TSA gets to keep $675,000 in quarters and dimes left behind by travellers at airport security

That's a lot of spare change! TSA gets to keep $675,000 in quarters and dimes left behind by travellers at airport security

• Airline passengers left behind almost $675,000 in spare change in 2013
• TSA can keep the money to spend on improving civil aviation security
• The figure is $107,00 more than 2012 and double that collected in 2008

The TSA got to keep $675,000 in spare change dropped by travellers at airport security last year.

Over the past five years, airline passengers have left behind more than $2.7 million in quarters and dimes.

And the funds collected appear to be increasing every year, according to figures from the Transportation Security Administration.

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The funds collected by the TSA appear to be increasing every year, according to figures from the Transportation Security Administration

Last year the TSA were allowed to keep $675,000 in spare change - almost double what was collected in 2008 at $383,414,

The sum was $107,000 more than what passengers left behind in 2012, and more than $150,000 than 2011.

According to federal law, if no one comes back to claim the money the TSA are allowed to keep it.

The agency is then free to spend anything they feel will improve the civil aviation security.

TSA officials said the agency 'makes every effort to reunite passengers with items left at the checkpoint, however there are instances where loose change or other items are left behind and unclaimed.

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The TSA got to keep $675,000 in spare change left behind by travellers at airport security last year

'Unclaimed money, typically consisting of loose coins passengers remove from their pockets, is documented and turned into the TSA financial office,' the agency said in a statement.

In 2005, Congress gave the agency the ability to use the forgotten money to help fund security operations.

Some airports, such as Phoenix and Columbus, Ohio, and Denver International Airport, offer travellers the opportunity to donate money to local charities at collection boxes at checkpoints.

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According to federal law, if no one comes back to claim the money it stays with the TSA