Passengers Still Not Familiar With Liquid Ban

Each week, hundreds of airline passengers returning from Caribbean vacations threaten United States security by bringing contraband though Miami International Airport security checkpoint. The threats lie not in bombs, guns, knives or even nail clippers.

It's booze.

The TSA says it collected more than nine tons of contraband items at MIA just from October 2006 through January 2007. The items being mostly oversized bottles of alcohol and perfume. So much has accumulated that the airport has convened emergency meetings of transportation and tourism officials, according to USA Today.

"It's a problem for tourism in South Florida," airport security director Lauren Stover said. "We don't want people to come down here and have a wonderful vacation, and then have their alcohol taken away when they're flying home."

TSA adopted the policy last year after an alleged plot by British terrorists to blow up US-bound jets with liquid explosives was uncovered in 2006. It limits passengers to only 3 ounces of liquids in airplane cabins.

Travelers run into trouble in the Miami airport when they try to make connecting flights and attempt to pass through security carrying the bottles purchased in duty-free shops that exceed the limit, Stover said.

"I'm not aware of any other airport that has this issue," TSA spokeswoman Ellen Howe said. "It's a combination of the cruise-ship volume and international flights."

However, passengers are free to take bottles of liquor on board packed in checked luggage. "I don't know why people aren't doing that," said Tim Wagner, a spokesman for American Airlines.

FMI: www.tsa.gov. www.miami-airport.com/html/news_alert.html