TSA offers travel tips ahead of busy travel season

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – Summer is right around the corner, and many people may be getting ready to make vacation arrangements. Lake Charles Regional Airport and TSA are offering some tips to help, especially if you plan on traveling with your firearm.

Last week, a passenger had a training grenade in his checked bag at the Lake Charles Regional airport.

“This is a training aid, but very similar to what the passenger had in his checked bag very recently here in lake Charles, so it still had the fuse inside the grenade, and the explosives, if the person had pulled the pin out, it still would have created a fire,” spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration Sari Koshetz said.

Now, the Lake Charles airport and TSA are making sure travelers are aware of what you can and cannot bring through security.

“If you don’t want the passenger sitting next to you to have that item, then you should not be bringing that item into the checkpoint for you carry-on bag,” Koshetz said.

Koshetz said items like a pack of knives or something that can serve as a bludgeon must be placed in a checked bag.

For those planning to travel with a firearm, it must be unloaded and in a locked hard-sided case and in your checked luggage. It must also be declared to the airline at check-in.

“If you bring your firearm into a TSA check point, you will face a fine that can reach $15,000 dollars, and you will lose your TSA pre-check privileges. We also immediately will partner with the sheriff’s office, who takes control of that weapon, the sheriff will decide whether you face any criminal consequences,” Koshetz said.

Although concealed carry laws go into effect on July 4, Koshetz said regardless of what state or local laws are, TSA goes by federal laws, which state no firearm can be in security check point or aircraft.

The spokesperson for TSA said if you plan to travel with a firearm, it is the passenger’s responsibility to know what the law is on both sides of your trip. While you may be allowed to have your firearm in Louisiana, you may get arrested at your next destination.

Officials also remind travelers to arrive early to make sure that you have plenty of time to go through the screening process.

Also, empty your pockets into your carry-on rather than the bin when going through the security checkpoint, to avoid forgetting items.

In just about a year, you will also need a physical ID with a gold star.

All those items that are 3.4 ounces or less must go in one quart-sized bag and be taken out at checkpoint.

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