January 20th, 2017
If you ever had a hard time deciding whether you need a soft-sided or hard-sided cooler this artic...
When travelling through security, clear bags are clearly the way to go...
Let’s face it. In the wake of 9/11, not only has airline travel become more strenuous and time-consuming but even attending public events has become a “bottleneck” of a wide variety of invasive security checkpoints and procedures. If you’ve ever had to hand your shoulder bag, briefcase, or tote to a complete stranger and watch them rifle through your personal belongings, you know exactly what I’m talking about. As reasonable adults, we can typically cope with an occasional shake-down at a local sporting event, but the real tragedy is that our public schools are now subjecting children to careful scrutiny as they enter educational facilities.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all in favor of safer travel, safer schools, and better public safety overall. What I do not appreciate (like many people) is having my personal belongings handled and/or molested by some stranger with a badge, a security wand, and a bad attitude. I understand the need to eliminate illegal weapons and dangerous materials from public venues, but I cannot abide being treated like a potential threat in the process. There’s no question that the world is constantly changing, and with the unseen dangers we face today, it’s evident that stronger security is a necessary inconvenience. However, stronger security should not equate to greater discomfort or embarrassment for well-meaning travelers or students.
In these troubled times, transparency seems to be the best policy and the only one that makes sense, both for the public and for those trying to keep the public safe. The obvious and “clearest” solution to make getting into secured areas with as little hassle as possible lies in the vast array of clear vinyl bags that have become a staple of travel all over the world. In fact, more and more events and venues are requiring a clear bag for entering stadiums, convention centers, fairs, and even some movie theaters. Eventually, clear bags will be required at any and all public gathering places and schools, as well as bus and train stations, and of course airports.
So, if you travel or attend public events of any sort, you’re definitely going to need a clear bag, backpack, handbag, or tote bag that is completely transparent so that security officials can easily view your belongings without the need to dig through it all, saving a great deal of time and unwanted attention or embarrassment. However, knowing that you’re going to need a clear bag for travel or for frequenting public venues is only half the battle. Knowing specifically which type of see-through bag will be acceptable where you’re travelling, and what size the specific venue will allow is something you’re going to want to look into before traveling or attending the event. The majority of venues typically list their individual requirements online, so it’s easy to get the details on what they do or do not allow you to bring in.
For instance, the NFL has a stadium bag policy that limits the size and style of bags that are allowed. You can learn more about NFL admittance policies at http://www.nfl.com/qs/allclear/index.jsp.
To complicate things even further, all bag requirements may not be the same from state to state, or from venue to venue within any individual state. One venue may specify that clear bags are required while another venue in the same state may be specific about a size limit. So doing a bit of preliminary research ahead of time can save you a lot of time when it really counts.
Many people, when attending an event prefer not to carry around a bag, instead, they choose to keep their valuables around their waist, inside a clear fanny pack. It's not only convenient for keeping your hands free, but safe for protecting your tickets, cash, credit cards, smartphones, keys, and more.
With all this in mind, allow yourself plenty of time for research and purchasing, so you’ll have the correct clear bag in–hand well in advance of your next upcoming event or destination. With a clear vinyl bag, purse, backpack, or fanny pack, you’ll be sure to avoid the mentally taxing experience of having a security agent go through your stuff while you stand by feeling like some sort of criminal.
