When it comes to pat downs, TSA doesn’t have the best reputation and it’s one of the reasons why it’s even earned the nickname of “Touching Sensitive Areas.”

But all jokes aside, getting a pat down by TSA can be a very uncomfortable experience.

The thing is, TSA agents are not free to do whatever they want when it comes to pat downs and they have to abide by some pretty specific rules and policies (that TSA has set).

If you are aware of these guidelines then you can call out TSA if you ever suspect an agent is failing to live up to the standards.

In this article, we will get into detail about the policies for TSA pat downs and provide you with some insight on how agents are required to conduct themselves when performing pat downs at security checkpoints.

The evolution of the TSA pat down

TSA pat downs have not always been done the same way.

A few years ago, a report came out that TSA agents had missed 95% of dangerous items during an internal investigation. That prompted a review of policies which led to some major changes for pat down searches.

In the past, a TSA agent could choose to perform a pat down in one of five different ways. They made the judgment call based on the circumstances and what they believed was required for the individual. But after that report came out, the policy changed.

A few years ago, TSA adopted a new pat down policy that introduced the standard pat down, which is what most passengers get and that is what we will focus on below.

Why you may get a TSA pat down at the airport

One thing about TSA pat downs is that they are often predictable.

There are a few different reasons why you might get a pat down at the airport.

Refusal to go through the metal detector or body scanner

One of the most common reasons you will get a pat down is if you refuse to go through the walk-through metal detector or the full body scanner. For some people going through a metal detector is not an option, while others just may prefer to not go through these.

But regardless of your reasoning for refusing the traditional screening methods, TSA will need to verify that you don’t have objects on you so it’s understandable that a pat down would be necessary.

The scanners detect a foreign object

You can also get a pat down if the screening methods show that you have an object (or anomaly) on you.

If you can simply pull a detected object out of your pocket and then go back through the screening without the alarm going off then you should not require a pat down.

But if the officer cannot determine why the alarm is going off then you may need a pat down or some other type of additional screening. For example, you could have an implant that sets off the alarm (see the section on medical devices below for more details).

Enhanced screening

If you have something like SSSS on your boarding pass, which requires enhanced screening, then that usually requires a pat down in addition to other screening methods like swabbing.

Sometimes this can happen on a random basis but other times your travel habits can trigger SSSS.

Behavior Detection Officers

Behavior Detection Officers look for certain behaviors that could indicate a passenger is up to something.

The efficacy of these officers is in question but if they found that someone was displaying signs of nervous behavior, they could select them for a pat down.

Travel document checker

A Travel Document Checker (TDC) could determine that there is something suspect about your travel documents and recommend that you undergo a pat down.

There also may be a random element to getting a pat down, although I was not able to find much information on random pat downs.

One thing to be aware of is that TSA Pre-Check does not exclude you from potentially getting a pat down.

What happens during a TSA pat down? (rules and procedures)

Based on 2018 training documents, we know a lot about the pat down process.

While a lot of that information is redacted, we know that during a TSA pat down you can expect to encounter the experience detailed below.

First, an agent will let you know that in order for you to get through security, you will have to submit to a pat down. You are not forced to undergo a pat down but you will not be allowed through security if you refuse.

At that point, you should be presented with the option of getting the pat down done in an open area nearby security or in a private area.

If you elect for a private screening, you can bring along one person with you who can act as a witness.

For travelers who are worried about being subject to abuse or mistreatment, they should be able to have the other person record the pat down session so that if anything happens there is video evidence.

Your carry-on luggage should also be brought to the private screening room, although you will not be able to access it until after the pat down is complete.

If you don’t go for the private screening room, your carry-on luggage will likely remain at the conveyor belt.

A TSA agent of the same gender will be performing the pat down and if you go to private screening route, a second TSA agent of the same gender should join the room as well.

According to their training, it’s possible that an agent of the same gender may not be available and TSA could attempt the pat down with an officer of the opposite gender.

As far as what gender is used, the gender is based on what the passenger identifies as.

If you want, you can request the TSA agent to wear a fresh pair of gloves although it appears that this may be a requirement now, especially after coronavirus.

The universal patdown method hits on pretty much every area of your body and before beginning the agent performing a pat down should explain the entire process to you.

To relieve some of the tension and awkwardness, as they go through the pat down they should alert you as to what part of your body is going to be searched next.

If you have any medical issues or have sensitive regions of your body, let the agent know and they should respond accordingly to avoid causing you pain or severe discomfort.

The agents are instructed to use the back of their hand for sensitive areas such as the breast, groin, and butt. However, TSA has mentioned that sometimes the front of the hand may be needed.

You should only be asked to remove outerwear such as jackets and your belt and shoes. Items should also be removed from your pockets .

Other clothing should remain on although there are reports in the past of TSA doing a strip search which does not seem to be in line with any TSA policy.

An agent could request for you to hold up your shirt so that they can check your waist line but if they request for you to remove an article of clothing that should be a big red flag.

When the inspection begins, you will be asked to stand with your legs shoulder width apart and raise your arms.

The agent should verify that you’re able to remain in this position for four minutes before beginning the search. If that’s too difficult for you then make sure that they provide you with a chair.

The pat down may start with your head. If you have a lot of hair or a poofy/tall hairstyle, your hair could also be subject to an inspection.

Next, they will move onto your collar and arms, including your underarms.

The pat down then may move to your sides and back with the agents hands applying firm pressure to potentially detect anything hidden under your garments.

When it comes to your waist line, they will feel around on the inside of your waistband in both the back and the front.

They use an up-and-down and side-to-side motion when checking your rear end and groin area.

This is typically the most controversial aspect of a pat down and there are videos out there that look very suspect with some agents really overdoing it. (Link to video w/music.)

But generally, after a couple of swipes in either direction the officer should be able to tell if there is anything hidden.

The inside of your thighs and legs will also be rubbed with the officer likely to come very close to your groin area.

If you are wearing something like a dress or a kilt the officer will ask you to take one step forward and inspect each leg separately that way.

If an item is found in your garment or on your person, a TSA agent may need to run that item through the x-ray machine or give it a close physical inspection.

If you have a prohibited item it will be handed over to a supervisor and you could potentially face a fine.

It’s possible that the agent may also want to do a swab of your hands, your clothing, and possibly some of the belongings and your luggage. This is typically a pretty quick process that they only take a minute or two if everything goes correctly.

What the officer is doing is looking for traces of explosives and they use a special machine that can pick up on different chemicals associated with explosives.

After all of this is done you can exit with your luggage, breathe a huge sigh of relief, and head out to your flight which you hopefully are not going to miss because of the delay.

The time it takes for a pat down will vary based on the available personnel and how things go during the search. You could be done in around 10 minutes but other times the process can drag out to even longer.

Will TSA perform a pat down on children?

For children 13 years and older, the standard pat down policy described above will apply, so teenagers are essentially subject to the same pat downs as adults.

However, for children 12 and under, TSA states that “officers will consult parents or the traveling guardian about the best way to relieve any concerns during the screening of a child and to resolve any alarms during screening.”

The child will not be involuntarily separated from the parents or guardians and the adult can even hold a child’s hand during the process.

Also, there must be an adult witness during the pat down which could include an aircraft operator escort in the case of an unaccompanied minor.

Reportedly, TSA modified the screening method so that children 12 and under have a reduced odds of getting a pat down.

Pat downs and medical implants/devices

If you have had a hip replacement or knee replacement, or have a metal plate, screws, metal rod, or other types of orthopedic implants, these could cause an issue when going through security screening

But there are different ways you can go about it.

First, some people may want to avoid going through the scanners. For these people, the pat down is inevitable and they will just have to adjust to it.

But if you have one of the medical devices or implants mentioned above, there is a chance you will set off the metal detector or something will alarm in the full body scanner when you go through.

This will often lead to a TSA agent utilizing a metal detector wand to verify that the location of the metal is only in one specific spot. If the agent is satisfied with your explanation and the findings, then you may be able to go on your way.

However, if the agent has some doubts or something does not line up then you may have to undergo a pat down.

Often times you can get a medical card from your doctor that explains your condition and that could help you avoid a pat down in some cases but not always.

Final word

Getting a pat down from TSA can be embarrassing and extremely uncomfortable for some people. If there is any good news, it is that you can often anticipate when a pat down is going to happen so you can mentally prepare for it.

It will help to familiarize yourself with the rules and policies above because then you will be able to call out a TSA agent if they are not abiding by the guidelines!

Daniel Gillaspia

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here. 

You’ve probably heard of TSA fining people for bringing certain prohibited items through airport security.

But how does that process actually work? Can TSA really slap a fine on you for bringing over-sized liquids through security?

In this article, we will take an in-depth look at how the TSA fining process works.

What fines can TSA charge you with for bringing prohibited items through security?

TSA can fine you for bringing prohibited items through security checkpoints and the range for those fines can vary widely from around $140 to about $15,000. TSA has discretion in how much they choose to fine you and they base the fine amount on a lot of different factors and circumstances.

Keep reading below to find out more details on how the process works!

TSA issues civil fines

TSA issues civil fines which is important for a couple of reasons.

First, if you receive a civil fine it is not a criminal matter and so you won’t have anything on your criminal record.

It is possible that you could get referred to law-enforcement and then there is the possibility of getting something on your record. But even that is not a guarantee.

But another reason why this distinction matters is that you could also get hit with a criminal fine, so you could be fined twice for your infraction.

The civil matter is completely different from the criminal matter. So for example your criminal case could be dropped but you still could be forced to pay the civil penalty (and vice versa).

You’ll notice that the fines have a range that can vary pretty widely.

That’s because TSA considers mitigating and aggravating factors when determining your fine. In other words, they will decide the penalty based on all of the circumstances.

A first time offender will not be treated the same as a second or third-time offender.

Also, TSA will take certain factors into consideration like if the violation was an accident, the experience of the violator, and even their attitude.

When do you know that you are getting a fine?

The tricky thing about getting fined by the TSA is that you won’t know if you’re getting fined at the time of the infraction.

TSA states that they cannot advise passengers at the time of the incident regarding the potential civil penalty.

Instead, the screening agent will pass along all the details about your situation to the TSA regulatory department who will then decide if a violation occurred.

After that, if an investigation determines that you did violate something, you will receive a notice of violation and you’ll have different options for responding to the notice of violation.

In some instances, you may be able to request a formal hearing or an informal conference so that you can present information to a TSA agent for your final decision. Essentially, you can explain why mitigating factors should apply in your case or perhaps why there was a misunderstanding.

If needed, you could hire an attorney for legal representation.

The different types of TSA fines

Now let’s talk about the different types of fines that you could face based on the different types of violations.

Keep in mind that for lots of violations, TSA will simply ask you to throw out the item or simply request for you to exit security and find an alternative way to transport your item.

For example, lots of people forget that they have pocket knives in their bag and they don’t face any type of fine or criminal prosecution. Typically, the fines are reserved for more serious infractions that put people in danger.

Related: What Does the TSA Do With Confiscated Items?

Prohibited items at checkpoint/sterile area/onboard aircraft

All of the fines in this section apply when the prohibited item is discovered at a checkpoint, in the sterile area, or even on board the aircraft.

Firearms

Firearms are one of the most heavily penalized items you can get caught with when going through TSA.

If you bring a loaded firearm through TSA or even if the firearm is unloaded but you have access to ammunition, you could get hit with a fine ranging from $3,000 to $10,700.

On top of that, you could also get referred to law-enforcement.

Firearms is one of the areas that also comes with a much heftier fine if you are a repeat offender. So if you were to get caught with a loaded firearm for a second time, your fine could be closer to $15,000!

If you ever get caught with an unloaded firearm then the penalties are not as bad but they can still range from $1,500 to $5,370. And even if the firearm is unloaded you could still get a criminal referral.

You might be wondering about other types of guns like BB guns and pellet guns or compressed air guns. These type of guns along with replica firearms could still get you hit with a pretty big fine of $390 to $2,250.

Knives

As mentioned above, pocket knives are not allowed but TSA typically does not pursue an investigation when someone is caught with these because they are so common.

But they do explicitly mention that fines could be headed down if you were found with certain types of knives and sharp objects like: switch blades, butterfly knives, double edge knives and daggers, sabers, and swords. Also problematic are machetes, throwing stars, and throwing knives.

Flammable liquids and flammable gels

What about flammable liquids and flammable gels?

If you get caught with things like gasoline, lighter fluid, cooking fuels, turpentine, paint thinners, etc., the fine range could be $390 to $2,250.

Taking things like smoke grenades or flash bangs could get you hit with a more serious fine of up to $3,720 along with a criminal referral.

Explosives

The fines really start to turn up whenever we talk about explosives.

The type of fine you get handed to you would depend on the type of explosive. If you had anything like blasting caps, initiators, dynamite, gunpowder (over 10 ounces), hand grenades, and plastic explosive, all of those could get you hit with a fine of up to $15,000.

And of course, a criminal referral could go along with that.

But you also have to be careful about the replicas that you carry around. For example if you had a replica grenade or even an inert hand grenade, that could be enough for a criminal referral and a fine ranging from $740 to $3720.

Novelty items and other explosives

Another area of concern related to explosives is when people bring novelty items that look like explosives.

The classic example is a bottle of cologne that looks like a grenade or a lighter in the shape of a grenade.

Things like fireworks you brought from a firework stand or small packs of gunpowder under 10 ounces can also be a major problem with fines ranging from $390 to $2,250.

And even though you might think these things are innocent they could still get you in trouble with the law.

Security violations for items discovered in your checked baggage

Now let’s talk about what happens if you get caught with things in your checked baggage.

The fines are not as bad because these sometimes present less of a danger but you could still get hit with serious fines and get in trouble with the law.

Firearms

A loaded firearm could cost you up to $3,000 and get you in trouble with the law.

Remember, there are specific rules for traveling with a firearm including storing it in a case. You also have to declare that firearm. And if you fail to declare the firearm or you don’t properly package it up then that penalty could range from $740 to $1,490.

Explosives

The penalties for getting caught with explosives are pretty much the same as they are for carry-ons. This makes sense considering that explosives can be just as dangerous in the baggage hold as they would be in the cabin.

Trying to circumvent security

You can also get fined if you attempt to circumvent security but the type of fine you would get handed to you would depend on your method of concealment.

For example, let’s say that you were trying to sneak an oversized liquid through security but that it was a non-explosive.

Imagine someone trying to secretly bring a 7 ounce container of hairspray which is above the 3.4 ounce limit. I’m guessing this would be like someone hiding it inside a stuffed animal or inside their pant leg.

That person could get fined up to $300.

Now let’s talk about some devices that are prohibited.

Imagine somebody had a flashlight with a built-in stun gun. Or say that they had a lipstick or pen that had a hidden knife inside.

These are considered to be “ordinary artful concealment” attempts and they could result in some pretty big fines of up to $2,250.

The fines could be much worse if you were trying to bring in a firearm that was concealed such as a cell phone gun. In that case, the hefty amount you could be charged with could range from about $5,000 to over $10,000.

And then TSA has a classification they call “extraordinary artful concealment.”

This is when a passenger takes a pretty extraordinary effort to conceal something.

It’s different from the classification above because you could at least imagine a scenario where someone accidentally brings one of those items like a flashlight with a stun gun and simply forgets about the prohibition on stun guns.

But in these cases, the concealment intent is very much apparent.

For example if you were to wrap up a gun in aluminum foil so that it would not get picked up by the x-ray machine that would be an example of extraordinary concealment.

Another example would be if you had a book with the core hollowed out so that you could hide prohibited items inside. In these cases, the fine could be up to $10,700.

Interfering with screening

Now let’s get into interfering with screening.

This is a big one and it’s one major reason why you don’t want to mess around with the screening agents.

Sometimes people get upset if they have to surrender an item or if they are spoken to in a rude manner by a TSA agent. This can lead to confrontations which unfortunately can result in people getting physical.

If you were to cause an injury to a TSA agent by assaulting them you could be charged with a fine of up to $15,000. Even if you don’t cause an injury that fine could still be up to $11,300.

And then there is the fine for nonphysical interference. This can be a big one for people who want to video record or take photographs at the security checkpoint.

An officer could argue that these people are interfering with the screening (which is a pretty vague concept) and in those instances a fine of up to $5,830 could be thrown down.

And what would happen if you decided to sneak through security and gain access to the sterile area without getting screened?

If you were caught then TSA could decide to penalize you by fining you $740 to $4,480.

There are additional ways to get fined as well such as tampering with security systems and knowingly giving fraudulent information.

For example, if you told TSA that you noticed another passenger had something suspicious going on but there was no evidence for that, you could be slapped with a fine of around $4,000. The security checkpoint is very much a no non-sense zone!

Final word

There are quite a few ways to pick up a civil fine from TSA. Lots of times, TSA will simply throw out prohibited items and send you on your way so you don’t have anything to worry about.

But if you bring certain dangerous items like firearms, explosives, and other potentially harmful devices, you open up the door to getting fined.

In those cases, if there was an honest mistake you may still be able to avoid a big fine but if there is evidence that you are a repeat offender or there are aggravating factors, you might have to deal with a pretty large fine.

Daniel Gillaspia

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here. 

It’s not uncommon to get pretty dehydrated when traveling.

It could be because you have limited water intake or because you are traveling into dry environments like the cabin of a plane or perhaps to a low humidity destination like the desert.

Either way, you likely will want to travel with some lotion to keep your skin in good condition.

But is it possible to bring lotion on a plane and are there any risks of things happening like the bottle exploding?

In this article, we will take an in-depth look at traveling with lotion and give some insight into how TSA deals with it.

Can you bring lotion on the plane?

Yes, you can bring lotion on a plane.

If you plan on bringing lotion in your carry-on, you need to abide by the TSA liquids rule. Also, whether you are bringing lotion in your carry-on or checked bag you should take steps to prevent spills in the event your bottles of lotion explode.

Keep reading below for some tips and insight into how to avoid exploding lotion and how to keep the passengers nearby happy!

Important: Getting through airport security with lotion

Before we get into taking lotion bottles through airport security, we should mention something very important about wearing lotion when traveling to the airport.

It’s a good idea to not apply any lotion before you head to the airport. In fact, if you can, try to wait until after you get through airport security to apply lotion on the day of your travel.

The reason for this is that lots of lotions contain glycerin which is one of the chemicals that can set off the alarms whenever you get “swabbed.”

What does it mean to get swabbed?

One way that TSA agents try to keep passengers safe is by detecting whether or not passengers have come into contact with explosive materials. And one of the ways that they do this is by taking samples from the hands of passengers as well as their luggage contents.

If that sample contains traces of explosives, then the passenger will likely be subject to questioning and perhaps even a much more invasive search. That invasive search could involve a pat down and more swabbing which could take an extra 20 minutes or longer.

When going through airport security, you don’t always get swabbed but if you applied lotion containing glycerin on the day of your travels, there is a chance you would test positive if you got swabbed!

You can read more about what it’s like to get swabbed at the airport here.

If you’re curious about what type of brands may contain glycerin, here are some examples:

• Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Body Lotion
• Neutrogena The Transparent Facial Bar
• Raw + Rare Vegetable Glycerin
• Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream
• Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector
• Aquaphor Healing Ointment
• Paula’s Choice Water-Infusing Electrolyte Moisturizer
• Glossier Soothing Face Mist
• Exuviance Targeted Lip Filler
• Aveeno Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum
• Fenty Skin Hydra’Reset Intensive Recovery Hand Mask
• Hanni Shave Pillow
• La Roche-Posay Redermic R Retinol Eye Cream

Just note that this is not an exhaustive list.

Bringing lotion as a carry-on (TSA liquids rule)

TSA allows you to bring liquids like lotion on board as long as they are contained within a container no larger than 3.4 fluid ounces or (100 mL) and all of those containers can fit comfortably inside of one clear quart sized bag.

You will need to remove this bag from your carry-on bag when going through the security checkpoint unless you have TSA Pre-Check.

This procedure for dealing with your liquids is known as the TSA Liquids 3-1-1 Rule

Something super important to know about lotions is that the focus on the 3.4 ounces is on the size of the container and NOT the amount of liquid inside the container.

It’s really easy to find travel bottles of lotion under 3.4 ounces so it shouldn’t be a problem to get a container of lotion that can go with you.

Also, if you’d like you can pour your own lotion into a 3.4 ounce travel container.

One exception I should mention is that if you have medically necessary lotion, that container can be larger than 3.4 ounces due to the medical exception.

It will help if you can bring your prescription or if the prescription is attached to the bottle (although prescriptions are not always necessary to show for TSA).

Sometimes you can still get resistance from TSA with oversized liquids so if it’s possible to just pour some of that prescribed lotion into a smaller container, that might make your life a lot easier when getting through security.

Flying with lotion in the cabin (applying it mid-flight)

If you bring bottled lotion with you on the plane — whether that be hand cream, face lotion, or any other type — you need to be extremely careful about applying that lotion during a flight.

Brad once had a passenger next to him open a bottle of lotion and it actually exploded all over the passengers in his row!

So there are a couple of things you can do to avoid this.

First, while you are still on the ground you can open up the lid of the container and then squeeze the sides so that you let out a lot of air.

Keep the sides of the bottle squeezed as you close it so that the bottle looks a bit “deformed.”

As you increase in altitude and the cabin pressure increases, the air inside the bottle will have room to expand, reducing the odds of an explosion.

The next thing you can do is to use a small bag (probably the same bag you use for your liquids) to cover the lid of that lotion bottle while you open it. You can also place the bottle in the bag down below your seat when you do this.

This way, if you did cause an explosion it would be contained and you would not have to deal with the consequences of shooting lotion all over a bunch of strangers.

Another bit of advice is to try to avoid applying lotion with strong scents on planes.

When on a plane, lots of passengers don’t care for strong smells from things like perfume, lotion, etc. If you can, try to find lotion that has no scent as that is the most considerate option.

This story below kind of contradicts the advice above but it’s kind of funny and worth sharing.

Back to the story about Brad getting lotion spilled on him….

He was flying in a packed economy cabin on that flight and someone had been passing gas very bad for hours whenever the lotion was spilled on him.

That lotion actually did have a strong fragrance and so Brad was actually thankful that the lotion had been spilled on him so that he didn’t have to deal with the bad odor!

So I guess there is a welcomed circumstance for some strong scented lotions.

Bringing lotion in your checked baggage

Bringing lotion in your checked baggage is much easier to do. Your bottle will not be subject to the 3.4 ounces rule so you could bring a much larger container of lotion.

It would still be a good idea to bag or better yet double bag your lotion bottle so that if it leaks or explodes, all of the mess will be contained. You can also utilize the trick mentioned above about letting air out of the bottle.

And finally, consider putting the bagged lotion bottle into a separate compartment in your checked baggage so that it won’t leak into all of your clothes if the bag barrier was broken.

Related: Can You Bring Shampoo (Liquid or Dry) On a Plane?

Final word

You can definitely bring lotion on a plane but you need to abide by the liquids rule if you are taking it as a carry-on.

Furthermore, you should take precautions to avoid your lotion exploding on the plane by squeezing the air out of the bottle and by bagging the container up.

Be extra mindful when applying lotion in a flight so that you avoid your bottle exploding and you don’t force passengers to deal with strong scents.

Daniel Gillaspia

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.