Sioux City Police were called to Sioux Gateway Airport Friday morning after the Transportation Security Administration discovered a loaded firearm at the security screening checkpoint.
Captain Marti Reilly of the Sioux City Police says the .45 caliber Smith & Wesson was detected in a carry-on bag during checkpoint x-ray screening.
A police officer took the weapon and interviewed the passenger, who was from South Carolina.
OC………of the firearm. :11
Reilly says there does not appear to be any criminal intent by the man:
OC……..not following instructions. :18
And that fine could be costly for the passenger.
TSA has the authority to levy a civil penalty of up to $11,000 against a passenger who brings a firearm to the checkpoint.
The TSA says the average penalty for a loaded firearm is $3,000, and the average for an unloaded one is $1,500.
This was the first firearm found at the SUX checkpoint this calendar year.
