Posted at 1:08 p.m., Thursday, August 2, 2007
Air travelers may carry lighters beginning Saturday
Advertiser Staff
Airline passengers as of Saturday may once again carry on board butane-fired cigarette lighters, including disposable ones such as Bics and refillable Zippo-style lighters. The Transportation Security Administration says lifting the ban will allow officers to "concentrate resources on detecting explosive threats."TSA spokeswoman Amy Kudwa noted that officers confiscate 22,000 lighters a day, and said the change will allow them to "concentrate on finding the real threat: explosives and IED components."
Congress, by the way, mandated in 2005 that lighters be banned, but in last year's appropriations bill it said the TSA shouldn't use funds to enforce the ban.
