Air travelers’ items to be sold

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 | 9:25 a.m.

Boulder City is set to benefit from banned items confiscated from travelers who tried to take them through McCarran International Airport security checkpoints.

During Tuesday's City Council meeting a plan was approved to sell on eBay the pocket knives, scissors, corkscrews and other items either banned or previously banned from aircraft.

Boulder City officials said that Mike Plott, a part-time manager of the Boulder City Fitness Center in ABC Park, will sell the items on eBay with all profits going to the city.

Confiscated items were previously destroyed by contractors hired by the Transportation Security Administration, but in December items were donated to Arkansas after officials in that state asked if they could have the items.

Local TSA security chief Jim Blair said he has since been called by Boulder City Mayor Bob Ferraro about donating the items to Boulder City. After checking to make sure that Boulder City fit contract requirements, the request was granted.

Initially Boulder City will get about 17 boxes of confiscated items to sell and can get more as more items are collected at security checkpoints at the airport.

Box cutters, pointed or sharp scissors, baseball bats, golf clubs and screwdrivers are among the banned household items.

Some items that were originally banned from carry-on luggage immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks are now again allowed to be brought on board a plane. These items include nail files, corkscrews, knitting needles, nail clippers, disposable razors and scissors with plastic or blunt tips.