Travel battery restrictions to be tightened even further?

[lewong]

Possible Revision to Requirements for the Transportation of Batteries

This was on Slashdot this morning:

"Buying your next laptop or smartphone online could suddenly get a lot more expensive if a little-known US Department of Transportation proposal to tighten rules around the shipment of small, Lithium-Ion battery-powered devices by air goes through, says an industry group opposing the move. The changes, designed primarily to reduce the risk from Lithium-Ion batteries, would also forbid air travelers from carrying spare alkaline or NiMH batteries in their checked-in luggage, according to the head of the Portable Rechargeable Battery Association"

The proposed changes are here: regulations.gov

From the Computerworld article:

"For air travelers, the department would also prohibit air passengers from keeping extra alkaline or rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries in their checked-in luggage. Those batteries are acceptable if they are inside the devices. They are also permitted inside or outside devices if stored in carry-on luggage"

I'm not sure how it applies to Lithium batteries because this Jan 2008 Computerworld article seems to say that they were limited already.

 

[n3eg]

Re: Possible Revision to Requirements for the Transportation of Batteries

I guess this means the extra devices and AA battery holder accessory packs for my equipment will be called "Loopholders" - because they'll hold Eneloops, and they'll provide a loophole.

 

[fieldops]

Sorry, I know there is already a thread in the battery section, but this issue really will affect everyone here in the US (maybe beyond). I know there were changes last January, but this seems like a further tightening of regulations. This seems a bit over the top to me. I'm no expert in this area. Maybe someone who is can comment? It's hard to separate rumor from fact and legalese.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/188762/traveling_with_laptops_could_get_tougher.html?tk=rss_news

 

[nbp]

It was fun explaining to the TSA agent a few weeks ago what the keep2go tube with 4 SF 123s in it was in my carry-on.

'Umm, those are specialty batteries for the 5 flashlights you just inspected and turned on one by one, and the plastic tube is to protect them and keep them from shorting out. There's nothing to worry about, really!'

 

[adnj]

Interesting reading.

 

[smfranke]

Some of these restrictions are just plain dumb. If a terrorist was really serious about blowing up a plane then s/he would hide the explosives in his/her rectum. Go to the lavatory, remove the explosives and light the fuse.

I honestly don't think they're very serious.

Edited out last line because HarryN found it insulting (at least I think that's what he was referring to)

 

[TooManyGizmos]

That's PROFILING ... and it's just plain wrong :devil:

 

[HarryN]

smfranke, Thank you for that edit.

HarryN

 

[Floating Spots]

New Proposed (Airline) Battery Regulations?

I know there was some chatter a year or two ago about checked lithium batteries being banned. This worked out to carrying all lithium spares in carry-on bags. This is the first I've heard of checked luggage restrictions on NiMH or alkaline. While this reads like it is at a proposal stage, I wonder if this is real or FUD?

ComputerWorld Article on Proposed Battery Regs

 

[Black Rose]

Re: New Proposed (Airline) Battery Regulations?

Removed since threads were merged.

 

[John_Galt]

Why ban alkaline and Ni-MH? As far as I can recall, there have been no reports of leaking alkalines or (non-explosively) venting Ni-MH battery problems in planes... This is just more government bureaucracy trying to make itself seem usefull...