New Travel Rules for Handling Batteries : Heads up, underwater photographers: As of January 1, you’ll have to handle your lithium batteries in a different manner. The Department of Transportation no longer allows loose lithium batteries to be packed in checked luggage. Instead, you can only take them in carry-on bags -- but you can only take two maximum, and they must be stored in the original packaging or a plastic bag. This new regulation is supposed to reduce the risk of lithium batteries catching on fire. When it comes to checked bags, lithium batteries will only be allowed if they’re installed in electronic devices like laptop, dive computers and photo gear -- which, of course, probably shouldn't be checked, but with today's bag restrictions, it is virtually impossible to take on board all your electronic gear.