TSA makes changes to travel security policy

The Transportation Security Administration will allow travelers to carry more items onto planes, such as small knives and golf clubs.

In a statement released on its website, the TSA explained the changes that move the United State’s security standards closer to those of Europe and allow the TSA to focus on higher-threat items.

The TSA said in a statement on their website, “This is part of an overall Risk-Based Security approach, which allows Transportation Security Officers to better focus their efforts on finding higher threat items such as explosives.”
The new policies will go into effect on April 25.

Under the new regulations, passengers are allowed to carry knives that do not lock, have a blade six centimeters or less and have blades that are less than half an inch wide. In addition, novelty sized and toy bats, billiard cues, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks and two golf clubs will be allowed.

While the changes in the TSA’s policies do not directly affect most UConn students, policies banning weapons are prevalent on the UConn campus. School policy bans students from having firearms, ammunition, any weapons, bows, guns, BB guns, slingshots and launching devices in dorms.

Under Connecticut law, carrying a dirk knife, switch knife, stiletto, any knife with an automatic spring that releases a blade longer than one and a half inches and any knife with a blade with an edge portion four inches or longer can result in a fine of up to $500 or imprisonment for up to three years or both, according to a 2007 report on the Connecticut General Assembly’s website. People carrying a dangerous weapon, such as the above listed knives, in a car can be fined up to $1,000; be imprisoned for five years, or both. For example, UConn police arrested Alexander R. Bass, 21, of Windham, on Dec. 21, 2012 for having an 18.5-inch cutting blade in his car.

As students prepare to or have already picked on-campus housing for the coming semester they must sign the housing contract, which includes a section on the prohibited dangerous weapons. Violation of the contract can result in a student being removed from University housing.