Montel Williams was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee.
CNN reports that Williams was caught by the TSA who found a pipe on the former talk show host. He apparently paid the $484 fine and was released. Williams suffers from multiple sclerosis and is an avid supporter of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes.
Multiple sclerosis or not, what was he thinking carrying a pipe through airport security? This from a man who hosted a show that gave life advice!!!
Since 9/11, airport travelers have been exhorted to pack very carefully to meet demanding new security requirements. As of January 1, 2008, another restriction can be added to the ever-growing list of forbidden items: batteries.
According to new rules from the Transportation and Security Administration (U.S.), loose lithium batteries for cameras, notebooks or cell phones, for example, cannot be packed in checked luggage. Passengers are allowed to pack two spare batteries in their carry-on bag, so long as they’re in the clear plastic bags that have gained notoriety for holding your threatening liquids.
Generously, items that already have batteries in place, such as laptops and phones, have been deemed safe for check-in by the TSA.
What are the fears behind this new security restriction, you might ask? The agency holds that loose lithium batteries not installed in devices pose a fire risk to passenger planes. Better late than never, right?
