As highly valued as cheaptravel options, such as cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, and cheap vacation packages are,airplane security remains priority one.
Thin enough to fit inside wallets, sharp enough to slicethrough cardboard or draw blood, popular enough that they are increasingshowing up at airport security checkpoints, credit card knives are a growingsecurity challenge.
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While such knives have been around for years, a recentincrease in their appearance at airport security checkpoints is raisingconcern. The Transportation SecurityAdministration commented recently There has been a surge in the last fewmonths. Our officers are highly trainedto detect threats to the aviation system, including knives such as credit cardknives, which passengers have been bringing to the checkpoints in their walletsand carry-on bags.
Nationwide a total of 61 credit card knives were stopped atairport checkpoints in June. Year todate 491 credit card knives have been discovered on passengers via metaldetectors and full body scanners. Thisworks out to an average of about 20 card knife seizures per week.
The knives, which are always confiscated, have not resultedin any local arrests, but security officials warn that travelers may be subjectto civil penalties if they are brought to security checkpoints.
Credit card knives are sold online at prices ranging from $4to $15 from a number of different retailers. One of the manufacturers of these knives describes them as light weightsurgical knives that can cut through seat belts in case of emergency. Makers promote such knives as less bulky thana pocket knife, sharp as a surgeons scalpel, and a good tool for foodpreparation and outdoor activities.
While it is unknown why credit card knives are showing up atairports in increasing numbers, an advocacy group for knife enthusiasts (KnifeRights Inc.) theorizes that because more people are buying them and carryingthem that they tend to forget that they have these knives in their wallets whenheading to airports.
To date, in most instances, there appears to be a lack of anyill intent on the part of people carrying knife credit cards while goingthrough airport security.
Increasingly weapons of all types are being discovered atairport security checkpoints. In May arecord 65 firearms were stopped at checkpoints in a single week, including 45loaded guns.
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