TSA Regulations Regarding Transformer Robots

There was a discussion today at the office regarding what was allowed and not allowed to be carried onto airplanes since the Islamic Terrorist bomb plot in the UK. Specifically, there were questions about matches, and whether or not they were allowed.

I suggested that they check the TSA.gov website to get the official list because I thought that matches were allowed. It turns out that they are indeed allowed, up to four books of them.

But as the list was being read aloud, one thing really caught my attention and made me laugh. There are TSA regulations specifically designed to address Toy Transforming Robots. It appears that they are allowed both in the carry on luggage and in checked luggage. See the official list of banned items here.

But why should there be any regulations about Transformers? Because one or two of them can turn into a gun? Or because they might try to eat energon cubes?

Having worked for the Federal Government, I can assure you that this ridiculous item remains on this list simply because at one point or another, there were either way too many questions about it, or it was a point of contention between factions within the organization. I could only imagine the screaming matches that took place in the halls of TSA over the threat of these evil Decepticons and noble Autobots being carried onto airplanes. At one point, I’m certain that it was debated that only Autobots would be able to come aboard.