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Eman Regular user Bloomington, Indiana 141 Posts |
Hey there,
I'm travelling to Hilo, Hawaii from Indiana this Tuesday and I'm wondering if it's alright to bring flash products in my checked luggage. Is this legal? Is it okay to do? -Evan |
organicmagician Veteran user USA 345 Posts |
Any type of flares, explosives, fireworks or flammable items (within certain boundaries) are strictly prohibited. I think it would almost certainly be interpreted to include flash paper. However, the odds of your being caught are extremely small. I've flown with flash paper a number of times without thinking about it in my magic stuff. But, if you want to follow the rules and ensure everyone's safety (since that stuff can ignite on its own in certain circumstances), you should just order ahead and have it shipped to your hotel or find a Hawaiin magic shop.
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CasualSoul Special user Edmonton, Canada 542 Posts |
If you put it in your checked baggage you won't have any problems. I've done it dozens of times and I could tell that they even dug through my magic stuff a couple times and still did nothing about the flash paper.
"Open their mind by performing the impossible"
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randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
Transporting flash paper on a plane is most definately illegal.
Flash paper is nitrocellulose, which must travel on the ground. As stated, you would probably get away with it taking it on a plane. BUT!! If you do get caught, and there is a chance, you will be in very serious trouble. There is a chance, that a dog sniffing your baggage would alert on it. After all nitrocellulose is very close to nitroglycerin. And nitroglycerin is a chemical that dogs are trained to sniff out. After all, it is what dynamite is made from. Both nitrocellulose(flash paper, flash cotton, etc) and nitroglycerin is made the same way. One is just nitrating cellulose, and the other is nitrating glycerol. Randi |
dove-boy Special user Joe Yu (Stage Name) 545 Posts |
In the past, I always ship in advance...after an advise from a friend is ok, I tried.
I checked in recently on airplane & no problem. Perhaps the law is now stricter in US...BUT Randi: A questions if we checked in: 1) Will making it damp/wet all right? |
Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
When in doubt check with the Transportation Safety Administration. Better to find out before you are arrested and placed on a no fly list.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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abrell Loyal user Remscheid, Germany 284 Posts |
Hey, even lighters are illegal and you want to smuggle pyrotechnics? You really want to go into jail?
1. If in doubt with any item as "Checked luggage" or "Onboard luggage" ask before - you will get an answer from your air carrier. 2. Follow all instructions at the airport! At any airport counter you will see signs that tell you what items are forbidden in luggage and pyrotechnics are included! Never transport nitro cellulosis or pyrotechnics onboard or as checked luggage on an airplane!!! 3. Do not cheat! There are chemical wipe tests for explosives - if you get caught with those you will be imprisoned! Do not suppose airport security staff to be stupid . 4. Pyrotechnics are available worldwide. They are then shipped as dangerous goods and they never are transported with passenger airplanes! So if you want to perform in Hawaii, ask for a legal dealer of pyrotechnics in Hawaii! Maybe a colleague can help you by buying it for you! |
CasualSoul Special user Edmonton, Canada 542 Posts |
This is all wise advice. When I've transported it in my luggage the quantity was so small it was probably never detected. The smartest thing to do would just be to buy some from a local magic store in the city one is visiting.
"Open their mind by performing the impossible"
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randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
Quote:
Will making it damp/wet all right? That's a big no. I would have to make sure... But I think if it travels on the ground it has to be wet. I am pretty sure this is the case. But it is not aloud in the air in any way, shape, or form. If you get caught, you will go to jail. Quote:
When I've transported it in my luggage the quantity was so small it was probably never detected. Actually, they probably just didn't have a dog to sniff your bag. But you never know when they do or not. Dogs can sniff out the very smallest of particles. Randi |
CasualSoul Special user Edmonton, Canada 542 Posts |
Yeah, true, guess I could have just been lucky the couple dozen or so times I've done it. I am curious though as to how much trouble a magician could really get in if he/she simply forgot there was a small pad of flash paper in a pocket. I would think you would just get a warning and have it confiscated, but I think I might actually look into this further.
"Open their mind by performing the impossible"
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EsnRedshirt Special user Newark, CA 895 Posts |
CasualSoul, depending on where you're flying (and it's more certain to happen in the US), you or your luggage may get swabbed with a chemical sniffer. They're nearly as sensitive as dogs, and more commonplace. If it turns up positive on you or your clothes, you'll have some explaining to do- and explaining things to TSA is not usually a pleasant experience.
Play it safe, don't put flash paper anywhere near your luggage. If you need it, get in touch with a magic dealer at your destination before you leave, and arrange to pick it up when you get there.
Self-proclaimed Jack-of-all-trades and google expert*.
* = Take any advice from this person with a grain of salt. |
randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
I am looking into the penalties...
How about these... Bernard Williams of Norwalk, CT, drew a 46-month prison term and a $7,500 fine from a U.S. District Court judge in Brooklyn, NY, for “recklessly delivering” two undeclared cartons of ammonia for transport on a commercial flight. The Pennsylvania missionary operates an orphanage for victims of the war in Sudan's Darfur region and he's in a fight with federal aviation officials over a $28,000 fine for some supplies he tried to send to his children in Africa. For more than a decade, he has transported needed supplies to operate its power-generator in a clearly marked Rubbermaid container. That is until April, when three quarts of motor oil, two bottles of diesel treatment and a can of WD-40 spray lubricant in the crate were confiscated by airline screeners. Declaring Hazardous Materials: In the U.S., you must declare hazardous materials to airlines, express package carriers, or the U.S. Postal Service. Violations carry a civil penalty of up to $27,500 for each occurrence and, in appropriate cases, a criminal penalty of up to $500,000 and/or up to five years imprisonment. Yeah... I wouldn't take the chance. I am flying pretty soon, and I will have to do some fire eating. I made some new torches and I will not use them so I can take them on the plane and they won't smell like gas. I'll buy my fuel when I get there. Randi |
Matt Watts Regular user 189 Posts |
Here is a tip afriend taught me.If flash paper put it in a rolling paper contianer.It is verry simalar.dont put it in your car on thaough then you may be in trouble.
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Ivan Kiddlars New user 18 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-01-27 21:27, magicmatt229 wrote: What? |
organicmagician Veteran user USA 345 Posts |
He means fold them in half like cigarette paper and put them in a rolling paper dispenser (small cardboard box with a flap).
That might get you past visual inspection, but not necessarily those machines that shoot a puff of air or when they swab. I don't think the issue is hiding them, though. Air transport people don't know a pad of flash paper (or even less obvious, full sheets of flash paper in an envelope) from anything else. And the likelihood is probably small you will get caught anyway. But, why risk it considering the size of the penalty when flash paper is widely available and inexpensive? |
CasualSoul Special user Edmonton, Canada 542 Posts |
Yeah, after reading Randi's info she dug up I am totally convinced it's not worth the risk. I'm glad I've never had trouble before. Buying it at your destination is totally the way to go.
"Open their mind by performing the impossible"
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Rupert Bair Inner circle ? 2179 Posts |
Had some in carry on baggage a few times. Usually wet tho. No problems so far.
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Der Magier New user 24 Posts |
I'm going the better safe than sorry route. So many acidents have happened, and the fines... yeah.
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