What Would Zoe Do? Filming the TSA and Creative Coin Production
December 16th, 2010
My name is Zoe, and I’m what you might call a rebel — against the state, that is! I hope that you have checked out the to my upcoming movie Silver Circle, in which I am in the starring role! I am here to offer my advice and to answer your questions related to freedom fighting on a weekly basis. Please submit your questions to !
Zoe,
I’m traveling for the holiday season. I know you talked about TSA’s frisky business, but what if I want to document the intrusive pat down for legal purposes? Is that legal… can I just whip out my iPhone and hit record as it all goes down? (no pun intended)
- Sleepless in Seattle
Sleepless,
The TSA can be recorded, as long as you’re not in their way while doing so.
2.7. PHOTOGRAPHING, VIDEOTAPING, AND FILMING SCREENING LOCATIONS
A. TSA does not prohibit the public, passengers, or press from photographing, videotaping, or filming screening locations unless the activity interferes with a TSO’s ability to perform his or her duties or prevents the orderly flow of individuals through the screening location. Requests by commercial entities to photograph an airport screening location must be forwarded to TSA’s Office of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs. Photographing EDS or ETD monitor screens or emitted images is not permitted.
B. TSA must not confiscate or destroy the photographic equipment or film of any person photographing the screening location.
If you are traveling with a friend or relative, it may be best if they record while the procedure is happening to ensure you’re not “making things difficult,” although I don’t believe we should have to invest in spy gear in order to film them.
If it were me, I’d print off the manual before traveling in case there is any trouble. Even though it is perfectly legitimate to film, that hasn’t stopped police officers from confiscating cameras and even making arrests.
Good luck!
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Dear Zoe,
Is there a way to mod one of those penny smasher machines to crank out our own coins?
- Jeff Lemmon
Jeff,
When there’s a will, there’s a way! But it actually seems really easy . . . you can just purchase a machine from here and send in your custom artwork! That would be a neat idea, to take the worthless fiat currency, create our own, and use it for our own barter. I like the way you think, Jeff!
The Rebels and myself make coins in a different way. We take silver items and melt them in a furnace, then pour the molten hot silver into a caster. This produces a silver strip that is stretched and punched into silver rounds. The rounds are then taken to the minting room which stamps them with the imprint of our choosing. The stamp we chose in a multi-circle pattern, representing burning flames . . . of which you will find out more about when the movie comes out!
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Thank you for your questions this week! Remember to with some more for next time!
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