Not really answering your question but, in East Glacier several years ago I saw a place that "rented" bear spray. Return it unused for the rental fee or you buy it if you use it.Hi. Can we pack Bear Spray in our checked luggage or do we have to buy it there?
Kirsty
The closest thing I see listed under "Prohibited Items" is...
Canisters, tanks or other devices containing propellants
*Oxygen equipment for medical reasons is allowed onboard with restrictions.
I believe aerosol cans would fall under this category.
This prohibition is for both carry on and checked baggage.
At the top of the page...
Any item that is similar to the prohibited items below, even if not specifically mentioned, is also prohibited.
https://www.amtrak.com/prohibited-items
Corrosive or dangerous chemicals or materials, including but not limited to liquid bleach, tear gas, radioactive and harmful bacteriological materials.
I was lucky once too and flew back with it in my checked luggage on a plane. Had no idea it was against regulations. This was a few weeks before 9/11. Probably couldn't get away with that now.Guess Im lucky I havent been in trouble. After summers in the mountains I take a LD trains back to Florida. I carry a backpack and small suitcase. Spray suntan lotion, OFF, who knows whatever other spray and Bear Spray on the side of backpack in plain sight. It is in a snapped holster and has a safety on it. Cant go off by itself but my suntan lotion probably could.
Bear spray is usually considered to be tear gas. It's listed as prohibited in both check-in or carry-on baggage. On top of that, there are various laws that limit the amount of such irritants, and the OP would be transporting it through several states that might have different laws. In California it's limited for non law-enforcement to 2.5 oz unless it's meant to be an "economic poison" - i.e. a pesticide. For this purpose - deterring a bear makes bear spray a pesticide.
Guess Im lucky I havent been in trouble. After summers in the mountains I take a LD trains back to Florida. I carry a backpack and small suitcase. Spray suntan lotion, OFF, who knows whatever other spray and Bear Spray on the side of backpack in plain sight. It is in a snapped holster and has a safety on it. Cant go off by itself but my suntan lotion probably could.
My interpretation is that any kind of pepper spray would normally be considered a form of tear gas. At least that's the definition in California.Ah, so looks like bear spray would have to be prohibited to be carried on Amtrak trains. Even if Amtrak's language about prohibited items, doesn't clearly mention bear spray among all those prohibited items.
My interpretation is that any kind of pepper spray would normally be considered a form of tear gas. At least that's the definition in California.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=17240.
Real bear spray, intended for use on bears, is more potent than tear gas, intended for use on humans. If one of those goes off on a train it's going to cause a lot of problems for anyone in the car. For people with health issues it could be deadly. If they aren't already banned, they should be.
It really depends. There is no single definition for bear spray or civilian/LE pepper spray. The only thing that is consistent is that a bear spray canister is typically larger - maybe in the 8-12 oz size, although that could be said for LE pepper spray.
I've heard some claims that bear spray is of higher OC concentration, as well as claims that it's less. But it's generally assumed to be 1-2%. The main problem is there's a whole lot of different types of personal defense pepper spray that ranges from 0.2% to 10%. Counter Assault says that their bear spray is at the maximum 2% allowed by law, although they don't say what law.
Are you sure about the containment? If it uses compressed gas, that gas can open a lot of plastic bags and zip-loc bags open very easily.Since I have numerous antibiotic allergies and fear animal bites, I have on one occasion years back taken a 3/4 oz animal repellent spray along in my checked baggage. It was locked and in a double sealed zip bag. Even if the pepper discharged it would have been contained. After reading the rules more closely I now just buy one at my destination and carry that with me. Then I mail it back when done. Its ironic that you can check your rifle or handgun w ammo, bring that along, check it in, and that's OK, but 3/4 oz of pepper animal repellent is most likely not allowed.
At the bottom of the description of the above bear spray, it saysI will say that I've taken bear spray in and out of trains and even to and from Canada without anyone looking it over (and Customs coming in to the US usually looks things over thoroughly). It was this product: https://www.rei.com/product/154930/counter-assault-bear-deterrent-spray-81-fl-oz-2019
This product is California legal. Now, it may have been prohibited on the train, but the product itself is not illegal and if you were caught with it you would like have been asked to throw it out. People carry regular aerosol hair spray on the train all the time and I've never seen anyone investigate that.
Since I have numerous antibiotic allergies and fear animal bites, I have on one occasion years back taken a 3/4 oz animal repellent spray along in my checked baggage. It was locked and in a double sealed zip bag. Even if the pepper discharged it would have been contained. After reading the rules more closely I now just buy one at my destination and carry that with me. Then I mail it back when done. Its ironic that you can check your rifle or handgun w ammo, bring that along, check it in, and that's OK, but 3/4 oz of pepper animal repellent is most likely not allowed.
Maybe it's because any missile-like behavior or explosions or whatever would likely damage far few people when being transported by a single driver than on mass transportation systems like planes and trains, but I'm not really sure what the reasoning is on the regulations.Putting it in the mail? I'd check with postal authorities next time. Anything bad that can happen to it on a train or plane can happen while being transported or stored by USPS.
I didn't even know that bear spray was a thing. I was only told to keep your distance, stay away from cubs, stand as tall as possible, and make loud noises. If that dosn't work throw rocks near (but not at) the bear and if it still kept approaching you'd shoot if armed or try to weaponize anything in reach and hope for the best. Is that advice still relevant or is it mainly about carrying a spray now? In all honesty death by mauling doesn't sound like a pleasant way to go.
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