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It says in Shabbos (12a) that one should always check his pockets on Friday so he won't accidentally carry on Shabbos.

I don't understand the purpose of this checking. Even if one did carry unintentionally, he would have been a Misasek which is Pattur (and possibly Muttar). According to Rava, who says that we don't make a Gezeira LeGezeira (11b), why check one's pockets?

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what do you do when you're a mile from home and suddenly realize you're carrying your wallet? – Daniel Aug 15 '12 at 23:30
@Daniel, sounds like an answer, especially if you can source that that's the g'mara's concern. – msh210♦ Aug 15 '12 at 23:35
To answer @Daniel, you can go back to where you started, so long as you don't stop along the way. Not a convenient solution, mind you. Not only that, but what do you do if you've reached your destination and realize you were carrying the entire time? Now you've got to leave it behind when you return home (ie., there is no option of going back where you started). – Seth J Aug 16 '12 at 1:58
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@SethJ Alternatively you can keep walking until Shabbat ends. (Only practical in some instances.) – Double AA♦ Aug 16 '12 at 2:02
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@SethJ, re "you can go back to where you started", not to any r'shus hayachid? – msh210♦ Aug 16 '12 at 3:04
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up vote 3 down vote

On your way, you may suddenly realize that you have something in your pocket. At that point, it would certainly be assur to continue to carry it. Checking your pockets prevents you from being in this situation so it is not a gezeira legezeira.

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then you can throw it out. Seems more like practical advice than hilchasa rabbasa leshabbasa – Shmuel Brin Aug 16 '12 at 0:40
@ShmuelBrin When you throw your wallet out with $1000 let me know. – user1292 Aug 16 '12 at 1:36
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@ShmuelBrin Moreover the Yetzer Hara to keep carrying would be stronger then. – Double AA♦ Aug 16 '12 at 1:45
I was under the impression that you can keep carrying, because only by putting it down are you violating Hotzaah. – Seth J Aug 16 '12 at 2:02
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@SethJ Many people's natural instinct upon discovering they are carrying is to suddenly stop. Also it isn't always practical to carry it to a makom petur or the original starting spot. So you are right, and I suppose it should be clarified, but I still think the takkana is well founded. – Double AA♦ Aug 16 '12 at 2:03
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up vote 1 down vote

One might carry, forgetting that it is Shabbos, and also one might forget that the item in question is forbidden to carry on Shabbos.

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If he forgets that it's Shabbos, he will be in big troubles anyways. – Shmuel Brin Aug 16 '12 at 0:01
   
I don't mean the guy has a bout of amnesia and forgets what day it is. I mean he takes a can of soda outside to his friend without stopping to think maybe it's Shabbos, because it's such a simple, quick and easy action. That's not mis'asek, and it's very possible to happen, especially if he already has the thing in his pocket. – Dov F Aug 16 '12 at 0:21
that makes more sense to be the reason for Muktza, as one is allowed to hold something in his hand on Friday afternoon. – Shmuel Brin Aug 16 '12 at 1:35
I think that the chashash isn't for the first minute of shabbos - obviously it isn't, because right now you are remembering to check your clothes. The concern is rather that you might forget the thing in your pocket and what I described above will therefore happen 3 hours later. There is no concern that someone will forget something in his hand for 3 hours. – Dov F Aug 16 '12 at 1:48
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If the item is forgotten, carrying it is only a misasek. – Shmuel Brin Aug 16 '12 at 2:26
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