The holiday season is in full passionate lumber, and I was thinking about how TSA agents are required to open presents that people have wrapped when they pass through airport security. For safety. And I thought if I had to tear open this lovely package that somebody had lovingly prepared for a family member, knowing that they'd have to rewrap it on the other side in unfamiliar surroundings, I'd be sad.

So those of you travelling through the holidays, consider wrapping a present for the TSA and packing it in your carry on. Maybe some home made cookies (be careful of nuts! allergies.) or a little shoebox diorama of a happy Yuletide security station, or something like that. You may have to insist that they take it, because they're hesitant to accept such kindness, but I'm sure it would brighten their day! And especially at this time of year, we all could use a little brightness.

EDIT: A Dreamwidth passerby has reminded me that this could be considered an attempt to bribe a federal employee. Which is not good. So.... stop working on that diorama.

Comments

[lil_m_moses]

Unfortunately, TSA screeners, as federal employees, are probably not allowed to accept gifts.

[cyrano]

...I was going to mention postal workers, who used to get yearly holiday gifts, but they're in that weird limbo public/private state.

[penta]

Weird randomly commenting dreamwidth person saying...Precisely. USPS is weird - public, yet not. Private, yet not. Actually, still bound by government ethics rules which prohibit gifts of more than...It's been a long time since I looked at the ethics regs, but the value was low back in the 1990s ($20, I think), it has not been increased, and it was strictly enforced.

TSA, more relevantly, is "no kidding, public" - so gift-giving is not just "we can't accept it, ma'am" but "please stand still while we handcuff you" territory. (It's technically bribery.)

[cyrano]

Wow, I hadn't even considered that, but you're totally right.
That would be bad.