[IP] Zippo gets lighter exemption from TSA
Begin forwarded message:
From: Mary Shaw <mary.shaw@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: August 2, 2005 8:46:16 AM EDT
To: David Farber <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Zippo gets lighter exemption from TSA
Reply-To: Mary Shaw <mary.shaw@xxxxxxxxx>
Dave,
Have you been following the story of lighters on commercial
aircraft? You will recall that last April TSA banned lighters that
use any sort of fuel from both checked and carryon baggage. In
addition to creating bins of BICs at TSA screening points (why didn't
they move those bins to the exit lines so you could pick up a lighter
to replace the one you dropped off?) this created consternation at
the Pennsylvania-based Zippo company, creator of the iconic
collectible lighters.
Zippo went to their (our) senators, Spector and Santorum for help.
In May TSA ruled that new Zippos (never fueled) and similar lighters
are not hazardous and could go in checked baggage.
In June TSA granted Zippo an "emergency examption" allowing fueled
lighters in checked bags provided they are in approved (vapor-tight,
sealed, unbreakable, ...) cases. The cases were developed for Zippo
by Otterbox, which claims to be selling them "at cost" -- $12.95.
Zippo's version at http://www.zippo.com/lighterBan.html
Curiously, the TSA policy on the exemption ( http://www.tsa.gov/
public/interapp/editorial/editorial_2047.xml ) specifically exempts
Zippos by name.
Patches upon patches upon patches .....
Mary
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