This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
After a rash of seizing banned self-defense weapons at Salt Lake City International Airport this week, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration is urging travelers to be more diligent checking what is allowed and what they are carrying in baggage.
The TSA said that between Saturday and Thursday, officers confiscated two sets of brass knuckles (one that included a knife), two kubotans (hand-held sticks used in some martial arts) and a "bo" marital arts wooden staff. All those items are banned in carry-on bags, but can be put in checked baggage.
The passengers who attempted to bring on the brass knuckles were ticketed by Salt Lake City Police.
The TSA said it appeared passengers carrying all those items simply did not know what was in their carry-on baggage as they attempted to pass through security checkpoints.
The agency encourages people to carefully check what is in their baggage, and learn what is allowed and banned. A list of prohibited items is available online at 1.usa.gov/QS8aaf.
Lee Davidson