And the text of the OP says that.

I wish you the very best of the holiday season.

As an example of what i mean, when my kids (I'm guessing you're about their age) were little, we traveled every holiday from Maryland to Connecticut. At Christmastime, at each toll, we always went through a manned toll booth and gave a cookie to the toll taker. Most of them ate the cookie right then and there. Obviously, that was a more innocent time.

But many people whose job does not ordinarily involve tips can find them to be insulting and demeaning. In the case of law enforcement officers, they can take it in a very wrong way. TSA agents are not hotel bellhops and may not want to be treated as such.

My holiday toll thing used to be to pay double the toll and say to the teller “this is for the car behind me too”. The reactions in the rear view mirror were occasionally entertaining.

Federal employees can generally accept gifts of under $20, and things like light refreshments and snacks (but generally not a full meal).

*giving* a gift to a federal employee can be bribery if it has any value at all, but only if the intent is to reward or curry favor.

Giving a cookie to a toll booth collector or a tsa agent shouldn't be a problem for either party from a legal perspective.

That said, a tsa agent or anyone in a security position should be wary enough not to eat something that could drug them while on the job.

Especially, if their last name is Trump.

Must've loosened things up a bit.

...or going thru security with an 8 week old golden retriever puppy!

The last few years my husband and I have finally got to travel a little. They have to hand check my husband and I always tell the TSA agent to yell because he hasn't cleaned his dang ears since 1926 and can't hear. Cracks um up every time.

My husband always shakes the hand of whoever checks him over after it is done and wishes them a happy Mutt Hairs Day or some such.

We are brutal....

The world needs a lot more people (like you two) with a sense of humor!

Told the idiot to keep them.

HTG, COOKIES! Sugar and chocolate chip. In a transparent bag.

I will NEVER fly anywhere again.

They made my 87 year old Mom take off her shoes and empty her purse.

early flight...last year they took away my mothers tiny xmas globe..and hand checked her for explosives...she's 88, in a wheelchair and when she walks has to use a cane....Fuck 'em

I can understand the snow globe. I think taking it is silly, but I can understand it when considering the rules. The rules are policy, originating far above the guy at the X-ray/pat-down line.

How did the confiscating agent act toward your party? THAT is on him. and that is all you should consider as you judge him.

Like I suspect you do, I find the whole airport security theater to be bullshit of the highest order. My bottom line is life has risks and we need to deal with it, not cower.

And got to keep it. It was a mini globe and not in violation of the liquid/gel limit. The officer didn’t even know the rules, but she got a crash course that day.

My other favorite line is after I get my obligatory pat down (I’m either flagged by the airline for extra screening or they see something on the scanner that they think needs extra attention every time I fly).

If the pat down is super aggressive I always say “Damn, I think I need a cigarette after that.”

They don’t seem to appreciate that any more than I appreciate being groped during the TSA dog and pony show.

Maybe some $10 gift cards would be appreciated?

That way they won’t think you are trying to bribe them.