Last year, the Transportation Security Administration, commonly known as the TSA, raked in over a half a million dollars in forgotten change.
Last year the Transportation Security Administration, commonly known as the TSA, raked in over a half a million dollars in forgotten change.
Apparently, when people collect their belongings from the security checkpoint baskets, they’re not too thorough.
The most forgetful travelers were those passing through security at Miami International Airport, leaving behind almost 40 thousand dollars in pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters.
Airline passengers at McCarran International in Las Vegas didn’t inspect the baskets too closely, either, and gave the TSA nearly 27 thousand dollars.
Overall, last year was the biggest collection year in the history of the agency, although 2011’s haul of 488 thousand wasn’t too bad, either.
So, what do they spend it on?
As far as the 2012 jackpot goes, thus far pretty much nothing.
Laws dictate that they must use the found money to fulfill their mission, so they spent around 65 hundred dollars to make some multi-lingual signage.
Legislation is in the works that will allow the TSA to give the money to travel programs that assist soldiers and their families.
Donating the 500 thousand, however, will rack up 1.2 million in transfer related costs.
