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Laptop Travel Damage - Who's at Fault?
Denagoth asks: "Due to increased security measures, airport personnel are now directly handling everyone's laptop, PDA, and other electronic gizmos. Who is at fault when (not if - but I've been lucky) an airport employee drops, damages, (or even worse) loses one of these devices? Has anyone had any experience in this area and are there any legal precedents to fall back on?"
Go to your local courthouse and tell me how intrusive airport security is...You have many options to keep this from happening. The first I can think of is to travel another way...train, bus, car, etc.
And if that's not an option, consider leaving your notebook at home...maybe take a Palm Pilot (these go through X-Rays with no problem and security has seen these enough to know how to check one...I've even had them ask me to turn it on and show it to them if they are concerned about breaking it).
But, if it's a business trip and you must take it with you...you will know when something happens/might happen to it. If you suspect something, you should simply check your notebook at the other end of the X-Ray machine (there's always a table close to security for collecting your things). Then, after you have confirmed a problem, is when you should ask for some sort of voucher/note/etc...
As for being intrusive, this isn't covered in the 4th amendment this is a special situation...an airport is a private (not open to the general public) place.