I occasionally travel for work. When I go to the field I have to carry on my laptop case and boot bag.
On one trip they scanned my laptop bag. Sir. Please step into the cube. Huh? I look and they are rescanning my laptop case and pointing. Is that your bag? Yes. There are five agents now looking at the x-ray of my bag and digging around. It is amazing how many pockets and nooks are in those things. Sir, do you have a drill bit in your bag? Uhhh, I am a machinist, it is possible. They scanned again and after digging around about 10 minutes they pulled out a 3/8 inch diameter x 12 inch long drill bit. I thought oh crap I forgot that was in there and I am in trouble now. They started laughing(yes they laughed), motioning me to come get may bag. As I was putting my laptop back in my bag they handed me the drill back. Odd thing is it had been in my bags for 2 other trips. Good thing it weren’t a fingernail file.
I also carried my boot bag on one trip which included my safety harness lanyards. It has 2 huge hooks on each end for tying off while I am climbing. They just looked at them and cleared them.
I do appreciate the free pass but what’s the criteria? Maybe it’s just my southern charm. Of course the folks behind me weren’t so thrilled.
Ever had a personal search in TSA?