CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Yeager Airport has recently adopted new rules for carrying and declaring firearms and other prohibited items on airport property.
Improper declaration of, failing to secure properly or attempting to carry a firearm or accessories through security now could lead to a $100 fine, and a misdemeanor carrying up to 30 days in jail.
“When these items get to your destination they’re going to come off baggage claim with other bags,” Yeager Spokesman Mike Plante said. “If a firearm is able to be accessed by somebody else that creates a potentially dangerous situation for the airport and everybody else.”
Yeager Police Chief Joe Crawford said a lot of the violations are not long-armed rifles designed for hunting trips.
“What we’re seeing a lot of times is their not making the declaration. Usually on hunting trips they’re declared. We’re seeing a lot of violations with handguns.”
As part of the news conference, Crawford demonstrated the proper way to secure a firearm for travel. He said longer guns have to be secured with a lock on both sides, and in a hardcover casing.
Plante said that some problems earlier this year led to stricter enforcement of the rules.
“We had a series of incidents earlier this year where some people had a firearm in one case and a magazine in the other case in an attempted carry-on bag,” he explained. ‘We don’t think it was intentional.”
Questions about the proper way to secure and declare firearms at the airport can be accessed on the TSA website.
“If you get to the security checkpoint with a firearm in your carry on bag, it could be an expensive day for you,” Plante said.